Colchester United will have to achieve a feat they have only managed against Stoke City once before if they are to beat the promotion-seeking Potters at Layer Road tonight.

Just one win in seven previous League outings is all the U's have mustered a 1-0 home success courtesy of a dramatic, last-gasp Steve McGavin strike in late February two years ago.

McGavin's historic 87th minute goal wrote another new chapter in U's history and earned them only their fifth point from four outings against the well-off, Icelandic-owned Midlands club.

Three goals from Peter Thorne and one via Graham Kavanagh both strutting their stuff at fellow promotion hopefuls Cardiff City now after £1million transfers earned Gudjon Thordarson's men the double over the U's last season.

And after a 3-0 thrashing of the U's at the Britannia Stadium last September, thanks to two goals from Stefan Thordarson and Belgian Jergen Vandeurson, Stoke are on target to complete the double again.

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Published Tuesday, March 5, 2002