Colchester United have 11 games to secure their League Two status

The U's sit five points above the League Two relegation zone - and 12 points above their next opponents in the table - heading into an important match at Glanford Park.

Colchester will head into the match on the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 win over play-off chasing Port Vale, last weekend.

But with 11 games remaining heading into their game against Scunthorpe, where do the U's stand in their battle to avoid the drop?

The Gazette attempts to answer some of the key questions, as Colchester strive to secure their Football League status.

How many points are Colchester likely to need to stay up?

Last season, 46 points was enough to avoid relegation from League Two.

Southend United finished second from bottom and were relegated on 45 points, three points behind third-from-bottom Scunthorpe United.

Discounting the 2019-20 season, which was curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the average tally needed to stay in the Football League is 44.

Colchester currently have 36 points, which would mean going by the average points tally required they will possibly need at least another eight points - the equivalent two wins and two draws - from their remaining 11 games to stay up.

However, a word of caution; in the 2012-13 League Two campaign, Barnet went down despite racking up 51 points.

And in the season that followed, Bristol Rovers were relegated with 50 points.

How does the U's current position compare to this stage, last season?

Colchester have played 35 matches so far, this season.

The U's are in a higher position in League Two - 19th - than they were after 35 games last season.

In the 2020-21 campaign. the U's picked up 13 points from their final 11 matches and finished on 51 points.

If the U's collect 13 points from their last 11 matches - the equivalent of three wins and four draws - they will finish on 49 points and will then be quite likely to stay up.

Will goal difference be a factor?

Quite possibly, if the season goes down to the wire.

Colchester's goal difference is currently -16, which believe it or not is not the worst in the division.

The likes of Scunthorpe, Stevenage and Carlisle United all have inferior goal difference to the U's, at present.

Only four teams have conceded more goals than Colchester so far, this season.

But the U's have scored more goals than all of the bottom-seven sides in the division, apart from Leyton Orient.

Which games are likely to be pivotal?

This weekend's trip to play Scunthorpe United is probably as big as any of Colchester's remaining 11 games.

While the Iron's survival chances look bleak, this is nevertheless a chance for the U's to boost their points tally while at the same time damage their opponents' hopes, in the process.

Of the ten games that follow for Colchester after that, next month's clash with fellow strugglers Stevenage at the JobServe Community Stadium looks pivotal while the home games against Bradford City and Walsall are also key.

Colchester are still to face four of the current top-nine sides - Forest Green Rovers, Newport County, Tranmere Rovers and Bristol Rovers.

Which areas will be key?

It sounds obvious but how Colchester perform in both boxes will be significant in determining whether or not they remain a Football League club.

Under interim boss Wayne Brown, they have had no real problem scoring goals.

The U's have scored in all but one of the games that Brown has presided over so far and have shown they can share the goals throughout the team.

At the other end, defensive errors have cost Colchester dear this season and the fact that they have shipped 49 goals so far illustrates that.

Nevertheless, the clean sheet they kept against Port Vale last weekend - their first at home since October - offers encouragement for the remainder of the campaign.

If Colchester can get it right in the two areas of the pitch that matter most, they will have no trouble confirming their League Two status once again.

Who are the other teams in danger of going down?

With Scunthorpe now nine games adrift of safety having played more games than the teams above them, things look bleak for Keith Hill's side.

However, you could pick any one of six - perhaps even seven or eight - teams currently struggling near the relegation zone to potentially join the Iron in the National League, next season.

Just seven points separate seven teams immediately sitting above Scunthorpe in the table, with second-from-bottom side Oldham Athletic holding games in hand on all of the teams immediately above them.

It would take a brave man or woman to predict which team will fill the second relegation place in League Two, this season.

How important is this weekend's game at Scunthorpe?

It is a big one, in the context of Colchester's season.

The U's game at Glanford Park is perhaps not a 'must-win' fixture for the visitors, but it certainly is for their hosts.

Since Keith Hill became their manager in November, the Iron have won only two of their 19 league matches.

Colchester will be heading to Scunthorpe looking for back-to-back wins but a draw would probably not be the worst thing in the world, for Wayne Brown's side.

Can they do it?

Absolutely - but Colchester will certainly need to show the same determination, effort and desire on show in their win over Port Vale in their remaining 11 games this season, in order to do so.

The U's have shown that they are capable of competing with the best teams in the division but they must turn that into points, on a consistent basis.

Wayne Brown has plenty of options within his squad for the remainder of the campaign, following the club's heavy recruitment in the January transfer window.

It is now vital that everyone steps up to the plate to secure Colchester's survival and preferably unlike last season, do so way before the penultimate game of the campaign.