COLCHESTER United chairman Robbie Cowling insist he has no fears that the club will be embroiled in another battle for League Two survival, this season.

The U's head into tonight's game with Sutton United sitting in 19th spot in the table, having claimed 13 points from their first 14 league games.

Colchester struggled to preserve their Football League status last season but Mr Cowling says he is still hopeful it will be a good season.

Speaking to BBC Essex, Mr Cowling said: "I think we were all very optimistic, going into the season - I think you always are.

"It's very early days.

"We could look at last season's table and see a couple of teams down where we are at the moment that end up right near the top, so we're certainly still hopeful that it's going to be a good season.

"I don't have the fears that it's going to be like last season.

"None of us want to go through what happened then - that was horrible for all of us and we'll be doing everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen.

"If we get three points tonight, it looks very different and then it's an OK start, not a bad one or a great one.

"If we lose, then we have some work to do but nobody is happy with where we are and the fans have got every right to be a little bit unhappy, especially at home.

"Our away form has been pleasing but our home form hasn't been good enough.

"It's clear to see what we've tried to do, this year.

"We've brought in quite a few senior players to work alongside the young kids.

"There's good players out there and I don't think many people saw the recruitment as it was happening and thought 'oh no, this is going to be a disaster, they're bringing in all of the wrong players'.

"The recruitment was good - for many reasons, it hasn't clicked at home yet but the last two home games have been better.

"If we can get four points from every two home games we'd settle for that - we'd want better but we'd settle for that.

"We're going to see where we are tonight.

"The away form was fantastic and I don't think any of us thought we could keep that up all season but the home form has been really bad and I have no reason to think that will continue all season - I feel that will improve.

"The last two away games have been against two exceptional teams - Tranmere and Port Vale, with bigger budgets than we've got for players.

"We'll find out in the next few games where we are and I'm really hopeful for everyone's sake that things look a very lot different, after those games."