MATTY Etherington insists all of his focus this weekend will be securing a much-needed win for Colchester United - and not on his former club Crawley Town.

Etherington is aiming to end a run of three straight defeats for the U’s against the Reds, where he was manager for 32 days last season.

The former Spurs and West Ham winger was in charge for three matches during his tenure at the League Two club, which resulted in a win and two defeats.

Etherington was prevented from taking interim charge of Colchester’s game at Accrington Stanley, after Crawley highlighted a potential contractual issue with their former boss which has since been resolved by the two clubs.

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Etherington says he is just thinking about helping the U’s get back on track at the JobServe Community Stadium tomorrow.

Etherington said: “It’s a game of football where we need the three points.

“It’s probably a cliché but that’s the way I feel.

“After the last couple of results, getting a win is all I’m focusing on and there’s been a real focus on it today (Thursday) with player meetings, unit meetings, group meetings – how we get three points on Saturday, against Crawley.

“What’s gone on has gone on and it’s in the past.

Gazette: Matty Etherington

“Genuinely, I’m not wasting my energy on it – I need to focus on getting three points for Colchester United.

“I think you take experience from all opportunities you do in this role and I definitely have.

“I feel like it was meant to be an experience for me and it is what it is.”

Crawley currently sit 13th in the League Two, having been guided to safety by boss Scott Lindsey last season.

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“Scott Lindsey has done a brilliant job since he’s gone in there, to save them from relegation last season, in difficult circumstances and they’ve kicked on, this season,” added Etherington.

“He’s got a definite way of playing and they want to dominate the ball; they did that against Notts County and not many teams have done that.

“We know what we’re up against and we know where we can hurt them.

“You can bog yourself down in this role with concentrating too much on what the opposition are going to do to you.

“I think we’ve got to really focus on how we’re going to hurt the opposition, on Saturday.”