Ward expecting tough cup test (From Gazette)

Ward expecting tough cup test

3:30pm Friday 15th June 2012 in Sport By Jonathan Waldron

Colchester United can expect a tough test in their opening game of the season, according to manager John Ward.

The U’s have been handed a trip to League One rivals Yeovil Town, in the first round of this season’s Capital One Cup.

They will travel down to Huish Park - the scene of their historic 2006 promotion triumph - in the week commencing August 13.

The tie will take place prior to the new league season starting on August 18, with the fixtures due to be released on Monday.

It is the third successive year that Colchester have been drawn away in the opening round of the competition.

Ward said: “We’ll have to prepare for a tough game down there.

“I know Gary Johnson and he’s a good manager.

“His teams always give you a good game and we will both want to go through to the next round.

“We both value a cup run, if we can do it and we’ll be taking the tie very seriously.

“I won’t play around with the team, even though we are travelling a long distance for the game.

“The cup competitions can be the lifeblood for clubs such as ours.”