Colchester United FC v Reading FC (Capital One Cup): Match Preview

Colchester United FC

Form (all comps): DLWLW

Goalkeeper Sam Walker could return for Colchester after he missed the U's 2-2 draw at home to Blackpool on Saturday with a knee injury. New signing Darren Ambrose who made his debut at the weekend is also likely to start.

Reading FC

Form (all comps): LDLDW

Reading will still be without Garath McCleary for the trip to Essex as he continues to recover from a calf injury picked up playing for Jamaica in the Gold Cup. Jake Cooper, Niall Keown and Jack Stacey are all ruled out with injury while Pavel Pgrebnyak and Tarique Fosu are doubtful with both carrying knocks which forced them to miss the 2-1 defeat to Birmingham on Saturday. Recent signing Andrew Taylor may be given his debut for the club at left-back while Ali Al Habsi could get his chance in goal ahead of Jonathan Bond who was between the sticks against Birmingham and seemingly looks like Steve Clarke's number one this season.

Lineups From Last Game

Colchester: Parish; Briggs (Vincent-Young 79), Wynter, Brindley, Gilbey, Ambrose (Sembie-Ferris 82), Moncur, Massey, Porter (Bonne 79). Subs not used: Walker, Wright, Kent, Szmodics.

Reading: Bond; Gunter, Hector, McShane, Obita; Williams, Tshibola (Samuel 86), Norwood, Quinn (Cox 83); Blackman (Robson-Kanu 79), Orlando Sa. Subs not used: Al-Habsi, A. Taylor, Ferdinand, J. Taylor.

What The Opposition Think

"We tend to field good teams in the League Cup but we haven't made it past round one since 2010. Hopefully our cup form will improve and bring back League Cup nights such as our 2-1 win over West Brom in 2004."

Last Five Meetings

26 Jan 2002: Reading v Colchester United 3-0 (League Division 2)

30 Oct 2001: Reading v Colchester United 2-1 (LDV Vans Trophy)

05 Oct 2001: Colchester United v Reading 2-0 (League Division 2)

28 Apr 2001: Colchester United v Reading 2-1 (League Division 2)

11 Nov 2000: Reading v Colchester United 0-1 (League Division 2)

Head To Head

Reading FC games v Colchester United FC

Games won: 28

Games drawn: 13

Games lost: 23

Prediction

Colchester 1-2 Reading