Graeson looks ahead to Tuesday night's vital relagation clash between Colchester United & Sheffield Wednesday at Layer Road (ko 7:45pm)

The most important game in the club's history? Tuesday evenings encounter with Sheffield Wednesday is certainly on the top ten list as the U's know a result is a must if they are to avoid relegation this season.

It marks the start of a vital week for United. Three home wins in eight days would see players and fans start to believe that they could perhaps escape from the gigantic hole they've dug themselves. Of course, given that we've only won three at home all season is a massive ask to get them to win three on the trot!

The game takes on even more importance when you consider that the visitors - Sheffield Wednesday - are just two places above the U's. They need to keep teams close to them if they want to survive so this game is a definite six pointer. If they can win, then they will only be four points behind though Wednesday have a game in hand - and then United will have a fixture in hand on those just above them as well. Quite simply - the U's have to win.

Wednesday have won just three times away from home all season with five draws and nine scoring sixteen goals and conceding twenty-three. They haven't won away from home since 3rd November when they beat Plymouth Argyle at Home Park with Akpo Sodje and Burton O'Brien scoring the goals just after the break.

Their last away games saw them at surprise FA Semi-finalist's Barnsley when the two sides played out a goalless draw at Oakwell. Kevin Phillips scored a 90th minute winner for West Brom at Hillsborough in the game that followed but on Saturday, they beat QPR after coming from a goal behind - Rangers having former U's loanee Hogan Ephraim sent off for a reckless tackle late on.

The U's will be looking to complete a rare double this season over Wednesday after their 2-1 victory at Hillsborough earlier in the season. Teddy Sheringham put the U's ahead before George Elokobi doubled the lead for the visitors. Akpo Sodje reduced the arrears but United held on for three valuable points.

Last season, United blitzed Wednesday at Layer Road with three of the best goals you're likely to see in a single game. After Cureton's first half goal, further efforts from Greg Halford, Chris Iwelumo and Karl Duguid (all from outside the box) gave United what was the final game of Paul Sturrock in charge of Wednesday.

United do have one thing in their favour. Sheffield Wednesday have never won at Layer Road. True, they've only visited the North Essex club on seven occasions, and drawn four of those, but it’s the U's who have the better overall record with eight wins to Wednesday's three. Indeed, aside from victory at Hillsborough last season, the blue half of Wednesday hasn’t recorded a victory over Colchester United since a 3-0 win in February 1980! Let's hope that record continues again today.

Graeson's Team
I thought the team that was put out on Saturday at Palace was a lot better balanced but, if the U's desperate to record wins instead of draws now, I think the manager has got to be brave and gamble with his team selection.

I think we have to sacrifice a midfielder (not literally of course, though one does spring to mind) and put an extra attacker on the field in Scott Vernon. The deadline day signing has looked really bright in his few appearances for the U's. He holds the ball up well and crucially brings the midfield in to the game. Yes, I know we'll be a bit narrow - but desperate times require desperate measures and the U's must win this one.

So my team to face Wednesday will be Gerken in goal, a back four of Ifil, Coyne, Virgo and White. A midfield trio of Izzet (who will be sitting just in front of the back four) with Hammond on his right, and Jackson to the left. The front two will be Vernon and Platt which will allow Lisbie to get ahead of the ball for any flicks, or alternatively, just to drop off the play and go into wide areas when needed.

Graeson's Prediction
The U's need every single man, woman and child to get behind them this evening. Defeat is unthinkable, but if we all pull together towards one goal - then who knows we may just reach the goal a couple of times and record the desperate victory we need. From then we only need five more!

U's to win 2-0 thanks to goals from Vernon and Hammond in the second half.

Photo: Action Images

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