Colchester United return to home Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday 22nd August when they host Oldham Athletic at the JobServe Community Stadium.
It will be the U’s first home league match of the season, and it comes after both clubs were knocked out of the Carabao Cup. Colchester lost 3-1 at home to Championship Southampton on 8th August, while Oldham’s cup exit followed a strong start to the league campaign and a 10th-place finish in their 2025/26 season, their first back in the English Football League since 2022.
Oldham arrive in Essex in 4th place after opening their 2026/27 season with a 1-1 win at home against Port Vale. That gives Micky Mellon’s side an early platform, even if this remains a very small sample size so early in the season.
Colchester, meanwhile, are still working through a few availability questions. On Thursday, Danny told Col U TV that Teddy Bishop and Jake Leake are unavailable due to injury, while the rest of the squad, including Moses Sesay, are available.
The timing makes this a useful early test for both teams. Colchester have already shown they can compete away from home after drawing 2-2 with Accrington Stanley in their season opener last weekend, but the next step is carrying that into their first league game in front of their own supporters. Oldham, for their part, will try to turn a promising start into another result on the road.
What to watch for
The most immediate question is whether Colchester can translate their opening-day point into a home performance with more control. A home league return usually brings a different rhythm, and with Teddy Bishop and Jake Leake missing, the U’s will need others to step in.
Oldham’s position in 4th place adds a little extra weight to the fixture, but the bigger picture is straightforward: both teams want a response after Carabao Cup exits, and Saturday’s meeting is a chance to set a clearer tone for the weeks ahead.
