Banter with Burns with Colchester United Supporters Association chairman Jon Burns

I THINK that League Two will be a squeaky backside finish for a good number of teams this season.

It could possibly be one of the closest and most thrilling promotion finales of recent years, with the automatic and play-off places probably not being decided until the final battles.

It could all be even more exciting than Brexit!

The U’s excellent win at Port Vale propelled them back up the table again and that’s even after our pretty dire few weeks after Christmas.

No one team is really making a play for the title and pulling away from the pack in my opinion.

Even Lincoln City have been vulnerable at times, allowing the likes of Bury and Mansfield to close in.

So what does this mean for the U’s? I truly think that if we can survive my feared months of January and February when the U’s have wandered in the past, can still have a strong squad intact come March and be sitting in the top seven, then we will have a dozen cup finals left to put everything into and I am convinced that we will have something to celebrate come the end of the season.

There will be variables and speed bumps along the way but beating Mansfield tomorrow will be a massive statement of intent to our rivals and also to our fans that the U’s mean business.

The Stags will be tough opponents with only three defeats on their record so far.

Our key players will have to rise to the challenge. Lads such as Harry Pell who will probably still be on cloud nine after his goals at the Vale; Courtney Senior needed the confidence boost, too.

We all know what he can do on the pitch and if selected, I would love to see his A game on show.

There has been a lot of praise for Brennan Dickenson after his left-back stint last week.

He too is a top player and before his injury, he was touted as being on a money move away. Having the old Dicko back will be important and even more so if he can do well in the defence whilst Kane Vincent-Young tries to heal his broken toe.

Although I am probably tempting fate with these notes, I am really surprised that there has been little transfer window news for the U’s. More out than in, if I am honest.

I do think that Colchester is hit hard geographically with scouts not bothering to pay our little corner a visit often enough.

Even by being close to London, it’s almost as if the capital dwellers struggle to see good players on the doorstep of their bubble.

The fear is always there that losing a player or two close to the end of January allows little time for replacements. This month must be hell for football managers, especially in League Two.

Onto tomorrow and I thank you if you can don your hats and gloves to support the U’s against Mansfield. Good luck U’s and let’s hope they can win and start to build that clear water below them.

Up the U’s!

Jon Burns, Colchester United Supporters Association chairman