Colchester v Sutton match thread

[Andy K]

I'm surprised we've not got a match thread with a few hours to go before tonight's game.

Colchester have not been on great form recently, and compared to when we were supposed to play they, are in a weaker position than they would have been - they were top half at that point and we were somewhere near the bottom.

Although we've had 2 defeats on the trot (against a very strong Swindon and a not as strong Rochdale), both of those games ended up being very close. It seems we are setting up a pattern of being stronger in the 2nd half of games, especially away where in the league the average time of our first goal is 72 minutes!

Let's at least add another clean sheet away from home to the 3 we've already racked up (out of 7 away games)

I'm presuming we will be without Harry, Richie and Louis for sure. Whether Craig E is ready to come back is unknown, so I expect we will start with Coby, Barden and Omar all in the starting XI. Whichever 2 out of the 3 of Randall, Ajiboye and Boldewijn start, you can probably expect the 3rd of those to come on in the 2nd half, as will be the case for Wilson/Tanto.

Let's hope we've not picked up any niggles from Saturday or in training.

[garethl]

Doing my bit for the club by not going and watching on ifollow 😉

Would be lovely to get back to winning ways tonight. The squad is strong but we could do with central defenders (particularly) staying intact this evening.

Depending on Easty I think we’ll line up something like:

Bouzanis, Kizzi, Goodliffe, Rowe, Milsom, Ajiboye, Eastmond/Barden, Smith, Boldewijn, Olaofe, Bugiel.

Still strong. We’d be very happy with 23 points on the board with less than a third of the season gone. Let’s hope we can make that happen, even 20 still represents a more than decent start.

[garethl]

Well it’s 3 vital points. Probably given playing 10 men 2nd half one of the worst ones I’ve seen for a while. Perhaps tiredness creeping in after 10 men Sat? Should have got hold of the ball and kept it you’d think, make it easy. We were a touch sloppy. The key to the points was Sears missing when 1 on 1 and then their keeper letting one through his hands a minute later. First half after the early goal against we were the better side. Glad we got straight back to winning ways. And overall obviously ecstatic to win again. Away victories not to be sniffed at!! A nice home game Sat, let’s hope we can get another result. Barden limped off so hopefully that was nothing serious, as I’ve said in other threads doubt you’d want to be starting Kenny in the league at this stage. But good to see him pop off the bench.

[kpinwp]

That was an enjoyable listen! Amusing to have just moved back above Swindon who are (I hope people will take this the right way) kinda better than us.

Oh, OK. The table doesn't lie. Flame me.

Well done to Matt and the lads.

[amberfc]

Fantastic result and brilliant away support. On we go!

[banjo]

Good win that and good turn out off u’s fans so UP THE US.⚽️

[garethl]

Oct 26, 2021 20:47:07 GMT kpinwp said:

That was an enjoyable listen! Amusing to have just moved back above Swindon who are (I hope people will take this the right way) kinda better than us.

Oh, OK. The table doesn't lie. Flame me.

Well done to Matt and the lads.

Well, their home form is dire so we’ve probably seen them at their best. And I don’t think we played particularly well against them in the 1st half. And we were without Eastmond. But maybe they are and it’ll work through over season! You could make a similar point re Northampton being 3rd when we absolutely bossed them. And Exeter we gave the run around too despite losing! Funny league. Most teams capable.

[brisfitboy]

It now really feels that we’ve made a wake-up call to League 2 from the little pub team in Surrey.

[sufc1898]

Great 3 points after 2 defeats

That said, it could have been a different story if their offside goal had stood after another Dean mistake.

I’m sorry to say, he still makes me slightly nervous.

[Amber Aleman]

Even just after we went behind to an early Freddie Sears goal there was a sense that we could get something from this game. Colchester seemed to think their work was done in the first three minutes, and we were soon in control, the penalty and red card confirming the turnround.

The main disappointment was that after our third goal we seemed to lose interest, and a few passages of sloppy play could have allowed them back into the game. Thankfully they didn't conjure up the sort of ten-man revival that we managed at Rochdale.

Up to 6th. Is this real? 🙃

[halftimet]

As is often the case it was difficult to tell who had 10 men. A good result but thought we were too negative in the second half and gave them opportunities to score. They had the ball in the net but were offside from a parried free kick. Coby makes a remarkable block tackle after we had given the ball away and they hit the post with a header. Apart from that plain sailing.

[Andy K]

Magnificent. Over the 90mins, not our best performance of the season, but it really doesn't matter when you leave with all 3 points in the bag.

Milsom's shift was superb, and Ajiboye looked so much better after his rest. That first goal ending up with both of them involved was one of the best I've seen from us this season.

[Del]

Good win and a great night until i tried to get back on the M25 and found the slip road closed !!!

[davep]

Agree with Andy K (above) and Amber Aleman on another thread - big shout for Rob Milsom. I think that Rob has been a bit of an unsung hero of both last season and the start of this season. For a defender, he gives so much to the team from an attacking perspective - and big involvement in all three goals last night. Also big shout for Matt and Jason for not only signing Rob (I must admit that I had never heard of Rob until we signed him) but for converting someone who was primarily a midfield player into being our regular left back (and of course, similar was done with Jon Barden on the RHS). With no disrespect meant to anyone else in the squad, I do think that we are really missing Easty sitting in front of- and protecting- the back four at the moment. He is such a quality player at this level. It's like Chelsea without N'golo Kante. Hopefully he will be back soon.

[markf]

Another win on the road. Not the most impressive performance but the teams reaction to losing an early goal was the reason for taking the three points. U's started on the front foot but the first attack broke down and Colchester went up the other end and scored. I haven't watched any video yet but perhaps credit to Sears, once considered the new Tony Cottee at West Ham, who provided a quality turn and finish.

David A was causing mayhem down the right but it was Rob M's deep cross from the left that allowed the former to score with a well controlled finish considering how high the ball was when he made contact. U's pressed thereafter and the second goal was a tad bizarre. 'keeper drops ball, Tanto from what, six inches out (?) fails to get a decent connection but enough for their no34 to scoop the ball of the line. Pen, red card, Rob M scores with well placed spot kick. It was the end of a miserable, if brief, appearance for their fella. He had been a handful in his physical tustles but spent most of the previous few minutes on the deck. Ice rink with no skates scenario.

From there U's moved the ball around,in, I assume, an attempt to run the legs of the ten men. There was one anxious moment in the U's goalmouth but disaster wa somehow averted.

Second half, I thought we were a bit casual at times and sloppy play in midfield allowed Sears to run through on goal but he delayed and Coby got across to make a fine block. Immediately, Tanto was brought down and Rob M's kick was met by Ben G who's header proved too much for their 'keeper. Those couple of minutes probably decided the outome. Content with a two goal cushion, U's looked to keep the home side at bay. Their no 14 looked a decent player and caused a few problems.

Colchester, could probably consider themselves a little unfortunate. They had a goal chalked off for offside and a header came off the post but as above, I think U's won this match because of their response to the early concession.

Hope Jon B is ok and he did some sterling work in the middle. I thought Omar was immense too and that shot at the end of the first half was so close. For me though, as others have stated, MotM was the skipper. A goal and two assists from left back, not bad going.

A great ground, sadly unpopulated by the locals and most of their noise came by way of protest rather than support. At the other end, another great turn out from the U's fans; loud, proud and in those surroundings rather comfortable.

The win was welcome too for the travelling issues. Going there the Dartford Crossing lived up to expectation and the A12 took a while to get going.

The way back had its own issues. I missed the m25 turn off (I was on auto pilot by then) had to turn round near Harold Wood, an area, according to a former work colleague that lived there, not blessed by millionaire residents. Then my codriver, who cannot be named for legal reasons, decided the turn off for the m25 as we headed east was not the one it was! Back to Brentwood and then of course the m25 slip road was shut, so we had been going the right way originally anyway. After dropping codriver off in the arse end of nowhere that he calls home back to the 25. As I edged towards m23 exit, lane closures. The m23 slip looked shut (not for the first time on my midweek travaills) but as I passed it it obviously wasn't, doh. So Reigate, A25 before back on the A24 and home at around 0115.

But, it was worth it.

Well done to all for another fine win in the EFL. Had we not conceded that last second goal on Saturday we would have been third! What a tremendous achievement already. I doubt many would have predicted or even expected that!

Walsall back at GGL on Saturday. They have picked up form recently so let's hope some of our injured players are back in the fray.