The U's lost their fifth game on the trot at Layer Road tonight as Sheffield Wednesday won by the odd goal in three. Kevin Lisbie put the U's ahead but a Deon Burton header and Wade Small's goal just before the break plunged United deeper into trouble.

Colchester United's faint hopes of Championship survival virtually ended tonight at Layer Road. Despite taking an early lead through Kevin Lisbie, United allowed Sheffield Wednesday to take the three points on offer thanks to Wade Small's winner right on half-time. The U's should have taken control of the game in an opening quarter of an hour blitz - but allowed the visitors a way back into the game via Deon Burton's header.

Despite having lost the last four games, Geraint Williams kept faith with the team that had played at Crystal Palace with Dean Hammond making his full home debut in the middle of the park. Johnnie Jackson played wide out on the left with Kevin Lisbie and Clive Platt up front. Youngsters Medy Elito and Antony Wordsworth were on the bench alongside defender Bela Balogh, Scott Vernon and veteran goalkeeper Ademola Bankole.

For Wednesday, Graham Kavanagh was the most recognisable of the visitor’s midfield though with Marcus Tudgay and Deon Burton up front, they could certainly cause problems for the home defence.

A strong wind blowing from the Clock End towards the Layer Road End greeted the players as they emerged from the tunnel, which was quickly added to by some heavy rain. United, in a change from their usual tradition, kicked towards the Clock End in the first half.

And it looked like that change was also going to bring about a change of luck as well as United tore in to their opponents in a game that manager Williams admitted was 'the most important of the season'. United took the lead after just five minutes. Platt laid the ball off to Duguid - who had a bright opening to the game before fading badly - through the inside right channel.

The U's captain should have done far better with his shot which he dragged across the goal towards the far post where Lisbie was waiting to pounce. Even then, Lisbie almost contrived to miss the chance as he failed to get a decent contact on the ball, but he got enough to squeeze the ball over the line despite Grant's attempts at recovery with the Assistant signalling that a goal had been scored.

The U's were breaking through the Wednesday backline at will. Jackson broke free but again it was down the right hand side and, despite scoring a couple of crackers earlier in the season with his swinger, opted to bring the ball back inside,  before firing a shot which Grant saved comfortably.

Wednesday's first moment of note came via trick winger Franck Songo'o who burst down the right before firing a cross which I think Coyne did exceptionally well to clear under pressure at the near post.

Lisbie's pace was causing problems for Wednesday - indeed, anyone with pace was causing the Yorkshire outfit problems. This time, the former Charlton man picked up the ball on the halfway line near the dug-outs and dribbled the ball level with the edge of the box. He looked up and picked out the unmarked Duguid who fired his side-footed effort a few yards wide. Izzet then tried his luck from distance without causing Grant any palpitations.

On 18 minutes, Sheffield Wednesday grabbed a goal back against the run of play it has to be said. Burton was fouled by Coyne close to the Barside and when the Kavanagh curled the ball into the box, the former Derby County man appeared all on his own to beat Gerken to the ball and head in to an empty net.

The goal hit the U's for six, and for the following few minutes it looked like goal number two would arrive for Brian Laws' men any second. Another free-kick ended with pinball inside the U's box before it was eventually hacked to safety before Songo'o had a shot which was always going wide of Gerken's goal.

United were forced in to a change after just 24 minutes as Bela Balogh replaced Chris Coyne who walked gingerly to the side-line with a possible hamstring injury. Kavanagh saw a free kick blocked by the U's wall and then his follow-up saved by Gerken before play finally returned to the Clock End with Hammond's chest and volley going well over. The former Brighton man was impressing on his home debut and did well to get over a cross to the far post which Lisbie couldn't turn in thanks to a wonderful challenge from Wood just as the club's leading scorer looked set to score his 14th of the campaign.

Then came the pivotal moment of the game for the U's as they wasted a glorious chance to re-take the lead. Lisbie sent Duguid scurrying away on goal and the U's longest serving player got in to the box with two defenders close by. However, United's skipper fell to the floor looking for a penalty which never came - he was fortunate not to be booked for diving - when he had just the keeper to beat. It highlighted the U's lack of confidence at the moment.

The U's would rue that moment just minutes later as Wednesday took the lead with a minute to go to the break. Quick, precise passing from the visitors caught the U's rear-guard far too high up the pitch and with Wade Small's pace, no one (except Wednesday Marcus Tudgay) was going to catch him. Gerken did what he could, but Small's shot went under the keeper's body and carried on in to the goal.

Though the U's did get some boos as they left the field, I did think that this was perhaps a little harsh. True, they hadn't taken their chances when they came but they were perhaps a little unlucky to be going in at the break a goal down. Certainly, it had been a lot better effort than in the previous home game against Wolves.

Sadly, the U's never really got going with the same desire as they had started the first fifteen minutes of the game. However, things might have been different had the U's not had an early goal disallowed for offside. Gerken's long-ball forward was missed by defender Mark Beevers and was prodded home by Lisbie. However, the Assistant had ruled that the Lisbie had come from an offside position when Gerken had kicked the ball and therefore raised his flag. Subsequent reports from nearer the incident suggest that the former Charlton man had perhaps been unlucky yet again after having a similar goal disallowed at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

Phil Ifil, who had scored two own goals in the last two away games, must have had his heart in his mouth when he went to play a cross from the right (oddly, Tudgay appeared to duck under the cross at the near post). On this occasion though, his blushes were spared as Gerken was there to clean up.
Just after the hour mark, Williams made his first change of the evening in a desperate attempt to get back in to the game.

However, it was perhaps not the change we were expecting as Medy Elito came on for his home debut in place of Kem Izzet which allowed Jackson to move inside. From that point of view, the switch worked with Jackson far more involved than in the previous hour. However, much as I think Elito is going to be a good player - putting him on in this game smacked of desperation by the U's manager. The young kid (I believe he is only just 18) is not ready for first team football, and in my opinion, is two years away from a regular starting place in the side. I think he's going to be a good player, but putting him in to a struggling side like this may well be detrimental to the lad’s future career.

Granted, Elito might have come on and turned the game, but he didn't - and looked out of his depth at times. It also meant that Williams couldn't change his formation later should he need to - another sign that the move was ill-judged and ill-thought out by a manager who is struggling, along with the players.

Referee Friend annoyed the home fans shortly afterwards by a couple of decisions which seemed identical to each other, but for which, only one was awarded a free-kick. The other incident that did not warrant the blowing of Mr Friend's whistle occurred inside the box on Clive Platt but just two seconds later outside the box, a free-kick was given for something so very similar. From that free-kick, Jackson let fly with a rasping drive which appeared to be only a few yards wide.

Lisbie and Hammond combined in a 1-2 on the edge of the box which resulted in the U's deadline day signing finding the Aaron Skelton Memorial Netting for the first time in his Layer Road career. Platt then laid the ball off to Duguid whose deflected shot from outside the penalty area took a deflection and bounced off the top of the crossbar before Hammond was denied by a well-timed challenge after waiting for Lisbie's cross.

With 12 minutes to go, Scott Vernon finally got his chance as he replaced Karl Duguid. I'm afraid I just don't know what formation we went in to at the stage but I think Lisbie was now playing out wide right. Whatever, Vernon's arrival did see the U's start to pass the ball around a bit more, though in truth, with little penetration.

Indeed, the U's almost got caught on the counter attack as Wednesday broke with two players against Balogh. The Hungarian was able to stand Burton up but the former Rotherham man passed to Tudgay beside him who was far too casual with the chance, allowing Gerken to make a vital block.
As time ran out, Jackson had a couple of shots - one curling over, the over blocked - but the U's were already resigned to their fate. With results going against them elsewhere, it would take a miracle for the U's to avoid relegation now. Quite simply, they aren't good enough for this Division, and though it’s come a year later than we expected, relegation to League One will soon become a reality.

Shot of the Match: Jackson's second half drive looked to curl away at the last moment.
Save of the Match: Gerken did well to stand up to Wednesday's late breakaway by eventually denying Tudgay a goal.
Moan of the Match: Quite why they team was booed off at the break I'm not sure - we'd seen a lot worse than tonight.
Man of the Match: Two players stood out for me tonight. Lisbie was a thorn in Wednesday's side all evening, but he's just beaten to the award by Dean Hammond who I thought was excellent throughout the ninety minutes and looks an excellent addition to the squad.

Colchester: Gerken, Ifil, Coyne (Balogh 24), Virgo, White, Duguid (Vernon 78), Izzet (Elito 62), Hammond, Jackson, Lisbie, Platt.
Subs Not Used: Bankole, Wordsworth.

Goals: Lisbie 4.

Sheff Wed: Grant, Hinds, Beevers, Wood, Spurr, Songo'o (Showunmi 86), Kavanagh, McAllister, Small (O'Brien 90), Tudgay, Burton.
Subs Not Used: Burch, Wallwork, Boden.

Booked: Songo'o, Beevers.

Goals: Burton 18, Small 44.

Att: 5,086

Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

Photo: Action Images

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