Colchester United legend Roy McDonough admits he cannot see anything other than a Southend United win in this weekend’s big Essex derby.

McDonough has had a foot in both camps in the past, having led the U’s to the non-league double as player-manager and also winning promotion with the Shrimpers.

The 57-year-old enjoyed two spells with the U’s between 1981-83 and 1990-94 and also managed them for three years.

Colchester head into Saturday’s showdown at Roots Hall desperate for points, in their battle for League One survival.

But McDonough believes play-off chasing Southend will follow up their Boxing Day triumph over the U’s and claim the local bragging rights again.

“I know the Colchester fans won’t want to hear this but I have to be honest and speaking from the heart, I’d put my house on a Southend win on Saturday,” said McDonough, who was the first boss to lead out a Colchester team at Wembley in 1992.

“If you look at the Southend side, they have experience, strength, power and ability.

“And Colchester can’t seem to buy a win at the moment, with the predicament that they’re in.

“I think as Southend captain, John White will be saying before the game “we beat Colchester on Boxing Day so let’s beat them again and keep them on the floor”.

“They’ve brought players in since that Boxing Day game and Phil Brown is an experienced manager, which in a certain predicament is essential.

“Southend’s summer signings were good and they’ve done right by the fans and got players on board.

“People ask me where my allegiance lies - Colchester United or Southend United?

“I was player-manager at Colchester and did the double with them - that can never be taken away me and it was a special achievement.

“But I also had a great time with the Shrimpers - I got promotion there too and they’re also a club close to my heart.”

McDonough, who made more than 250 appearances for the U’s, says he is sad to see his former club struggling at the foot of the table.

He said: “You can’t keep staving off relegation and expect the supporters to keep spending their money on a team that can’t win games and can’t defend for toffee.

“It makes it difficult for the midfielders and the strikers, because they must go into games knowing that they are going to concede goals and they might have to score at least twice to win.

“If Colchester can’t win at least seven or eight games between now and the end of the season, then they’re done - I know that and the fans know that.

“This is the fourth successive season that Colchester have struggled against relegation.

“Joe Dunne staved off relegation on the final day, then it was the second from last week of the season and last year, it was on the last day against Preston.

“Fans will never change their allegiance but I honestly think that Colchester supporters have been short-changed over the last few years.

“They want to see the first-team winning - that’s what brings people through the gates, not watching under-21 games.

“The academy doesn’t put points on the table and it’s hard to be a Colchester fan at the moment.

“Without fans, there’s no club - it’s the fans who spend the money to watch Colchester and I feel desperately sorry for them.”