Colchester United visit Port Vale in League Two

From team news to line-ups, key men and the referee, all you need to know can be found below ahead of the game at Vale Park (kick-off 3pm).

U's team news

Colchester will be without teenage defender Junior Tchamadeu for their game at Port Vale today.

The 17-year-old begins a three-match ban, following his red card against Bristol Rovers, on Tuesday night.

Colchester appealed the red card but the decision was upheld.

The U's are hopeful that experienced midfielder Cole Skuse will be fit after he suffered a dead leg against Bristol Rovers.

And Miles Welch-Hayes could also return to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.

But Ryan Clampin is still out due to Covid and Alan Judge is out with a calf problem.

Predicted line-ups:

Colchester: George, Coxe, Eastman, Chambers, Daniels, Skuse, Wiredu, Chilvers, Jasper, Sears, Nouble

Port Vale: Covolan Cauagnari, Martin, Smith, Jones, Worrall, Garrity, Pett, Conlon, Benning, Lloyd, Wilson

The manager

Colchester boss Hayden Mullins:

“The last two home results are definitely a platform for us to build on and try and grow from.

“It’s small stepping stones but we’re quite happy with how the last week has gone.

“I’d say four points from six in our last two games is a decent return.

“I think everyone spoke about the home form before and we wanted to try and take six points but we’ll take four.

“I think people thought we’d struggle but we picked up a win and a draw, which is really good.

“We created a lot of chances against Bristol Rovers and I think what’s always pleasing to see especially in the recent games is the way we keep going right until the end, which is what I didn’t see in the Salford game.

“We scored a fantastic goal against Harrogate and the power and the energy to do that in the 88th minute was first class.

“And again the other night against Bristol Rovers, we kept going right until the end and scored again in the 88th minute so it’s a really good trait to have as a side – we keep going and it’s pleasing to see.

“Defensively, we rode our luck at times but so did they and I think if Freddie Sears scores early on, it’s a different game potentially.

“We rode our luck too and they hit the post but we’re a tough side to break down and we always know that if we can keep it tight at one end we’ll get chances and we’ll keep it going right until the end.

“It’s pleasing to see the boys keep grinding away and keep knocking on the door."

Last meeting

Colchester were beaten 1-0 at home by Port Vale when the teams last met, in March.

On that occasion, Devante Rodney's 19th-minute strike proved enough to give Vale all three points.

Opposition view

Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke

“Colchester are a very experienced team with a lot of ex-Ipswich, Championship players in their team.

"They might be a little disappointed they have not got the points total they think they have probably deserved.

"It is another really tough League Two encounter.

“We were nowhere near the standards we have set ourselves (against Mansfield on Tuesday) but it wasn’t a defeat.

"So ‘bouncebackability’ is not in question for me. It is about making sure we put in a good performance tomorrow in front of our own fans against an experienced Colchester team.”

Odds

Colchester are viewed at 15/4 to win at Vale today. The home side are 3/4 favourites, while the draw is 5/2.

Referee

Sebastian Stockbridge from Tyne is the man in the middle for today's game.

He has taken charge of 12 games so far this season, showing 40 yellow cards and one red.

League Two fixtures:

Bristol Rovers v Newport County, Carlisle United v Oldham Athletic, Exeter City v Mansfield Town, Forest Green Rovers v Salford City, Hartlepool United v Harrogate Town, Port Vale v Colchester United, Rochdale v Sutton United, Scunthorpe United v Crawley Town, Stevenage v Leyton Orient, Swindon Town v Bradford City, Tranmere Rovers v Northampton Town, Walsall v Barrow.