COLCHESTER United may be bottom of the table but they have scored more goals than Championship leaders Bristol City.So Ipswich Town will have to be on guard at the back if they are to deny the relegation-haunted U's their fourth home league win of a disappointing campaign.

Elvin King

COLCHESTER United may be bottom of the table but they have scored more goals than Championship leaders Bristol City.

So Ipswich Town will have to be on guard at the back if they are to deny the relegation-haunted U's their fourth home league win of a disappointing campaign.

Geraint Williams' side have netted 57 times - 30 at home - against Bristol City's 49.

It is their leaky defence that has put the U's into a position where they will be relegated tomorrow at Layer Road if they lose to the promotion-seeking Blues.

They have conceded 76 in total (Bristol City 47) and 30 of those have been at home. Ipswich's quest for a top-six finish could depend on their depleted attack hitting the goal trail to enable the Blues to win the last ever derby at Layer Road.

Ipswich manager Jim Magilton is expecting anything but an easy game.

He said today: “The very least they deserved was a draw at our place earlier this season when he won 3-1. I was very impressed with Colchester, and have been every time I've seen them this season.

“They play a very attacking brand of football - very much in the philosophy of their manager - and they're always capable of scoring goals.

“They showed that at West Brom on Saturday.

“To go to a team like that and push them to the absolute limit was a real achievement.

“We lost 4-0 at The Hawthorns so can appreciate that better than most, and the fact they scored three goals yet finished empty-handed was a travesty.

“If they were to get relegated I'd be very sad because if we're in the Championship we want them in there with us - it can only be a good thing for East Anglia.”

Magilton expects Colchester to come out tomorrow all guns blazing, and he added: “Colchester will be playing for pride and that's a very dangerous weapon - especially in a derby.

“Their players will be giving everything and they'll come at us with all guns blazing.

“We know if we take the points for granted they'll punish us, so there's absolutely no chance of going there thinking it will be easy.

“Anything can happen and they certainly carry a real attacking threat, especially at home.

“They lost big players in the summer - the likes of Jamie Cureton and Chris Iwelumo - and that can have an input on the harmony within a squad.”