Colchester United lost at home for the second time running after Lloyd Dyer's 49th minute goal gave Leicester City all three points this evening.

Colchester United once again failed to gain their first ever victory at the WHCS this evening after Lloyd Dyer's early second half strike saw Leicester City take all the points and go to the top of the table. United's best chance came from a Mark Yeates' free-kick that hit the woodwork but they were indebted to U's keeper Dean Gerken who kept the score responsible. On this showing, the U's new manager has his work cut out.

The current incumbent, caretaker manager Kit Symons, kept faith with the side that had won at Tranmere on Friday night. Clive Platt played up front on his own with a five man midfield of Yeates, Hammond, Perkins, Izzet and Johnnie Jackson. John White and home debutant Gary Borrowdale were the fullback with Dean Gerken protected by Matt Heath and Paul Reid ahead of him.

Leicester City are one of the pre-season favourites for promotion along with Leeds United and had a million pound strike-force of Steven Howard and Matty Fryatt looking to fire them to the top of the table.

It was the visitors who would start the brightest as Fryatt headed Gilbert's cross wide while only a superb tackle from Leicester born Matt Heath prevented Howard from sliding the ball home inside the six yard box.

Former England International Chris Powell took a throw which ended with Matt Oakley volleying over from distance before the U's first moment of note. Borrowdale rampaged down the left and was fortunate to get a ricochet which took him past the last defender. He crossed low to Platt just outside the six yard box but the former MK Dons striker was unable to control the ball as he turned and the chance was lost.

After a few handling problems in recent weeks U's fans hearts were in the mouth as Fryatt let go from distance. Gerken got a strong hand to the ball though and got enough distance on it to ensure that no more dangers could occur.

The U's slowly started to come in to the game during the latter half of the first period. The kept possession for long periods - much to the annoyance of some U's fans - preferring to pass the ball backwards instead of taking a risk with a 50/50 ball forward. When the U's won a free-kick, Izzet's driven ball to the back stick almost found the head of Heath but a Foxes defender was there to clear away first.

The last chance of the half came from a City corner as Howard headed the ball towards goal only for it to come of the chest of the United keeper and away to safety.

United went off the field to a largely contented crowd though there was still a feeling that the U's would have to up their game further to hold on as the visitors had been the better side. However, there had been improvements from the performance against the Dons that cost Geraint Williams his job.

City though, took the lead just minutes after the re-start through Lloyd Dyer. Annoyingly it came from a United corner which Mark Yeates hit the first defender with. From there, City broke quickly across the field before the ball came to the feet of Dyer down the left. He accelerated past John White and slammed the ball home from a tight angle to the delight of the travelling army of Leicester City fans.

The U's were now on the back foot and had to rely on a superb save from Gerken to prevent the lead being doubled. Howard's shot from the edge of the area took a deflection of Heath at close range which made the ball bounce awkwardly. Gerken did really well to change direction before palming the ball behind for a City corner. Then the best move of the match saw Oakley release Fryatt through the middle but the former Walsall man could only watch the ball canon off Gerken's chest and away to safety.

Howard was perhaps lucky to only get a yellow card of a late lunge through the back of Heath which did not look pretty and, with twenty minutes of the half gone, Symons made his first change by introducing Scott Vernon for the quietly efficient Dean Hammond. It would, at least, give the U's a second man to hit going forward.

Fryatt escaped the U's clutches once again only to fire wide with just the keeper to beat while at the other end, Platt was unfortunate to have been adjudged to have fouled his man inside the area after his lay-off had seen Jackson's shot deflected wide.

Andy King was another Leicester City man who might have done better when well placed to double his club's advantage before United's best chance of the night. It came from the mercurial Mark Yeates who once again saw his beautifully flighted free-kick from 30 yards out smack against the inside of the post and away to safety. It was the third home game on the trot that the U's Irish winger had tested out the Cuckoo Farm posts.

With time running out Elito came on for the industrious David Perkins while John White almost grabbed his first ever U's goal with a surging run to the edge of the box which ended with a shot just wide of David Martin's goal.

The last chance fell to Jackson. The U's midfielder looked to have set himself to volley home Clive Platt's flick-on from a throw-in, but the Spurs lifted the ball well over the crossbar.
So the U's once again failed to break their duck at their new home. There were signs of improvement - the passing during a period in the first half was pretty on the eye - but there are more problems than answers I'm afraid.

Defensively the U's didn't do too badly however, they were overworked by the amount of time the ball kept coming back at them. United also struggled to find any width with neither John White nor Gary Borrowdale really getting in to advanced positions down the wing. That is why I'd prefer Phil Ifil at right-back - and John at left-back - as he will, at least, give you plenty of options going forward. He may not be the best defensively but if you've got White, Heath and Reid at the back he doesn't have to worry too much about that.

The formation at home is also one that is unlikely to work. Though 4-5-1 worked away from home, it rarely does on your own patch when you've got to take the game to the opposition. A lack of width from both side also meant that it was easier for City's defensive unit to cover each other.

That leads me to talk about our two wide men - arguably the most talented in the squad. Yet neither delivered a telling ball in to the box in ninety minutes and, worse than that, it could be argued that they haven't done so all season at home. On the right hand side I would ask Mark to stop coming inside as often as he does, and take his fullback on to get to the by-line and deliver crosses which our front men should enjoy. Jackson is not the sort of player who gets past opponents and frankly, the left-hand side of midfield is clearly not his best position. However, with a lack of real alternatives at present, he must try and get wider. The only other suggestion would be to either play Elito (who I feel isn't ready for it yet) or perhaps play Ifil on the right-hand side of midfield with Yeates down the left instead.

Up front, the U's can only benefit with the return of Steven Gillespie from suspension as the U's lack pace up front. Vernon looks out of sorts so giving the hard-working Platt someone to work with can only be beneficial.

That said, I feel sure that the new U's boss - whoever that may be - will be asking the Chairman for more cash in the January transfer window.

Shot of the Match: I don't include goals in this so probably John White's late effort which was only inches wide from grabbing the U's an undeserved point against The Foxes.
Save of the Match: Howard's shot took a wicked deflection but Gerken did well to put the ball out for a corner.
Moan of the Match: Far too long to get out of the car park this evening - can someone remind our new security company that they are supposed to help us out!
Man of the Match: I think this has to go to the one man who really kept us in the game tonight and that's DEAN GERKEN who made several top quality saves.

Colchester: Gerken, White, Reid, Heath, Jackson, Yeates, Hammond (Vernon 68), Izzet, Perkins (Elito 83), Platt, Borrowdale.
Subs Not Used: Cousins, Coyne, Wordsworth.

Booked: Platt.

Leicester: Martin, Gilbert, Hobbs, Tunchev, Powell, Adams, Oakley, Andy King, Dyer, Fryatt, Howard.
Subs Not Used: Henderson, Wesolowski, Morrison, Gradel, Berner.

Booked: Howard.

Goals: Dyer 49.

Att: 5,133

Ref: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Photo: Action Images

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