Colchester Utd

Colchester 4-1 Luton
Colchester kept their promotion bid on track with two goals in each half to make it 10 home wins in a row. Luton's Dean Morgan and Carlos Edwards went close before Kevin McLeod headed the home side in front, with Chris Iwelumo making it two before the break. Kevin Watson, who set up the first, was the supplier again as Richard Garcia made it 3-0, with Iwelumo heading in Jamie Cureton's cross for 4-0. Rowan Vine's penalty after a Garcia foul was little consolation for Luton. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colchester manager Geraint Williams: \"It was a great result for us but we were a bit disappointed with the way we performed. \"We relied on some creative goalkeeping from Dean Gerken to keep us in the game in the first half. \"But we've got a fantastic home record and the players deserve full credit for that,\" he added. Luton manager Mike Newell: \"We had enough chances to win, and goals win you games. When Colchester got their chances they converted them. \"It doesn't look good when you concede four but anyone that was here will tell you it was a different story.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colchester: Gerken, Halford, Baldwin, Brown, Barker, Garcia, Watson, Izzet, McLeod (Jackson 71), Cureton (Ephraim 77), Iwelumo (Guy 90). Subs Not Used: Davison, Richards. Goals: McLeod 23, Iwelumo 41, Garcia 59, Iwelumo 65. Luton: Kiely, Foley, Heikkinen, Coyne, Emanuel (Davis 67), Edwards (Feeney 66), Bell, Barnett, Brkovic, Vine, Morgan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subs Not Used: Beresford, Langley, Holmes. Booked: Heikkinen, Vine. Goals: Vine 85 pen. Att: 5,427. Ref: P Crossley (Kent).

QPR v Colchester
QPR could be without Martin Rowlands after he picked up a knock during the 1-0 defeat at Norwich on Saturday. Should Rowlands fail to recover, Nick Ward would be in contention to replace him in midfield. Colchester skipper Karl Duguid has been suffering with headaches but could be back after he put in a 20-minute cameo during Saturday's victory over Wolves. Chris Barker will continue at left-back after extending his loan deal from Cardiff until the end of the season.

Colchester expect Halford to move
Colchester United manager Geraint Williams is resigned to losing star defender Greg Halford - by the summer at the latest, reports SSB 22-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Layer Road during the January transfer window. Williams told SSB: "I don't think he'll be a Colchester United player into the start of next season. "Greg's made it obvious that his contract runs out in the summer and he'd like to move to a bigger club." Williams added: "There's nothing wrong with that at all as long as it is done in the right way, and Greg has certainly done that."

Duguid extends stay at Colchester
Colchester captain Karl Duguid has signed a new contract - although the club have refused to reveal its length. The 28-year-old led the U's to promotion last season, after overcoming a knee injury which saw him sidelined between March 2004 and August 2005. Layer Road chief executive Marie Partner is delighted with the deal. "The board hope this sends out the right message to his team-mates that this is the club to further progress their careers," she told SSB

Iwelumo keeping his options open
Manager Geraint Williams insists Colchester will do their best to keep striker Chris Iwelumo at the club. Iwelumo, 28, has scored 18 goals this season but is out of contract at Layer Road this summer and thus able to leave on a free transfer. "Chris is in negotiations with us. But he's well within his rights to see what he can get and do the best for his family," Williams told SSB. "He's had a fantastic season - we understand his situation." Williams added: "We want to do what's best for him and the club as well." Iwelumo's former club Stoke is reported to be among those interested in him.

Colchester await Garcia decision
Colchester forward Richard Garcia has delayed his decision over a new deal because of a family illness. "His father has been unwell recently, so he was straight on a plane back home to Australia," boss Geraint Williams told Colchester's website. "Quite rightly, his thoughts are with those close to him. As and when he's ready to talk, we'll be waiting." The U's have already lost the services of fellow striker Chris Iwelumo, who has joined Charlton on a free transfer.

Harford allowed to hold QPR talks
Colchester have granted assistant manager Mick Harford permission to speak to QPR about joining the Loftus Road outfit's backroom team. Harford, 48, asked the U's last week if he could hold talks with the Championship rivals about a move. "There have been ongoing discussions since that time," said a statement on Colchester's website. "Based on the reasons for the request, serious consideration had to be given before permission was granted." Harford helped Colchester manager Geraint Williams steer the club to 10th place in the Championship last season in their first campaign in the division. Harford's possible exit would be a further blow to Colchester who have lost striker Chris Iwelumo to Charlton with fellow forward Jamie Cureton also asking to leave. QPR boss John Gregory previous number two, Richard Hill, was suspended indefinitely by the club following February's infamous brawl with the China Olympic team. Gregory said: "I shall be sitting down with Mick in the next seven days."

QPR snub Colchester's Jones bid
Colchester have had a £200,000 bid for QPR striker Ray Jones rejected. Jones, who signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Loftus Road in January, has made 39 appearances and scored five goals. Chairman Gianni Paladini told QPR's website: "We are not going to sell our best players unless the price is right and Ray has a part in our future." The Layer Road club are considering going back to the Londoners with an improved offer for the 18-year-old.

Colchester complete double swoop
Colchester have signed Crystal Palace full-back Danny Granville and Arsenal youngster Matthew Connolly. Granville, 32, has joined on a free transfer and replaces left-back Chris Barker, who was on loan at Layer Road last season but has since joined QPR. Centre-half Connolly, 19, spent three months at Bournemouth last term and arrives on a season-long loan. Meanwhile Colchester captain Karl Duguid has stated that he does not want to leave the club.

U's eager to tie up Lisbie deal
Colchester United have opened talks with former Charlton striker Kevin Lisbie over a permanent contract, reports SSB. Lisbie, 28, has been on trial with the U's and featured in three pre-season friendlies, scoring in one of them. He was released by the Addicks at the end of last season after 12 years. Lisbie struggled to hold down a regular spot at The Valley, starting fewer than 90 matches and making more than 100 substitute appearances.

Colchester deny Adams is leaving
Colchester boss Geraint Williams says that assistant manager Micky Adams has not spoken to Gillingham about the vacant manager's job at Priestfield. Williams told BBC Radio Kent: "If there is anything in it, he'll come and tell me first and he's not said a thing. "I can understand why a team like Gillingham would like to have him in charge but Micky is content here. "We work well together - if there comes a time when there is something that he's keen on then we'll talk about it."

Izzet has stitches in hand injury
Colchester midfielder Kem Izzet was taken to hospital after he was forced off with a hand injury after 36 minutes of Saturday's 2-1 defeat at QPR. Izzet was hurt in a collision with Gareth Ainsworth, and his hand landed on a metal grate next to the pitch. "Kem has dislocated his thumb and also suffered a gash right down to the bone," U's boss Geraint Williams told his club's website. "He is seeing a hand specialist who will put in the necessary stitches."

Adams leaves job with Colchester
Micky Adams has left his job as Colchester's assistant manager. The 46-year-old former Coventry and Leicester boss took the role at Layer Road last summer after being named as Mick Harford's successor. He is keen to return to management and was linked with Swindon before it was revealed that Maurice Malpas is set to take over at the County Ground. Adams started his managerial career at Fulham has also had spells in charge of Swansea, Brentford and Brighton.

Jackson extends Colchester deal
Colchester midfielder Johnnie Jackson has signed a new contract. The former Tottenham man, 25, was due to become a free agent in the summer, but the new deal is believed to run for another two years. Meanwhile, boss Geraint Williams has hinted that it is unlikely Mick Harford will return as assistant manager. "Mick had a successful time here but the travelling was a big problem. I'd think it's a remote possibility he'd come back," Williams told SSB. "The distances haven't changed." Harford had assisted Williams at Layer Road before joining Queens Park Rangers last June. He has since left Loftus Road - and with Micky Adams leaving the U's this week, there had been speculation that Harford could be welcomed back.

Williams ready for 'biggest' game
Colchester manager Geraint Williams believes United's match against Sheffield Wednesday will be their "biggest" game of their season. The U's are nine points from safety in the Championship relegation zone with 10 games to play. Williams believes the game at Layer Road is vital to their survival. He told SSB: "You've got to help yourself and we've got to make sure we go out on Tuesday in what is the biggest game of the season for us." Colchester's next three matches will be at Layer Road and Williams is hoping home advantage against Wednesday, Cardiff and Hull will help them to pick up valuable points. He explained: "We've got to go and win that and if we win that we've got two more home matches to come - so we'll take it from there, but all our thoughts now are on Tuesday. "Hopefully there'll be a full Layer Road crowd with a fantastic atmosphere; we've got to go out and do what we did against Preston - get at them and go and win the game."

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