Colin Todd has vowed the club will fight Football Association charges brought against him and Dean Windass following Saturday's 4-0 defeat at Luton.

Windass originally picked up a one-game ban following his second yellow card after the final whistle at Luton. But the striker immediately appealed claiming he had been incited by referee Joe Ross's actions during the game.

The FA withdrew the ban allowing Windass to play against Colchester on Saturday. But now he has been hit with an improper conduct charge following reports by the match officials and match assessor.

Todd is also in hot water and has been accused of using abusive and/or insulting language to Ross after he went to speak to him in his dressing room after the game.

"We will be sitting down after training today to decide on what course of action to take," said Todd. "I am surprised these charges have been made and Dean and myself will be fighting them."

Under the new fastrack system, Windass has until 6pm today to admit or deny the charge or to apply for a personal hearing. Todd has until November 17 to respond.

Meanwhile, the City boss is hoping that the defeat at Kenilworth Road was just a blip - and is urging fans to show their support this Saturday.

"Our run was tremendous - seven wins out of eight and five on the bounce," he said. "It was going to come to an end and I was disappointed but I have got no complaints.

"Luton played like a team that was top of the table and we didn't play like we were a team second in the table.

"For the first time in a couple of months, we didn't function as a unit and we let ourselves down badly.

"But I think the fans have supported us well. They turned up for the Sheffield Wednesday game. Let's hope they will turn up for Colchester. It would be good if we could get something like 10,000 again."

City are currently lying seventh in the Coca-Cola League One crowd table with an average gate of 8,662.

City will face the U's without Steven Schumacher, who picked up his fifth yellow card at Luton last Saturday.

Todd said: "He has done remarkably well. And like any player who has been playing at the top of his form, he will be missed.

"But it gives someone else the opportunity to try to stake their claim."