National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Colchester U23 or Reading U23 that keep their silverware dream alive.
Colchester U23 have less rest than Reading U23 in this fixture, as the hosts were involved in a Professional Development League game only three days ago. This match was also played here at JobServe Community Stadium. With two consecutive home games the intense schedule is somewhat softened. Still, Reading U23 have had more rest.
Colchester U23 form and stats
Colchester U23 participated in Premier League Cup the last season, where they reached the group stage.When playing at home in the Professional Development League, Colchester U23 have managed 3 wins, 1 draw and suffered 4 defeats from 8 games. 1W-1D-1L is the hard facts regardless of venue in the Premier League Cup for Colchester U23. Colchester U23 has three losses from their three previous games and the tension is increasing in the dressing room for both the manager and the players.
Colchester U23's previous game was also a home match, the defeat 1-4 versus Watford U23. A Professional Development League defeat was the result before that one, 1-2 away at Cardiff U23.
There's a new fixture coming up fairly quickly for Colchester U23, as the Professional Development League home game vs Ipswich U23 is only four days away.
The Colchester U23 fans have had their share of opportunities to cheer home goals this season, having seen 13 goals in 8 league matches. Colchester U23 are struggling defensively, conceding on average more than two goals per home game (17 from 8 played).
Reading U23 form and stats
Reading U23 was sent out of Premier League Cup in the 8th finals last season.Reading U23 have only collected 6 points from their away games in the Premier League 2 Divison Two, after 2-0-5 (7 played). When we have look at the Premier League Cup statistics, we find 1W-1D-1L. This is both home and away.
Reading U23 delivered a 3-3 draw playing at home against West Ham United U23 in their previous match; a Premier League 2 Divison Two game. Preceding that game, the 2-4 loss visiting West Bromwich Albion U23's place.
A crazy, crazy match with lots of goals last time out for Reading U23, as mentioned above. 6 goals in that one, will this match be as much fun?
Reading U23 has another fixture away, a Premier League 2 Divison Two game, against Stoke City U23 in just four days. A tough schedule for the visitors!
Reading U23 has displayed an ability to score goals in away matches in the league this season, 12 goals from 7 games. For Reading U23, more than two goals on average per game end up in their own net.
Head 2 Head
The most recent history between these sides is the Reading U23 - Colchester U23 2-2 played earlier this season. Head-2-head stats last three meetings: 0 - 1 - 2 (Colchester U23 wins - draws - Reading U23 wins). As for goals, 3 matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), 0 had two or less.Top Goalscorers
 A. Liddle 6 goals | T. Nevers 6 goals |  T. Frost 4 goals |
Colchester U23 missing players
Reading U23 missing players
| Colchester U23 | Reading U23 | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 11 | Played | P | 9 | 25 | ||
| 6 | 3 | Won | W | 3 | 8 | ||
| 4 | 1 | Drew | D | 0 | 5 | ||
| 15 | 7 | Lost | L | 6 | 12 | ||
| 29 | 13 | Scored | S | 16 | 50 | ||
| 51 | 22 | Conceded | C | 18 | 50 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | ||
| 88% | 91% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 89% | 88% | ||
| 68% | 64% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 78% | 84% | ||
| 48% | 45% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 33% | 60% | ||
| 16% | 18% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 22% | 36% | ||
| 64% | 55% | BTTS | BTTS | 44% | 60% | ||
| 4% | 0% | Clean Sheets | C S | 33% | 20% | ||
| 32% | 45% | Failed to Score | F T | 22% | 20% | ||
| 4.8 | 5.1 | Corners For (avg) | C F | 6.6 | 6 | ||
| 4 | 3.5 | Corners Against (avg) | C A | 5 | 5.7 | ||
| 1.5 | 1.6 | Yellow Cards (avg) | Y C | 1.6 | 1.4 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Red Cards | R C | 0 | 2 | ||
| 241 | 108 | Total Shots | T S | 129 | 319 | ||
| 95 | 46 | Shots on Target | S O | 51 | 138 | ||
| 31% | 28% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 31% | 36% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Charlton U23 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | Swansea City U23 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -1 | 6 |
| 3 | Reading U23 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Colchester U23 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Watford U23 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 41 | 26 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 15 | 15 | 36 |
| 2 | Millwall U23 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 31 | 22 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 31 |
| 3 | Coventry U23 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 30 |
| 4 | Charlton U23 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 36 | 27 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 17 | 9 | 29 |
| 5 | Queens Park Rangers U23 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 33 | 31 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 22 |
| 6 | Cardiff U23 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 22 | 27 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 20 | -5 | 22 |
| 7 | Ipswich U23 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 26 | 31 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 16 | -5 | 20 |
| 8 | Bristol City U23 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 32 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 11 | -11 | 18 |
| 9 | Colchester U23 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 22 | 38 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 21 | -16 | 14 |
| 10 | Crystal Palace U23 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 14 | -9 | 12 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | West Ham United U23 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 15 | 31 | 39 |
| 2 | Manchester United U23 | 15 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 40 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 9 | 26 | 37 |
| 3 | West Bromwich Albion U23 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 36 | 22 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 28 |
| 4 | Stoke City U23 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 23 |
| 5 | Aston Villa U23 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 4 | 22 |
| 6 | Swansea City U23 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | -5 | 21 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough U23 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 32 | 41 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 24 | -9 | 20 |
| 8 | Reading U23 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 32 | 32 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 0 | 17 |
| 9 | Norwich City U23 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 22 | 29 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 12 | -7 | 17 |
| 10 | Newcastle Utd U23 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 21 | 32 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 18 | -11 | 16 |
| 11 | Fulham U23 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 21 | 31 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 12 | -10 | 14 |
| 12 | Sunderland U23 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 44 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 26 | -36 | 1 |