CAMERON Coxe says Colchester United will head to Birmingham City tomorrow night determined to spring a surprise and progress in the Carabao Cup.

The U’s head into the first-round clash at St Andrew’s as big underdogs against their Championship opponents, who head into the tie on the back of an impressive 1-0 opening-day triumph at Sheffield United.

But Colchester will also be going into the game in confident mood following a solid display in their goal-less draw at Carlisle United, in their League Two curtain-raiser.

And Coxe, who is hoping to retain his place in the U’s starting line-up following his impressive debut at Brunton Park, is looking forward to pitting his wits against the Blues.

Coxe said: “It’s a cup game and everyone loves a good cup run.

“I want to be involved in that and it’ll be a great game.

“We’ll take the positives that we’ve got from the Carlisle game and bring it into the Birmingham game, to try and get a win there.”

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Coxe got the nod as Colchester’s right wing-back against Carlisle, having joined them on loan last month.

The 22-year-old, who has signed for the U’s on loan from National League outfit Solihull Moors until January, is competing with the likes of Miles Welch-Hayes, Luke Hannant and Junior Tchamadeu for a place in the side and says he is relishing the battle for a shirt.

“There’s healthy competition for places and that’s what you strive to have,” said the Wales under-21 international.

“You have to keep pushing yourself day to day, to keep that shirt.”

Colchester will head to Birmingham in confident mood, after battling for a well-earned point at Carlisle in front of nearly 6,400 at Brunton Park, including 202 U’s fans.

Coxe added: “It’s a tough trip to come away to Carlisle with the hostile crowd that they had and I thought it was a great point for us.

“It was a very good, collective team performance.

“I can’t thank the Colchester fans enough for making the trip up.

“It’s a long trip, we know that and we’re very thankful to them from supporting the boys and egging us on throughout the game – it was great support.

“Coming to a new club, you have to work hard and I did that in pre-season.

“For the gaffer to give me my debut, it was a proud moment for me.

“But I couldn’t do what I did in the game without the other players around me.

“It was a good collective team performance.”