Preview: Colchester United vs Crewe Alexandra – prediction, team news, lineups KIK BALL

Crewe Alexandra will be aiming to bounce back from successive defeats in League Two when they continue their campaign with a clash against Colchester United in Essex on Saturday.

The visitors are fourth in the League Two table, boasting 12 points from their opening six matches of the campaign, while Colchester are 17th, picking up six points from their first six games.

Match preview

Colchester have a record of one win, three draws and two defeats from their six league matches this season, with six points leaving them in 17th spot in the table.

Danny Cowley‘s side finished an impressive 10th last term, but they are yet to really get going in 2025-26, with their only league victory coming away to Shrewsbury Town on August 16.

Since then, the U’s have lost to Cambridge United and Barrow, in addition to drawing 1-1 with Barnet, but they will enter this match off the back of a win, beating Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

Each of the last three meetings between Colchester and Crewe have finished level, including 0-0 draws in their last two match-ups, with Colchester’s last win proving to be a 4-0 success in April 2023.

Crewe, meanwhile, last overcame Colchester in September 2023 on home soil, but there has been nothing between them in their last three meetings, while only two goals have been scored.

The Railwaymen have outperformed Colchester in League Two this season, though, boasting a record of four wins and two defeats from six matches to collect 12 points, which has left them fourth in the table.

Lee Bell‘s side actually opened their season with four straight wins over Salford City, Accrington Stanley, Crawley Town and Fleetwood Town, before losing their next two against Gillingham and Swindon Town.

Crewe finished 13th in League Two last season, and they have been present at this level for the last four campaigns, last competing in League One in 2021-22.

The Railwaymen will enter this match off the back of a spectacular 7-1 win over Chesterfield in the EFL Trophy.

Colchester United League Two form:

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Colchester United form (all competitions):

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Crewe Alexandra League Two form:

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Crewe Alexandra form (all competitions):

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Team News

Colchester will be without the services of Kane Vincent-Young, with the 29-year-old called up for the Grenada squad, but the home side have not reported any further availability issues.

Head coach Cowley will make changes to the side that started against Wycombe in the EFL Trophy last time out, with Jaden Williams among those set to drop out despite the fact that he found the back of the net in that clash.

Jack Tucker has been a standout performer this season, scoring three times from defence, and the 25-year-old will once again be in the starting side for Colchester here.

As for Crewe, Calum Agius will be a notable absentee for the visitors, with the 19-year-old receiving a call-up into the Wales Under-21s squad.

The Railwaymen put seven goals past Chesterfield in the EFL Trophy last time out, and Agius’ absence could now open the door for Emre Tezgel to start fresh from his treble in that contest.

However, there will be wholesale changes, including a return for Josh March, who has one goal in six appearances at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Colchester United possible starting lineup:

Macey; Hunt, Flanagan, Tucker, Powell; Read, Bishop; Anderson, Payne, Edwards; Tovide

Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:

Booth; Billington, Demetriou, Connolly, Hutchinson; Sanders, Powell; O’Reilly, Lunt, Tezgel; March

We say: Colchester United 0-1 Crewe Alexandra

Colchester are capable of making this a very tough match for Crewe, and it would not be a surprise to see the points shared, but we are backing the visitors to return to winning ways in Essex this weekend.

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