Albion were without Danny Cullip for Peter Taylor's third match in charge against Colchester.

A knee injury sidelined the central defender, so Matthew Wickes came in alongside Simon Morgan for only his second League start of the season.

Wickes was preferred to Andy Crosby, who was again among the substitutes.

Taylor made one other change to the team which drew 2-2 at Notts County on Tuesday, Nathan Jones getting the nod over Paul Brooker on the left flank.

Colchester, beaten in five of their seven previous away League games, were unchanged for the third match running.

Manager Steve Whitton stood by the line-up which beat Cambridge United 3-1 at Layer Road last Saturday and then drew 2-2 at home with Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday.

Albion: Michel Kuipers; Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Simon Morgan, Gary Hart, Charlie Oatway, Richard Carpenter, Ollie Steele, Nathan Jones, Matthew Wickes, Bobby Zamora. Subs: Crosby, Pitcher, Rogers, Brooker, Lehmann.

Colchester: Andy Woodman; Gavin Johnson, Ross Johnson, Simon Clark, Karl Duguid, Scott McGleish, Kemal Izzet, Thomas Pinault, Bobby Bowry, Micky Stockwell, Kevin Rapley. Subs:Brown, Keith, Fitzgerald, D. Morgan, White.

Referee: Mr. M. Messias (York).