Colchester couldn’t follow in the footsteps of Scunthorpe last season and bounce back into the Championship, but expectations are high in Essex this summer.
Geraint Williams was sacked as the U’s struggled in their smart new Weston Homes Community Stadium and Paul Lambert was drafted in to rescue a sinking ship last term.
He did well, guiding
Colchester to 12th in the final standings but his expectations are higher this term where they face a real test of their credentials in the first month.
An opening day trip to
Norwich is followed by fixtures with
MK Dons and
Leeds as well, so Lambert will know just how well his preparations have gone when August draws to a close.
Lambert told the Evening Gazette: “I want the lads to thrive on the big games that we play and take it on. You have to remember that the teams that come down from the Championship are big, big clubs.
“Whether or not we’re going to be up there, we will have to wait and see. That will depend on finances but the club cannot give out the same sort of money as it did in the Championship – those days have gone.
“We have to step it back but what I do expect is a work-rate from people. I had that last year and if we can keep our away form and keep winning games at home, then we will be round about where we want to be.
“I’d like to get off to a good start and that’s what we will try to do, whether we are at home or away.”
However, as home form was their Achilles heel last season, Lambert wants changes at their new ground and has asked supporters to move behind the goal in the south stand to help increase the atmosphere.
"There are things we want to do to give the club an identity here and make it feel more like a home than it does at the moment," Lambert told the club's official website.
"Teams would go to Layer Road and know that they were in for a tough afternoon and I think at times the new stadium has felt a bit like a new house. But with what the fans are doing and what we're doing, I think we can make it a difficult place to come and turn it into a real football stadium."
Clarky's view on Colchester's season
Paul Lambert turned things around and they could be play-off contenders next term. 6/10.
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