STAR FOOTBALL PREVIEW Sat: Colchester v Southampton

League Two side Colchester United will be looking to cause a shock when they take on Championship outfit Southampton in the first round of the League Cup on Saturday, writes JOE CITRONE.

Colchester, under the stewardship of Danny and Nicky Cowley, are about to embark on their 11th consecutive season in League Two and will be hoping this can be the campaign when things finally start to change.

They would certainly love to get their season off to a winning start in the League Cup, but face a tough challenge against a Southampton side two divisions above them.

Colchester United v Southampton
League Cup Round One
17:30 Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HDR

LAST FIVE STATS

HEAD-TO-HEAD
MAR 2011 LEAGUE ONE Colchester 0-2 Southampton
SEP 2010 LEAGUE ONE Southampton 0-0 Colchester
DEC 2009 LEAGUE ONE Colchester 2-1 Southampton
SEP 2009 LEAGUE ONE Southampton 0-0 Colchester
DEC 2007 CHAMPIONSHIP Colchester 1-1 Southampton

COLCHESTER
AUG 2026 FRIENDLY Stevenage 1-0 Colchester
JUL 2026 FRIENDLY Colchester 0-2 Charlton
JUL 2026 FRIENDLY Colchester 2-2 West Ham
JUL 2026 FRIENDLY Colchester 2-3 Peterborough
JUL 2026 FRIENDLY Harlow 0-5 Colchester

SOUTHAMPTON
AUG 2026 FRIENDLY Prueben Munster 1-2 Southampton
JUL 2026 FRIENDLY Eintracht Braunschweig 0-1 Southampton
JUL 2026 FRIENDLY AFC Totton 2-3 Southampton
JUL 2026 FRIENDLY Eastleigh 1-3 Southampton
MAY 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFFS Southampton 2-1 Middlesbrough

This will be Southampton’s first competitive match since they were knocked out of last season’s Championship play-offs following the ‘Spygate’ controversy, and Colchester fans will surely be keen to remind them of it with a few spy-related songs and chants.

It is difficult to know how strong a side Tonda Eckert will field, but with the league season getting underway in just a week, the Southampton boss may decide to give his strongest XI some valuable minutes.

If that is the case, it could spell bad news for their League Two opponents. I am backing Southampton to win to nil at 13/10 with starsports.bet.

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