PRE-MATCH: SHAUN DERRY
Ahead of the U’s Boxing Day clash with Dagenham & Redbridge, Manager Shaun Derry looks ahead to an important week’s work.
Following the match with the Daggers, the U’s play back-to-back games at the Abbey Stadium against Barnet (Monday 28th December, K.O. 3pm) and AFC Wimbledon (Saturday 2nd January, K.O. 3pm), with Derry expecting to have a better picture of how the season may unfold in the New Year.
“The next three games will be important in letting us know where we are going to be in the League table. Come the end of the AFC Wimbledon game, we’ll probably have more of an idea of what the second half of the season holds for us.
“Dagenham will be a really tough opponent.
“We don’t know who the opposition may be because we don’t who will be picking the team which makes it difficult. However, the one aspect we can affect is us, and we have been working on what we can done this week.
He continued: “The training schedule has been as professional as it always has been and we’ll continue to be so. We’ve looked after the boys in the right way and they have trained with the correct amount of intensity.
“Christmas day will be spent with our families and I’m 100% certain that is the right decision. I’ve been in dressing rooms where we have trained on Christmas Day and stayed in hotels over Christmas night, before arriving at the game the next where there is no rhyme or reason to the result.
“I trust the group and we’ll do all our preparation right up to the day before.”
As the chimes of New Year near, the U’s Boss admits that he harbours hopes for an exciting second half to the 2015/16 Sky Bet League Two campaign, although he will be setting realistic targets.
“I’m pleased with the progress of recent weeks and it is a good club. I’m still so happy to be here.
“I look at the team and the ability of the group and think we can have a positive second half of the season.
“But it will be tough so I don’t want to set the targets too high because there will be around 12 teams all striving for the same thing, but I want us to be one of them 12 looking up the table.”
Tickets for the U’s Boxing Day clash with Dagenham & Redbridge are available on the gate at the Chigwell Construction Stadium for U’s fans that want to make the trip. Meanwhile, United will return to the Abbey Stadium for their final game of 2015 against Barnet on Monday (K.O. 3:00pm), click here to buy tickets.