Preview: Colchester United vs. Tranmere Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Two sides with completely different targets face off at the Colchester Community Stadium on Tuesday evening as Colchester United play host to Tranmere Rovers.

The home team enter the midweek fixture sitting one place above the relegation zone, while their opponents are one place outside the automatic promotion zone.

Match preview

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Colchester will be looking nervously over their shoulders following Saturday's 1-0 home loss to Port Vale, which leaves them battling for survival.

Despite a terrible run of just one win in 20 matches, however, the U's still have a seven-point buffer on Southend United in 23rd.

Not only are Colchester failing to win matches, they appear to have forgotten how to find the back of the net.

The defeat to Port Vale was the fifth game in a row in which they have failed to score, three of those games ending in defeat and two as a draw.

Tranmere went two games without a goal prior to Saturday's 2-1 win at home to Exeter City, meanwhile, although both goals came from the penalty spot.

David Nugent and substitute Danny Lloyd converted either side of half time to secure a big win for Rovers, which leaves them level on points with third-placed Forest Green Rovers.

It was a big victory in more ways than one for Tranmere, coming a week on from their EFL Cup final loss to Sunderland at Wembley.

Keith Hill's men are very much in the automatic promotion picture, then, and they face top-two sides Cheltenham Town and Cambridge United in the next couple of weeks.

It is a defining period in the campaign for the Merseyside outfit, and they cannot afford to drop any points against strugglers Colchester on Tuesday.

Recent history suggests that Rovers should be okay in that regard, having gone six without defeat against Colchester in a run that includes five victories.

Team News

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Omar Sowunmi's recent absence has forced Wayne Brown into a tactical shuffle, and the 4-3-1-2 formation used against Port Vale is likely to remain for this game.

Courtney Senior and Junior Tchamadeu will both be pushing for recalls to the side after being introduced at half time on Saturday.

As for the visitors, James Vaughan remains sidelined and Mark Ellis has been absent for the past few months.

George Ray sustained an injury last time out, which could mean a return to the side for Manny Monthe, while Lloyd will hope his goal against Exeter will earn him a recall.

That could come at the expense of Nugent, who has one goal in eight league outings this term - his penalty at the weekend.

Colchester United possible starting lineup:
George; Welch-Hayes, Eastman, Smith, Clampin; Sarpong-Wiredu, Stevenson, Pell; Chilvers; Nouble, Brown

Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
Davies; Khan, Clarke, Monthe, MacDonald; O'Connor, Spearing; Morris, Feeney, Woolery; Lloyd

We say: Colchester United 0-2 Tranmere Rovers

Colchester's form will be a serious concern for supporters, and it is difficult to see where a goal is going to come from on the basis of recent performances.

Tranmere are on a good run in the league and could end the week in the automatic promotion zone, so we are tipping them to prevail in Tuesday's clash.