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Spotlight on... Colchester United

Mon 23 September 2019, 16:40|Tottenham Hotspur

On Tuesday night we take our first steps in this season’s Carabao Cup as we visit Colchester United (7.45pm kick-off).

In last season’s edition of the competition, we reached the semi-finals before defeat in a penalty shoot-out at Stamford Bridge saw us exit at the hands of Chelsea. Colchester, meanwhile, were also eliminated on penalties, with Cheltenham Town coming out on top in their first round tie.

Ahead of this week’s third round meeting, we put our Essex-based opponents under the spotlight.

Colchester’s form

Currently sitting 10^th in the League Two table, the U’s have recovered well from a difficult start to the campaign. Already 10 league games into the new season, Colchester were without a win in their first four outings and picked up just two points in that period, leaving them in 21^st place. However, one defeat in their last six in the league, including four wins in that run, has kick-started their season.

Journey to the third round

Entering the competition in the first round, Colchester opened their campaign by fighting off competition from their division rivals Swindon Town, defeating them 3-0 in August. Then, to reach round three for the first time in 15 years, they travelled to Premier League outfit Crystal Palace and held the Eagles to a 0-0 draw in normal time before progressing with a 5-4 victory on penalties.

One to watch

Bursting onto the scene for Colchester this season has been 18-year-old Kwame Poku. Playing predominantly on the left wing, Poku has been a bright spark for the U’s this campaign as he takes his his first steps in professional football. After making his senior debut for the club in their 3-2 Leasing.com Trophy win over Gillingham earlier this month, the young midfielder has gone from strength to strength and even scored his first goal for the club in their 2-1 victory over Leyton Orient on Saturday.

Leader of the opposition

Now in his fourth season in charge at the Jobserve Community Stadium, John McGreal has steadied the ship at Colchester United since they suffered relegation from League One in 2016.

Having started his coaching career within the youth system at the Essex-based club in 2009, McGreal worked his way up the ladder before eventually taking permanent charge of the first team at the start of the 2016/17 season. McGreal’s stewardship since then has seen the U’s stabilise in the fourth tier as they look to build and clinch promotion back to League One.

Previous competitive meeting

30 January, 2016 – Colchester United 1-4 Spurs – FA Cup fourth round

Played for both

A born goalscorer with an unrivalled intelligence and imagination in his play, Teddy Sheringham scored 124 goals in 277 appearances for us over two spells.

Beginning his career south of the water with Millwall, Teddy went on to join Nottingham Forest in 1991 before moving back down south after just one year for his first stint as a Spur. He formed a prolific partnership with Jurgen Klinsmann as well as helping himself to a hatful of goals.

The forward left for Manchester United in 1997 before returning four years later.

Leaving us again in 2003, the England international went on to represent Portsmouth and West Ham United before playing his final season as a professional at Colchester United in 2007/08.