COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal says there is a buzz among his 'vibrant' players ahead of their big home clash with Bradford City tonight.

The U's head into their game against the Bantams in fine form, having embarked on an unbeaten 13-match run in League Two.

It is the longest that Colchester have gone without losing a league game since the 1996-97 season, when Steve Wignall's side embarked on an 18-match sequence without defeat in division three.

The U's can move into the automatic promotion places with a win over Bradford tonight and boss McGreal says they are feeling confident.

He said: “With this unbeaten run, you just keep your momentum ticking over.

“The place is vibrant and a buzzy place to come and work and we have everything to play for.

“I’ve been told by one of the members of staff that it’s the longest unbeaten run the club has had for nearly 30 years.

“The boys have done tremendously well to get themselves in this position."

Colchester, who are eighth in the table, lie just a point behind fifth-placed Bradford in the table.

Gary Bowyer's side are in decent form themselves and have lost only one of their last ten league games, although they have failed to win any of their last three matches.

“We now have another tough test at home to Bradford," said McGreal.

“We know going into that that we wanted to get three points on the board and we were able to do that.

“It’s a tough one and it falls right in the midst of games against the likes of Swindon and Exeter.

“Bradford have been in the top six or seven all season.

“I know Gary (Bowyer) very well; he was very good to me when I was able to spend a good four days in Blackburn a number of years ago, just to see how things were working.

“He’s got them going in the right direction, so they’re going to be a strong outfit.

“But we’re at home and we always fancy ourselves under the lights and it’s a great game for the fans.

“We’ve got to play these teams at some point in the season and we’ve got quite a few of them straight after each other."

Colchester will welcome back right-back Ryan Jackson from suspension tonight and Courtney Senior (ankle) and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (illness) could also return.

But they will check on the fitness of midfielder Ben Stevenson, who suffered a rib injury in their 2-1 win over Macclesfield Town, last Saturday.

Cohen Bramall (ankle) and Paris Cowan-Hall (calf) remain sidelined.