LET'S go again.

That's the message Colchester United chief Phil Parkinson has issued to his players ahead of Sunday's trip to Blackpool in the Coca-Cola League One.

The U's boss is desperate to banish the memories of last weekend's poor showing in their 2-1 defeat at home to Chesterfield and get back on track at Bloomfield Road.

Parkinson told the Gazette: "We were obviously very pleased with our form over September, although the result against Chesterfield was almost unexplainable.

"We need to get back to the displays we showed in those five games leading up to last weekend. We've watched the video and looked at what we didn't do right, but we'll have a chance to put that behind us on Sunday.

"Defeat against Chesterfield was a big dip for us, but up until that point I couldn't have asked any more from the players. Their effort and application had been spot on and it's up to us to get back to that level."

Parkinson is expecting a physical contest against the Tangerines and will go up against them without one of his more robust players in left-back George Elokobi, who is laid up with the mumps.

"It's a blow for us," the U's boss added. "He wasn't feeling too well last Saturday and that explains why he was below his previous best which he showed us in the last eight games.

"We're making sure that he keeps as far away as possible from the other players so they don't contract it, but maybe it won't be such a bad thing that he will have a chance to rest up and come back stronger."

Another player the U's chief is hoping will be firing on all cylinders again is Neil Danns, who has returned from a four-week lay-off with two second-half substitute appearances in their last two outings against Bradford City and Chesterfield.

"Neil scored 13 goals in 30 appearances last season and is a different class," added Parkinson. "There's nothing to suggest why he won't be able to do that again for us.

"His ratio speaks for itself. He creates a lot of chances which are on target, forcing the keepers to do their jobs."

Danns will be in familiar surroundings should he make an appearance on Sunday.

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