Colchester United host Newport County AFC in League Two

New U's head coach Ben Garner is looking to chalk up his first win as boss, after two draws in their last two games.

From likely line-ups to key men and the referee, all you need to know can be found below ahead of the game at the JobServe Community Stadium.

U's team news

Colchester are likely to be without Ossama Ashley for today's game.

The midfielder suffered a hip injury during the U's 1-1 draw with Tranmere Rovers, last weekend.

Arthur Read came off the bench to replace him and is set to start against Newport.

Captain Tommy Smith and wing-back Connor Wood could return to the squad but striker Kwesi Appiah, Tom Dallison, Cole Skuse, Alan Judge and Sam Hornby all remain sidelined.

Likely line-ups

U's (3-4-2-1): O'Hara, Hall, Chambers, Kelleher, Tchamadeu, Kazeem, Read, Chilvers, Jay, Tovide, Hopper

Newport (3-5-2): Day, Clarke, Demetriou, Baker, Norman, Bennett, Wildig, Evans, Charsley, McNeill, Bogle

Colchester boss Ben Garner:

“It’s going to be an intense game physically, I would predict but we also need to try and make the game the type of game that we want and impose what we want onto the game to make it suit us, rather than suit them.

“You always have to look at what the opposition do.

“We’re trying to build towards an identity now of what we are and how we play but you also have to look at the opposition and understand what they do.

“It’s about nullifying what they do and then trying to make the game about our strengths and our way of playing.

“We’ve worked hard on that this week, the players have been really good again and hopefully, we can take that it into the performance on Saturday.”

Key battle

Connor Hall has been performing well on the left side of Colchester's three-man central defence.

He is likely to come up against the experienced Omar Bogle, who has commanded a £1m transfer fee in the past when moving from Wigan Athletic to Cardiff City.

Last meeting

Colchester were beaten 2-0 at Newport County in the FA Cup, in November.

A Kieran O'Hara own goal and Aaron Lewis's strike sealed the Exiles' first-round win, at Rodney Parade.

Referee

Martin Woods is the man in the middle today.

He has presided over 23 games so far this season, showing 83 yellow cards and four reds.

Opposition view

Newport boss Graham Coughlan told the club's website:

"We should be in a good place, we should be high in confidence, we should be looking forward to it.

"It's a really difficult place to go, a difficult challenge.

"They've obviously changed the landscape financially with what they've committed, in January.

"We've done it through hard work, they've maybe done it through finances.

"That's the uneven playing field that exists in League Two but I'd much rather have it our way, rather than their way.

"Our group of lads are really looking forward to the game, on Saturday."

Odds

Colchester are 9/5 to beat Newport today and claim a first win in eight, according to Paddy Power.

The draw is 19/10 while a Newport victory is 17/10.

Today's League Two fixtures (3pm unless stated): Bradford City v Grimsby Town (1pm), AFC Wimbledon v Rochdale, Barrow v Gillingham, Colchester United v Newport County, Doncaster Rovers v Crewe Alexandra, Hartlepool United v Swindon Town, Leyton Orient v Carlisle United, Mansfield Town v Crawley Town, Northampton Town v Stevenage, Walsall v Sutton United.