Steve Whitton takes his Colchester United squad to Cardiff tonight (Friday) looking for the first of three wins that will see the U's to certain Second Division safety for a third season.

The U's play the Bluebirds, plus Oldham and Gillingham at home next week and Whitton is hoping the celebration champagne will be flowing again.

"It's a massive eight days for us," said the U's boss.

"If we win those three games our Division Two status is certain for another season. And if we beat Cardiff we'll move into the top half of the table on 47 points overnight with the pressure on all the teams below us to match our result the next day."

Whitton and the U's board of directors have worked miracles to turn around the club's fortunes from a position of no-hope and almost certain relegation just four-and-a--half-months ago.

Without spending a fortune they have guided the U's into relative mid-table safey and it will cap a remarkable achievement by all concerned if they go on to acheive their goal.

Last week's home defeat at the hands of struggling Oxford has done little to dampen Whitton's enthusiasm.

The U's boss said: "Losing to Oxford is hopefully another timely kick up the backside for the lads, especially as they had all performed so well when winning at Preston only a few days earlier.

"But Cardiff will be no pushover. They may have failed to win any of their last 13 matches, but their performances are definitely better than their results.

"Nothing but three points will be enough for me at Ninian Park tonight. Having said that it is very important that we don't lose the match."

Leading scorer Steve McGavin is back in the squad after missing the last three matches with a knee injury, but defender Joe Dunne misses out again after injuring an ankle in the win at Preston.

But Whitton's plans could depend on the fitness of influencial midfielder-cum defender Gavin Johnson who is facing yet another late test.

The U's have parted company with their French defender Fabrice Richard. Richard, whose contract was due to run out at the end of the season anyway, has been officially released and returns home to France tomorrow (Saturday).

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