Arthur Read is tipping Stevenage to win automatic promotion to League One - but only after he has helped Colchester United beat them.

The U's head to the Lamex Stadium for the first of the Easter fixtures and both sides are in desperate need of the points, albeit for entirely different reasons.

Boro are third and still one of the favourites to finish in the top three at the end of the season.

Colchester are at the other end, fourth from bottom and just three points above the drop zone.

And the 23-year-old, who made the switch to Essex at the start of January after two-and-a-half years at the Lamex, is well aware of the importance of the contest.

He said: "I'd like to go back there and get a win, it would be a great feeling.

"I was a part of it there until I signed here in January and although I didn’t play as much as I would have liked this season, I was still a part of it and enjoyed it.

"I’m looking forward to going back. I’m still in touch with a few of my former team-mates.

"I know they’ve had a few poor results recently but they’re still among that race for second place and I think they will do it – they’ve got a great team."

 

The former Brentford midfielder knows his side are going to have to perform exceptionally well, going into the match as big underdogs.

That almost takes the pressure off though.

He said: "If you’re a betting man, no-one would expect us to go there and get anything.

"For us, I think it’s an opportunity to show what we’re about.

"We’re not expected to get anything so we can go there and show what we’re made of and hopefully, get something from the game."

Read made his first start under new boss Ben Garner last weekend when he returned to Colchester’s starting line-up for their goal-less draw with Newport County.

The midfielder had dropped out of the side because of a shin problem but has already made seven starts for the U’s since joining them, in January.

Read added: "I’m playing regularly and that’s what I wanted when I came here.

"That’s credit to the manager and Matt Bloomfield, the previous manager.

"I’ve really enjoyed it since I’ve come here and I want to be playing regularly, to kind of show what I’m about.

"It would just be nice if we could win a few more games but I’m really enjoying working under the new manager.

"He’s very detailed, very good training sessions and he’s got a clear idea of what he wants to do, going forward in the future and next season."