The only way is Essex for Carlisle United tonight as they head to Colchester in a bid to get back to winning ways.

Here's our handy look at the key details of tonight's clash at the JobServe Community Stadium.

TEAM NEWS

United do not have any obvious new injury concerns, so it will boil down to whether Chris Beech feels changes are needed.

The head coach hinted after Saturday's game against Oldham that, even though he didn't feel it a bad performance, it might be the time to make some alterations.

Frontman Lewis Alessandra's omission from the starting line-up has been a topic of debate among fans, and the experienced forward could come back into the reckoning tonight.

Brennan Dickenson will be hoping to get the nod to face his former club.

If Beech tinkers further, could it be a first outing since early January for Dean Furman?

The South African was all set to come off the bench on Saturday as Callum Guy suffered a knock, but the latter man stayed on.

Other options at Beech's disposal include, in attack, Cedwyn Scott, Offrande Zanzala and Ethan Walker. Taylor Charters will be hoping for a recall in midfield, while any defensive changes could involve Rod McDonald or Jack Armer.

Injury-wise, Carlisle remain without Morgan Feeney (foot), Danny Devine (knee) and Jamie Armstrong (ankle).

Colchester, meanwhile, are set to be without keeper Dean Gerken to a back injury.

That should mean a third league start of the season for ex-United loanee Shamal George.

Midfielder Ben Stevenson is also expected to miss out with injury, while interim boss Wayne Brown could make other changes to a side in bleak form.

News and Star: Colchester interim boss Wayne Brown (photo: PA)Colchester interim boss Wayne Brown (photo: PA)

FORM

Tenth-placed United are hoping for a first win in six games.

The Blues' recent action amid a heavily interrupted recent spell has brought four defeats and a draw from their last five outings.

Their last victory came at home to Exeter on January 30, with their last away win coming at Walsall on January 2.

Carlisle's wait for a win, though, has nothing on Colchester's.

The Essex side are badly out of sorts, having failed to win any of their last 14 matches.

A run which recently cost head coach Steve Ball his job goes back to December 8 for the last Colchester victory - a 1-0 win at Stevenage.

Since then it has been eight defeats and six draws, putting the Us fourth bottom in League Two.

While Carlisle are four points outside the play-off places with games still in hand, Colchester are seven points above the relegation zone.

ODDS

Colchester's miserable recent run leaves Carlisle as clear favourites with bookmakers.

The Blues are as short as 10/11 with Sky Bet, and Evens with BetWay and SpreadEx.

The longest odds for a Carlisle win is 10/9 with Smarkets. Other bookies offer 21/20, 15/14 and 11/10. You get the picture.

The home side are 14/5 with Sky Bet and Match Book and 5/2 with Paddy Power, Betfair and Boyle Sports (Source: Oddschecker).

KICK-OFF

The game gets under way at 7pm, the kick-off time having been brought forward from its original 7.45pm after discussions between the clubs.

iFollow is the only way fans can watch the game, with matches continuing to be played behind closed doors.

The News & Star will be reporting from the Jobserve Community Stadium.

REFEREE

Trevor Kettle is the man in the middle for this one.

News and Star: Trevor Kettle (photo: PA)Trevor Kettle (photo: PA)

He last took charge of a United game in the 2-2 FA Cup draw at Forest Green in November 2019 - Chris Beech's first match in charge.

Of nine Carlisle away games he's refereed, the Blues have won just one - 1-0 at Yeovil in April 2017.

He's shown three red cards in 10 encounters with United since 2007.

One notorious Blues game he reffed was the 6-0 defeat at Peterborough in March 2011, when Carlisle's Liam Cooper was dismissed and the hosts were awarded two penalties - neither of which they scored.

PAST MEETINGS

Carlisle are hoping to complete a league double over the Us tonight.

Back in October at Brunton Park the Blues edged an entertaining five-goal encounter.

Goals inside the first half-hour from Alessandra and Jon Mellish put Chris Beech's side in control, before a Luke Norris double had the Us level by the 52nd minute.

But defender Aaron Hayden pounced to head home in the 81st-minute to clinch a 3-2 win.

United have only won once in 10 visits to Colchester's ground.

That came in October 2017 when a Jamie Devitt goal earned a 1-0 triumph for Keith Curle's Blues.

Otherwise United have struggled to get the better of the Us at the Community Stadium.

The Blues, in fact, were the first side to lose at the relatively new ground when they suffered a 5-0 thrashing in the 2008/9 campaign during John Ward's tenure.

Last season they went down to a 3-0 December defeat early in Beech's reign.

Carlisle's overall record against Colchester both home and away has seen 19 wins, 22 defeats and 11 draws over the years.

Famous meetings including the trip to Colchester's previous home of Layer Road in 1995 when a David Reeves goal clinched the Divison Three title for Mick Wadsworth's United.

Another notable meeting was 1997's Auto-Windscreens Shield Final, when a dour 0-0 draw was followed by a penalty shoot-out victory for Mervyn Day's Carlisle.

It proved United's first-ever win at Wembley Stadium.

Relive that dramatic day here: