Colchester vs Cardiff (preview)

Cardiff City travel to Layer Road this weekend to face Colchester United. The U`s were promoted as runners-up last year and have made a solid start to this season lying comfortably in mid-table in 12th place. After manager Phil Parkinson departed in the summer and moved North to Hull City, assistant manager Geraint Williams was named boss. Williams is a Welshman and born and brought up in Cardiff, also being capped for his country. As a boy he was a regular season ticket holder at Ninian Park but will looking to secure all 3 points this weekend. After losing the first 4 games of the season, Colchester have been revitalised and wins over Ipswich and Burnley show they have a decent side.

Greg Halford has attracted interest from many Championship and Premiership sides while Jamie Cureton has 7 league goals to his name and has formed an impressive partnership with Iwelumo up front. The U`s currently have Cardiff City`s Chris Barker on loan, the left back out of favour at Ninian Park but hugely popular with the Colchester fans after a series of impressive displays. Barker is ineligible to face Cardiff under the terms of his loan agreement but has been consistent and helped the team concede just 4 goals in 7 games. Barker has attracted interest from other clubs but the U`s are interested in making his deal permanent.

Cardiff City will be without Steve Thompson up front which will mean a first league start for Kevin Campbell. Thompson`s partnership with Chopra has been very impressive this season and vitally important to the team whereas Campbell has appeared as a substitute in many games but failed to make an impact. The change is enforced due to an injury to Thommo which will keep him out for 3 or 4 games giving Campbell a full chance to impress or Dave Jones to bring someone in on loan. He has known that the operation was required so has probably decided to stick with Campbell. Kerrea Gilbert sits out the final game of his suspension so on-loan James Chambers continues at right-back.

Cardiff will be looking to pick up another 3 points after the win at Sunderland whereas Colchester will hope to build on an impressive 4 point return from games against Norwich and Southampton. Both sides play high tempo football and will look to attack so a good game in prospect. City will need to be professional and work hard to win.

Prediction: Colchester 0-2 Cardiff