Parky counting down the minutes

COLCHESTER United manager Phil Parkinson is counting down the minutes - let alone the days - until the transfer window closes tomorrow night.

The League One side's latest headline-grabbing performance saw them beat Championship side Derby County 3-1 in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Layer Road on Saturday, And the Essex club's recent run has alerted clubs higher up the league

ladder to the talent in Parkinson's squad.

Norwich City, among others, are known to have inquired about midfielder Greg Halford, and the U's boss cannot wait for Wednesday morning when the speculation will stop.

“I'm not counting, but there's three days, eight hours and 12 minutes until the deadline,” he said.

“I just hope we can hold on to the young players who have done so well for us. But Greg's a Premiership player, no doubt.”

A double from free-scoring midfielder Neil Danns and Richard Garcia's strike put the League One high-flyers into a three-goal lead, and a late Tommy Smith penalty could not mask Derby's inadequacies at a blustery Layer Road.

Parkinson's young side, prompted by Danns and 21-year-old Halford, tore into the Rams from the off and were rewarded with Danns' opener after 44 minutes.

The former Blackburn trainee added a second seven minutes after the break and six minutes later Garcia bundled the ball home to kill off Derby.

Parkinson added: “At 3-0 up I thought we sat back and invited Derby forward but apart from that I felt comfortable.

“We did tremendously well. We will enjoy the exposure and we'll enjoy tonight but it won't distract us from our main focus which is the next game, Bradford at home.

“I hope that it's another full house because the players deserve it.”