Stick by the lads and we won't let you down!

That was today's impassioned plea to the fans from popular Colchester United skipper Richard Wilkins as he and his shell-shocked team-mates attempt to pick up the pieces of last week's FA Cup disaster at Bedlington to take on Notts County.

Wilkins, well on the way to a full recovery from a nagging back injury, will not be playing against the promoted Third Division champions at Meadow Lane tomorrow, but his head and his heart will be contesting every ball as the U's seek to overcome their humiliatin at Bedlington.

"It's roll up your sleeves time and time to stand up and be counted," said Wilkins.

"What happened at Bedlington was a massive shock to the system. It has shaken the lads to their very foundations. It hurt me deeply and I wasn't even playing.

"But everyone is now determined to show the fans that we're not going to allow one bad FA Cup result to wipe out all the good things we've worked so hard for over the last two or three years.

"The last two years have been nothing but success for the club with the FA Cup the only blip on the horizon.

"However we talk about it, it sounds like we're making excuses, but Bedlington was always a banana skin ready to slip up on.

"Everybody suffers when things like that happen. It's a very bitter pill to swallow and has affected everyone deeply - there hasn't been a lot of laughs around the place this week.

"The Bedlington result will always hurt us deeply, but it's no good felling sorry for ourselves - we've got to go out tomorrow and show Notts County we mean business."

Ever-present midfielder Geraint Williams and defender Scott Stamps are both nursing minor injuries and missed training today.

Supporters wishing to watch Micky Cook's U's Youth team play Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road in the FA Youth Cup second round on Tuesday can travel with the team for a fee of £5. Admission is not included. Places can be booked on the coach at the U's Layer Road offices or by telephone on (01206) 508800.

The U's youngsters are away at Brighton tomorrow morning in the South East Counties League.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.