Williams Proud Of Colchester

Colchester United boss Geraint Williams has come out in support of his side following last week`s Coca-Cola Championship defeat to Stoke City, insisting that the season has been a great one for confounding the critics.

Williams, a front-runner for the Manager of the Year award made next week, said: "We never set any targets this season but our attitude has always been that we can match anyone in this league."

Following promotion last term, and the departure of key squad players like Neil Danns (Birmingham) and Liam Chilvers (Preston), the U`s have defined gravity by spending most of the season at the top end of the table, despite spending no money on new squad members

Colchester also lost Greg Halford to Reading during the last transfer window, but have proved to be no easy pickings especially at home, where they have the best record in the division, beating Sunderland, Preston, Stoke and Derby among others.

Williams added: "We have always wanted to be positive, and it speaks volumes that we have scored more goals than we managed last year, when we were playing at a lower level."

His statement was echoed by U`s stalwart midfielder, Kevin Watson, who said this week, ahead of the last game of the campaign at home to Crystal Palace: "We've shown a lot of people outside the club what we're about. We've got good players at the club and it's been a fantastic season."

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