COLCHESTER United host Cheltenham Town in League Two this afternoon (kick-off 3pm).

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 will check on the fitness of Teddy Bishop and Owura Edwards ahead of the game against Cheltenham.

Bishop (ankle) and Edwards (hamstring) have both missed the last three games after picking up injuries in the defeat at Walsall, last month.

Lyle Taylor, Aaron Donnelly and Jamie McDonnell are all available again after returning from international duty.

(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, Read, Payne, Edwards, Tovide, Taylor.

Cheltenham Town: Evans, Stubbs, Miller, Bradbury, Young, Shipley, Kinsella, Archer, Payne, Thomas, Bowman.

Colchester head coach Danny Cowley: “When I watched Cheltenham last Saturday, they were 2-0 at half-time but it was an even game.

“You would argue before the first goal, that Cheltenham were the better team and then Swindon scored two quick goals, just before half-time and then came out and scored directly after half-time.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

“All of a sudden, it’s 3-0 and you’re thinking ‘wow, where did that come from?’.

“Cheltenham then really fought back with two goals and it was all Cheltenham, in those final moments and if anyone was going to find the next goal, it was going to be them.

“They’ve got a good squad with quite a lot of experience with some boys that we know from the past who are really good players and I think they’ve got a good mix between some really good experience and some knowhow, game intelligence and a little bit of athleticism at the top end of the pitch, too.”

Head to head

Arthur Read was Colchester’s man of the match in their last League Two game, the goal-less draw with Carlisle United.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

He is likely to come up against Liam Kinsella, the son of U’s legend Mark Kinsella.

Last meeting

The last time Colchester played Cheltenham was back in April, 2021.

The U’s lost 1-0, with Conor Thomas grabbing a late winner for the Robins at Whaddon Road.

Referee

The man in the middle today is Benjamin Speedie. He has presided over ten matches so far, showing 27 yellow cards and no reds.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

Odds

Colchester are 3/4 to beat Cheltenham today, according to Paddy Power. Cheltenham are 7/2 to win, while the draw is 5/2.

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