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Last Updated: Wednesday, 8 November 2006, 10:27 GMT
U's find form under Williams
By Dan Warren

Colchester boss Geraint Williams
Colchester have won six home games in a row under Williams

You would have been hard-pressed to find anyone tipping Colchester to be the Championship's surprise package this season.

Many expected the U's to struggle in English football's second tier after the unfashionable club won promotion last season.

A traumatic close season saw boss Phil Parkinson depart for Hull, to be replaced by his assistant Geraint Williams.

The affable Welshman did not enjoy the greatest of starts to his tenure as Colchester lost their first five games of the season, including a Carling Cup exit at the hands of League Two MK Dons.

Now Williams is facing a new problem - how to deal with his side's success.

They grabbed their sixth successive home win by beating leaders Cardiff 3-1 on Saturday, a result which surprised everyone in the Championship but Williams.

"On our patch we can give anyone a game," he said.

"The players have put together a six-game run and collected some notable scalps along the way.

"It's fantastic and just nice for the lads to get some reward for all the hard work they've put in through the week and on matchdays."

When we go to the big clubs, we don't play the grounds or the names that used to play for them

Geraint Williams
But Williams knows that success brings its own issues and he admits he is already nervously looking ahead to January's re-opening of the transfer window.

"Now it's a period where other teams may be looking at our players," he said.

"That's something we have now got to recognise and deal with."

While their team is proving more than a match for many of the Championship's finest, in terms of support Colchester are rock-bottom of the league.

The Essex unit are attracting a shade over 5,000 to each home game, a figure dwarfed by the likes of Sunderland, Norwich, Sheffield Wednesday - who all trail Colchester in the league.

Williams admits it is difficult for his side to keep punching above its weight.

"Our staff are all out at games trying to identify players who can help improve the squad, but they've got to be the right characters as well," he said.

"It's not easy to find better than we've currently got within our budget.

The players have worked hard to improve things and we're thoroughly enjoying it now

Geraint Williams
"We've got to be realistic. When the transfer window opens we can't go out and spend a million pounds on players - but other clubs will be looking at ours."

Williams admitted it had taken time for his team to find their feet in the higher league, but is pleased with their style of football.

"As a footballing side, box-to-box we didn't have a problem. Even in the early games this season, teams weren't passing us off the park, or enjoying 80% possession against us," he said.

"But chances weren't being taken. We needed a bit of tightening up at the back, a bit of finishing practice, but the players have worked hard to improve things.

"We're thoroughly enjoying it now.

"A lot of hard work went in from everyone at the club last year to give us the opportunity to go to the grounds we now visit."

Two of the biggest trips are coming up in Colchester's next two matches, as they travel first to Leeds, then to Sunderland in successive weekends.

But Williams said his side would not be overawed by playing on the division's biggest stages.

"When we go to the big clubs, we don't play the grounds or the names that used to play for these clubs," he said

"We walk on the pitch 11 versus 11 to take on the side that they are putting out now.

"We feel when we go to these grounds that we are going there confident - not overconfident - but we go there looking to win."

Williams scooped the Championship manager of the month award for September but says he personal glory comes second to success for the club.

"I'm not worried about manager of the month awards. I just want us to get as many wins this month as we possibly can," he said.

"We've got four more games this month and if we can win them all then things like that will take care of themselves."



SEE ALSO
U's face uphill struggle
10 Aug 06 |  Colchester United


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