Colchester United boss Steve Whitton will be looking for an early birthday present with a vital U's win over fellow strugglers Chesterfield at Layer Road.

"They say life begins at 40," said the U's boss who celebrates his 39th birthday on Saturday.

"But I will be hoping life begins at 39 and we will all be celebrating our First league double of the season and our first home win since August."

There's cause for optimism about tonight's game because the U's kicked off their season with a 1-0 opening day win over the Spireites at Saltergate courtesy of a Jason Dozzell goal.

But since then both sides have struggled to get their game together and currently sit at the bottom of the Second Division.

"It's a big game for both teams," said Whitton, "One I wish I was still young enough to be playing in. It is very important that we win!

"Victory will give us all a tremendous boost and take us out of the bottom four and, after last Saturday's tremendous draw at Stoke City, a win tonight could just spark an unbeaten run into the New Year."

The U's boss said he would gladly swap his team's home and away form.

"We've been very close to victories over promotion chasing Wigan and Preston since beating Reading back in August. But everything tonight will depend on how positively we start.

"If the boys get stuck in and the first touches are good hopefully confidence will sweep throughout the team and everything will go well.

"First touches will be very important because Chesterfield manager John Duncan is also very aware of exactly how important tonight's game is to his team.

"While being positive we must also be very patient. Chesterfield will be coming here as they always do looking to hit us on the break.

"Right now I'd settle for a repeat of our first ever win in Division Two when Mark Sale netted an injury time winner for us over Chesterfield on opening day of the season 16 months ago."

Whitton is waiting on the availability of injured trio Steve McGavin, Gavin Johnson and Joe Keith. He will make a last minute decision on all three, but McGavin reported in this morning with the news that his bout of tonsilitis is clearing up.

Whitton was boosted further by the news that his latest loan signing Alan White is 90 per cent sure to be playing in Tuesday's Auto Windscreen Shield tie at Swansea City, subject to his parent club Luton not suffering a long injury list this weekend.

U's Youth team travel to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday morning for their latest Alliance League match, kick-off 11am.

Joe Keith - struggling for fitness

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