Colchester United host Barrow in Sky Bet League Two

From likely line-ups to key men and the referee, all you need to know can be found below ahead of the League Two clash (kick-off 3pm).

Team news

Colchester United will once again be without defender Tom Dallison for the game against Barrow.

The centre-back is likely to be out for two months with a knee injury.

Kwesi Appiah (ankle) could return to the Colchester squad after returning to training but Alan Judge (knee) is a long-term absentee.

Tom Hopper and Will Greenidge are hoping to make their U's home debuts today.

Predicted line-ups

Colchester: O'Hara, Chambers, Hall, Kelleher, Tchamadeu, Wood, Skuse, Read, Chilvers, Hopper, Akinde

Barrow: Farman, Canavan, Warren, Ray, Brough, Foley, Newby, Neal, Gordon, Kay, Garner

Colchester head coach Matt Bloomfield on Barrow game:

“We had a really tough night up there earlier in the season which stands out in my memory for various reasons.

“We certainly know that this isn’t going to be an easy game.

“But we want to put on a show in front of our home fans.

“We want a home win and make sure that we give them something to cheer about and we’ll certainly be trying our best to do that."

Key battle

Fiacre Kelleher will be aiming to maintain his fine start to life at Colchester today, having scored in each of their last two games.

He could come up against Ged Garner, who signed for Barrow for a club record fee from Fleetwood Town this week.

Last meeting

Colchester were beaten 3-1 at Barrow when the two sides met at Holker Street, last November.

Billy Waters hit a superb hat-trick for the Bluebirds, before Freddie Sears bagged a late consolation goal for the U's.

Referee

Ben Speedie is the man in the middle today.

He has presided over 21 games so far this season, showing 85 yellow cards and three reds.

Odds

Colchester are 6-4 to claim victory over Barrow today, according to bookmakers Paddy Power. A win for the visitors is 2/1, as is the draw.

League Two fixtures, today (3pm unless stated)

Newport County v Swindon Town (12.45pm), Bradford City v Mansfield Town, Carlisle United v Harrogate Town, Colchester United v Barrow, Crewe Alexandra v Grimsby Town, Doncaster Rovers v Hartlepool United, Gillingham v Crawley Town, Leyton Orient v AFC Wimbledon, Northampton Town v Walsall, Salford City v Rochdale, Stockport County v Tranmere Rovers, Sutton United v Stevenage.