COLCHESTER United host Carlisle United in League Two this afternoon.

The U's are aiming to get back to winning ways with a victory at the JobServe Community Stadium.

From likely line-ups to key men and the referee, all you need to know can be found below ahead of the clash (kick-off 3pm).

Team news

Colchester are hoping to welcome back trio Teddy Bishop, Owura Edwards and Harry Anderson for the Carlisle game.

Bishop (ankle) and Edwards (hamstring) both missed the 1-1 draw at Port Vale after picking up injuries at Walsall last weekend, while Anderson has been out since picking up a groin injury against MK Dons in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, last month.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

Colchester will be without Milton Oni for several months after he suffered a serious knee injury against Brentford.

Predicted line-ups: Colchester United: Macey, Egbo, Kelleher, Flanagan, Iandolo, Woodyard, Bishop, Payne, Edwards, Tovide, Taylor.

Carlisle United: Lewis, Thomas, Davies, Lavelle, Jones, Harper, Sadi, Vela, Biggins, Mellish, Armstrong.

Colchester head coach Danny Cowley: "We anticipate a really tough game.

"I know they haven't had the start to the season that they would have liked but you've only got to look at work of Mike and his staff and also the quality of players that they have to know that they will get it right, sooner rather than later.

"We anticipate them being right at the top of the division."

(Image: MATT WILKINSON)

Head to head

Tom Flanagan has started all of Colchester’s league games since joining them from Shrewsbury Town, in the summer.

He is set to come up against striker Luke Armstrong, who found the net in Carlisle’s last away game, a 2-0 win at Swindon Town.

Opposition view

Carlisle boss Mike Williamson on second-half display against Notts County: “It’s that mentality that we saw.

“That output of energy, with that resilience and steel, just keeping in every attack, picking the ball up and going again, and making it so organised that they won't have a second to get out of their half, and we're locking on to things, we're not giving them a second.

“Obviously, we've got to match their physicality, and we've got to win the battle and earn that right, but the boys showed [on Tuesday] that they can do it against one of the best teams in the league.”

(Image: Richard Blaxall)

Last meeting

Colchester last met Carlisle in a game at Brunton Park in February, 2023.

It proved to be Matt Bloomfield’s last game in charge and resulted in a 1-0 win for the Cumbrians, courtesy of Alfie McCalmont's early goal.

Referee

Thomas Parsons is the man in the middle today.

He has presided over six games so far this season, showing 25 yellow cards and one red.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

Odds

Colchester are evens for the win over Carlisle, according to bookmakers Paddy Power.

Carlisle are 13/5 for the win, while the draw is 5/2.

League Two fixtures, today (3pm unless stated): Fleetwood Town v Bromley (12.30pm), Grimsby Town v Doncaster Rovers (12.30pm), Accrington Stanley v Morecambe, Barrow v Cheltenham Town, Chesterfield v Walsall, Colchester United v Carlisle United, Crewe Alexandra v Gillingham, Milton Keynes Dons v Tranmere Rovers, Notts County v Port Vale, Salford City v AFC Wimbledon, Swindon Town v Harrogate Town.