Colchester United legend Karl Duguid believes tonight’s Essex derby is the perfect game for his former club after their humbling FA Cup exit.

The U’s make the short trip to play rivals Southend United looking for a positive result, following their humiliating 1-0 first-round home defeat at the hands of National League South strugglers Oxford City.

Colchester are straight back into action tonight at Roots Hall, in their final Checkatrade Trophy Group B game.

And Duguid, who made more than 450 league and cup appearances for Colchester during his two spells with the club including many tussles with Southend, says the match can be ideal in helping John McGreal’s side get back on track after last weekend’s disappointment.

Duguid told the Daily Gazette: “It’s a great game for them to come back into.

“It’s a derby and a fantastic game to look forward to.

“I don’t like the Checkatrade Trophy format with the under-21 teams in it.

“But it’s still a great match to go into and I hope both teams play their strongest teams.

“Colchester-Southend games are always good matches and have an edge and Colchester need that kind of game, after what happened last Saturday.”

Duguid experienced his fair share of FA Cup ups and downs, during his two spells at Colchester.

The Stanway Rovers assistant manager was in the U’s side that beat the likes of Sheffield United and Derby County and played at grounds like Stamford Bridge in the competition but also on the wrong end of embarrassing upsets at places such as Chelmsford City and Bedlington Terriers.

“The FA Cup is great when you go through and get the chance of playing a big club and they’re the kind of ties that you dream of playing in,” said Duguid.

“But it can also be tough to take when you’re on the other side of the coin.

“The result last weekend was disappointing but it does happen and a few non-league teams have gone through – it was great for Oxford City.

“It was a good opportunity for Colchester to go through and give themselves a chance of getting through the next round and perhaps then facing a Premier League club but it wasn’t to be.

“They’ve been doing well in the league and moved to within five points of the play-offs so it was a blip and the cup result was a bit of a kick in the teeth.

“At the start of the season, they will have had their objectives and during my time there, a good cup run was up there.

“It’s a money spinner and they would have wanted to have got the win and gone on from there.

“But there’s no point dwelling on it and you don’t want it to have a knock-on effect on what you’re doing.”