Mick McCarthy is likely to stick with a 4-5-1 formation for tomorrow's trip to Colchester.

The system was used to some effect during last weekend's 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.

"The performance and result last week has given me something to think about," he says.

"It did work well and it's something we will consider.

"People say it's 4-5-1 but it's an attacking formation and something we could develop.

"Even as the away team last week we had a good few chances and defensively it makes us stronger and harder to beat.

"If we go away from home, a clean sheet is always a good starting point."

The boss had adopted the same system at the start of the FA Cup game at Cardiff.

Mick added: "It's bizarre because the formation we played at Palace was the same as what we started with at Cardiff. But we were 1-0 down after a minute and then two after ten, so we had to change it.

"But I actually thought in between those two goals we were getting more possession.

"It makes me laugh with tactics - they are great when you are winning and a pile of nonsense when you are losing."