Colchester United can start the new year on a high by claiming their first-ever league victory at MK Dons today, according to boss Joe Dunne.

Playing at stadiummk has not been a happy experience for the U’s over the years and they have never won a league game at the venue.

They were thrashed 5-1 there last season but it is little more than a month since Colchester beat MK Dons 3-1, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

And Dunne believes his side have what it takes to bounce back from their home defeat against Crewe Alexandra and secure a win this afternoon (kick-off 3pm).

Dunne said: “It’s a difficult place for us to go but our away record is pretty good and we have players who can go there and put in a performance.

“The game comes so quickly after a glut of games and we’ll be asking the players to go again.

“We lost 4-0 against Notts County and then won our next two games, so we can do the same again.

“We can go to MK Dons and win if our mindset is correct.

“It’s a big pitch there and I’m pretty sure that we’ll be chasing the game, the way that they play.

“When we have it we’ll have to be good with it so it becomes a strategy what we do with the ball and how we use it.

“The trick is to get back on your bike once you’ve fallen off and keep pedalling."

For more on this story and a full preview of the U's game at MK Dons, including a new year message from U's chairman Robbie Cowling, see today's Daily Gazette.