Our prediction for this League 2 match:
Southend
Match Time & Date:
26/12/2020
08:00 AM
Prediction: 1-1
Colchester
After holding Mansfield Town to a 1-1 draw, Southend United will be looking to give fans yet another reason for celebration when they face Colchester United on Matchday 20. The Seasiders have been showing signs of improvement of late, with the team looking to extend their unbeaten run in League Two to five games. Talented defender Tom Clifford, who suffered an injury in the 1-1 draw with Mansfield, is unlikely to feature against Colchester.
The U’s, on the other hand, aim to regain their spot in top seven, and we are positive that they will go for a win in Saturday’s clash. Colchester failed to impress in back-to-back losses to Cambridge United and Morecambe, but they are surely capable of grabbing something from the match against the rock-bottom side. A close encounter is on the cards at Roots Hall, and we believe that punters can find value in betting on draw.
Highlighted Player (Mark Oxley):
Born in Sheffield, England, on the 2nd of June, 1990, Oxley's football journey started as a Rotherham youth product. The English International signed his first professional contract with the Millers in 2007 but failed to make a single appearance for the club during that season.
The following season, he signed for Hull City, who, in turn, sent him out on successive loans to clubs like Walsall, Grimbsy Town, Oldham Athletic, and Hibernian. The 6ft 3-inch goalkeeper's professional debut meanwhile, came on the 27th of February, 2010, playing for Grimbsy in a 2-0 away loss to Dagenham in League Two. Oxley's performance during his six-month loan period with Hibernian earned him a permanent deal. He signed a two-year contract starting with the club in July 2015. In his time at the Scottish outfit, he made 90 appearances and kept 35 clean sheets. Oxley then joined his current club Southend in July 2016 on an initial two-year deal.
He had a fantastic first season, winning both fans' player of the year and players' player of the year awards. As of August 2018, Oxley has signed a contract extension and also got given the captain's armband. On the International forefront, the 29-year-old is a former youth International having capped once for England at the under-18 level.
Highlighted Team (Colchester):
Founded in 1937, Colchester United are a professional football club that compete in the League Two, the English fourth tier. The U’s welcome their rivals at Colchester Community Stadium, the venue which has the capacity of 10,105 people.
Colchester United are well known for their blue kit, but white is the dominant colour of their away kit. The U’s have an official fans association known as the CUSA. Colchester supporters consider Wycombe Wanderers the club’s fiercest rivals, but the rivalries with Southend United and Ipswich Town are big as well. Colchester United did well to win the FA Trophy in the 1991/92 season, with the team clinching the Essex Senior Cup trophy in the 2009/10 season.
In December 1961 the U’s recorded their biggest win, with the team rolling over Bradford City 9-1 in the Fourth Division. Colchester United repeated the success 44 years later as they hammered Leamington 9-1 in the FA Cup round 1.
