Colchester United host Hartlepool United in League Two

It is the first of four successive matches for the U's, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The U's are hoping to bounce back following their 3-0 defeat at Northampton Town, last weekend.

From team news to line-ups, key men and the referee, all you need to know can be found below ahead of the game.

U's team news

Colchester could have striker John Akinde back available against Hartlepool.

The experienced striker has missed the U's last four games, due to Covid.

Noah Chilvers and Corie Andrews are both pressing for starts after impressing off the bench at Northampton, while Tom Dallison could also be recalled.

But Ryan Clampin is a long-term absentee with a knee injury.

U's interim head coach Wayne Brown on Hartlepool clash

“There were too many players who weren’t at the races and you can’t afford to have that happen at Northampton.

“We need to take the positives out of the game which there was, regardless of what everyone might be thinking because we’ve lost the game 3-0

.“We need to take those positives into the Hartlepool game, hit the ground running and take the game to them.

“Since we’ve come in, the players have been first class.

“We’ve got nine points on the board, we’d only conceded six goals in our previous six games (before Northampton) - that’s one a game - and we’ve got 1.5 points per game, over that stretch."

Predicted line-ups

Colchester United: Hornby, Tchamadeu, Chambers, Dallison, Kenlock, Skuse, Wiredu, Chilvers, Judge, Andrews, Sears

Hartlepool United: Killip, Ogle, Byrne, Odusina, Francis-Angol, Crawford, Featherstone, Fletcher, Carver, Bogle, Molyneux

Last meeting

You have to go back to February 2017 for the last time Colchester took on Hartlepool.

The U's ran out 2-1 winners on that day, thanks to second-half goals from Kurtis Guthrie and Chris Porter.

Nathan Thomas grabbed a late consolation for Pools, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Opposition view

Bryn Morris and Joe White are both major doubts ahead for Hartlepool United tonight.

The pair were both forced off with injury issues during Pools' 1-1 draw with Sutton United.

Morris departed with an ankle injury while White injured his wrist.

As a result, both players are doubtful starters as Pools aim to extend their current unbeaten league run to eight games.

“Bryn took one to the ankle, and Joe White has a knock on his wrist which will need X-raying,” said Pools boss Graeme Lee.

“You get three wins on the bounce and you’re smiling, and then bang, have that. But that’s part and parcel of football. There’s knocks and bruises, and we’ll assess them.”

Odds

Colchester are 6/4 to claim a crucial win tonight. Hartlepool are viewed at twos to win, with the draw 11/5.

Referee

Declan Bourne is the man in the middle tonight.

He has presided over 17 games so far, issuing 68 yellow cards and two reds.

Fixtures, League Two, tonight (7.45pm)

Bradford City v Harrogate Town, Colchester United v Hartlepool United, Leyton Orient v Bristol Rovers, Rochdale v Port Vale, Scunthorpe United v Northampton Town, Swindon Town v Walsall.