U's centre-half Magnus Okuonghae spoke to the Green ‘Un 24 ahead of his side's League One match against Carlisle at Brunton Park tomorrow afternoon, Okuonghae pleased their battle to avoid the drop is in their own hands:
“I don’t think the players are hiding behind anything, especially the fact of it still being in our own hands. We lost nine games on the bounce (club record), so for us to still even be in with a chance is unbelievable. So I’ve got faith in my team-mates and I’ve got faith in the staff. And the staff have got faith in us. It’s still in our hands, it’s not hiding behind it, it’s a fact. We will just go to Carlisle and do what needs to be done.
“It’s definitely like a cup final, and it’s going to be one of the biggest games of my career. I had this situation when I was at Crawley, when we were in danger of going out of the Conference (in 2007), and we managed to do what we needed to. Now I’m confident that the boys will do what we have to do. As long as we go out there with no fear, work as hard as we can, and just treat it like the biggest games of our lives – a cup final – then we’ll be fine.
“We’ve got to look on it as though Scunthorpe are going to win their game. So we’ve got to go and win our game, as simple as that. If we have given up already, then we might as well stay at home. There’s no point in travelling up to Carlisle, but that’s not the case. We are still in the driving seat, and we’d still rather be in our position. Scunthorpe would also rather be in our position.”
In team news for the U’s tomorrow afternoon they have just one player missing through injury in Josh Thompson, centre-half Thompson absent with a hamstring problem. In better news for Colchester boss Joe Dunne though he is able to call again on the services of short-term injury victims Clinton Morrison and David Wright, Morrison returning from a thigh problem, while versatile defender cum midfielder Wright is back after a short time out with concussion.
That news then leaving the Colchester matchday squad for tomorrow as follows:
Goalkeepers – Mark Cousins and Sam Walker.
Defenders – Tom Eastman, Bradley Garmston, Matt Heath, Marcus Okuonghae, John White and Brian Wilson.
Midfielders – Marcus Bean, Andrew Bond, Billy Clifford, Kemal Izzet, Gavin Massey, John-Joe O’Toole and David Wright.
Attackers – Jabo Ibehre, Clinton Morrison, George Porter, Freddie Sears, Michael Smith and Drey Wright.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Carl Boyeson from Hull and he will be assisted down the lines by Paul Curry from Morpeth and Lee Metcalfe from Preston. Meanwhile the fourth official is Glen Hart from Darlington.