| Robins v U's Durham's assessment 13:26 - Sep 30 with 1012 views | durham_exile |
The U’s failed to clip both Robin’s wings at Ashton Gate.
As JD celebrated one year in charge of his Colchester charges, they did their best to secure a much needed win, but fell just short.
My first trip to Bristol City was a generally entertaining day, a good journey down the M5, M4 and M32 only to crawl through the city centre en route to the ground (past the SS Great Britain which looked resplendent in the Autumnal sunshine) where Car parking was an extortionate £10 but the car park was at least well marked and had a decent tarmac surface.
The ground looks tired and once inside the Wessex Garages Wedlock Stand is well populated with supporting pillars (not unlike Gigg Lane). Wessex had warned me about the backless seats and it was good to see him with his younger son outside the stadium ready to enjoy what we hoped would be a Colchester victory.
Now much is being made of our injury woes and JD must have walked under a number of ladders or run over several black cats in order to sustain so many absentees but in truth the two that we really miss are Sanchez Watt and Gavin Massey.
My pre match summary had suggested the following team and JD clearly agreed with the starting line up!
Walker
Wilson Magnus Taylor Garbutt
Eastmond David Wright
Sears Gilbey Monakana
Ibehre
Subs:
Philips, Sanderson, Ladapo, Sendles-White, Szmodics, Bean, Morrison
The faithful were present in good number (318) and the pre-match singing was continued pretty much throughout the game.
Bristol City had not been helped by O’Driscoll’s pre-match comment that the entire City was expecting a 5 or 6 NIL win. A boastful claim considering they have failed to register a League Win this season following relegation for the Championship.
A decent crowd of 10,739 settled down in the 19 degree centigrade temperature with cloud cover and occasional sunny intervals.
We secured a seat in the corner and managed to position ourselves between pillars from where a decent view of proceedings was obtained.
The Robins were clearly nervous and Colchester started fairly well, both sides content to pass the ball without showing too much attacking intent.
Matt Taylor on loan from Bradford has a good understanding with Magnus who is in imperious form at present. Luke Garbutt despite his tender years has a cultured left foot and likes to get forward with intent. JD lets him take the corners from both sides and if we ever get a dangerous free kick on the right side of goal I would like to see him have a shot at goal. He was booked again however and it was a late challenge similar to that at Valley Parade a fortnight ago.
David Wright didn’t seem to be quite as assured as normal and some passes did go astray but the simply brilliant Craig Eastmond (already a candidate for player of the year) was superb as usual.
Jeffrey Monakana showed in fits and starts his pace and dribbling ability and he was another of JD’s shrewd signings.
The Robins rarely troubled Sam Walker in the first half, with Baldock and Emmanuel Thomas preferring to shoot form some distance high, wide and not very handsome.
Now I have been to three away matches at Sheffield United, Bradford and now Bristol City this season and we could have secured victories at all three. Leading at Bramall Lane, behind at Valley Parade and then in front and once again scoring first at Ashton Gate in the first half.
In each case when in the ascendancy we have failed to secure another goal that would have put the game beyond our opponents. When Garbutt curled a delicious cross to the far post and Matt Taylor rose to head firmly past the keeper, we all hoped that lightning wouldn’t strike three times!
Bristol City were on the ropes at this stage and the ground was quiet (library style) except for the delirious faithful who out sung their old Bristolian protagonists.
Once again however the killer goal didn’t materialise. The Robins were booed off however.
So half time and time for a pasty except there were no meat and potato pasties (unlike the Memorial Ground which does sell them). So I plumped for a meat and potato pie and my youngest son had a cheeseburger.
Now we anticipated a Bristol surge to rival the Severn Bore after half time but for the first ten minutes they were vulnerable to a counter attack. Then O’Driscoll introduced Marlon Harewood who immediately made a difference to the Bristol attacking style and disappointingly we reverted to type and started to withdraw into our half save for sporadic attacks only.
A better side than the Robins might have had three or four but still Walker had little to do, plenty of corners to defend but no final product. Worse still, Monakana (who in fairness was tiring) was substituted. I was pleased to see Marcus Bean introduced though after 62 minutes and his cameo was well received by teammates and supporters alike. Bean also played an advanced midfield role and I would like to see him on the starting team sheet at home to Wolves at the weekend.
In fairness to JD injuries have probably given him a mental mindset to protect what we have but I do not hold with this retreating and allowing the opposition to play further forward. After 74 minutes we paid the price allowing Baldock too much space and he despatched a cross shot to defeat Walker and square things up.
JD though has instilled strength into the U’s and they did not fold like a Weston-Super-Mare deckchair but remained resilient and began to play further forward once more. The impressive Gilbey tried his luck from range and Sears likewise shot fiercely. JD made a double substitution after 82 minutes, the superb Craig Eastmond and Freddie Sears making way for Sammy Szmodics and Clinton Morrison respectively.
The youngster almost scored with his first touch when the Robins’s keeper almost spilled a shot from Garbutt. This perhaps summed up the second half.
Now with so many senior players out JD could be excused for bringing senior players on as substitutes but I think Freddie Ladapo could have had 10 minutes instead of Clinton Morrison.
As time ticked by Jabo Ibehre could have reprised his one on one goal at Valley Parade. The Robin’s centre backs Flint and Williams got into a tangle and Jabo purposefully advanced towards goal, just as he was about to pull the trigger Williams managed a last ditch tackle and then went round the advancing Morrison to clear.
4 additional minutes of time had been played when Bristol were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Nicky Shorey after some delay took the kick and it struck the wall and went to safety. Bristol still haven’t won and Colchester secured another valuable point. It could have been more though.
The journey back to the Midlands was uneventful until we were stuck for 35 minutes at Junction 2 as a result of a serious accident. Hopefully no-one was badly injured.
Walker had little to do but what he did was competently handled, Brian Wilson seems unfettered by the captaincy, Garbutt was very good once again, Magnus is imperious at the moment and Eastmond is the signing of the season. Monakana was quiet but when he displays his pace and mazy runs he scares defenders. Gilbey can be selfish on the ball but is developing into a talented midfielder, Sears was hardworking and Jabo is very powerful and covers every blade of grass. Taylor took his goal well.
Assuming that neither Watt nor Massey are fit for the Wolves game, I would like to see Bean in for David Wright and Freddie Ladapo to get the last 20 minutes.
The Wolves game will allow the U’s to ascertain just how much progress has been made under JD. It should be a classic.
Up the U’s
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| Robins v U's Durham's assessment on 18:21 - Sep 30 with 987 views | wessex_exile |
I must have got that wrong then, I was sure Emmanuel Thomas had taken the final free kick - should have gone to Specsavers... |  |
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| Robins v U's Durham's assessment on 07:09 - Oct 1 with 964 views | noah4x4 |
Durham.
I can't disagree that a better side might have had three or four! But I want to pick up on the Marcus Bean v David Wright Question.
My opinion is that David Wright makes us much more solid at the back; and assists us to break up opposition play in midfield. Wright also enhances our favoured passing game out from the back.
I agree that Bean tends to play in a more advanced position. My problem with Bean is that once he comes on; we often tend to be running up blind alleys and the midfield and forwards seem to become even more detached from each other. I don't think it is helped that he often comes on simultaneously with the ever more hopeless Morrison. If we then lose the ball; our back four seem very exposed.
The fact that we were running down the clock from as early as the 82nd minute (post these substitutions) says everything about our vulnerability; and Bean was simply the addition of welcome fresh legs.
I suspect that had we withdrawn David Wright any earlier; the game might have been lost mid way through the second half. Successful sides that play the way that we do all depend upon being rock solid at the back; with four defenders and a defensive midfielder that can pass and don't give away the ball. I don't reckon Bean offers that; he is too offensive; but on a day when we do get two goals up; then Bean will give us the attacking bite to go on and get more; or if we are a goal down; maybe he us get one back (as Andy Bond often did). But we have to start against Wolves with a rock solid back 'five'.
Wright was actually my outfield M.O.M and without him I think Emmanuel-Thomas might have given us a miserable afternoon. I praised Taylor and Garbutt for this as often they were the last thin 'blue & white' line. But David Wright was immense in the first half in fast closing down and as importantly; slowing down; the former Ipswich man. Had the Robins been swifter and more accurate we might have had a Peterborough (L/Cup) type nightmare. Wright running out of steam after a high work rate (and similarly Monakana) being the turning point that put us under so much pressure at the tail end of the game. But what would we do without Sam Walker! [Post edited 1 Oct 2013 7:41]
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| Robins v U's Durham's assessment on 10:32 - Oct 1 with 940 views | AFCMorant |
Monakana went off after having treatment for cramp and we missed him. Jabo never had the ball under control when racing through on goal and was unfairly criticised in my view, though most reprehensible was when Gilbey went down the left wing a few minutes from the end pulled a beautiful ball back for a tap in 6 yards out and none of our forwards were in the 18 yard box. Then City went up the other end and nearly won it.
Tactically wrong in the second half, but I'd still take the point; and Bristol has a host of good pubs. |  | | |
| Robins v U's Durham's assessment on 14:38 - Oct 1 with 923 views | noah4x4 |
I agree with everything you say AFCMorant.
Jabo never once had that awkward bouncing ball under control; albeit he was through on goal. it simply wouldn't drop into his stride. However; as usual; he did some fantastic work.
Rarely does anybody get on the end of ANY cross. The frustration on Monakana's face was plain to see when he did the hard work; yet didn't have an offlay. Later, just as you say, Gilbey did some great work; but again nobody in the box.
Jabo isn't playing as an out and out striker (nor should he) . We need a goal poaching player that gets into the box. That evidently isn't Sears. | | | |
| Robins v U's Durham's assessment on 18:37 - Oct 1 with 907 views | durham_exile |
| Robins v U's Durham's assessment on 07:09 - Oct 1 by noah4x4 |
Durham.
I can't disagree that a better side might have had three or four! But I want to pick up on the Marcus Bean v David Wright Question.
My opinion is that David Wright makes us much more solid at the back; and assists us to break up opposition play in midfield. Wright also enhances our favoured passing game out from the back.
I agree that Bean tends to play in a more advanced position. My problem with Bean is that once he comes on; we often tend to be running up blind alleys and the midfield and forwards seem to become even more detached from each other. I don't think it is helped that he often comes on simultaneously with the ever more hopeless Morrison. If we then lose the ball; our back four seem very exposed.
The fact that we were running down the clock from as early as the 82nd minute (post these substitutions) says everything about our vulnerability; and Bean was simply the addition of welcome fresh legs.
I suspect that had we withdrawn David Wright any earlier; the game might have been lost mid way through the second half. Successful sides that play the way that we do all depend upon being rock solid at the back; with four defenders and a defensive midfielder that can pass and don't give away the ball. I don't reckon Bean offers that; he is too offensive; but on a day when we do get two goals up; then Bean will give us the attacking bite to go on and get more; or if we are a goal down; maybe he us get one back (as Andy Bond often did). But we have to start against Wolves with a rock solid back 'five'.
Wright was actually my outfield M.O.M and without him I think Emmanuel-Thomas might have given us a miserable afternoon. I praised Taylor and Garbutt for this as often they were the last thin 'blue & white' line. But David Wright was immense in the first half in fast closing down and as importantly; slowing down; the former Ipswich man. Had the Robins been swifter and more accurate we might have had a Peterborough (L/Cup) type nightmare. Wright running out of steam after a high work rate (and similarly Monakana) being the turning point that put us under so much pressure at the tail end of the game. But what would we do without Sam Walker! [Post edited 1 Oct 2013 7:41]
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Noah, my point about Marcus Bean is that I just feel that he would make a strong paring with Craig Eastmond.
David Wright has his qualities too but I felt he had a below par game on Saturday.
Incidentally he was not withdrawn and lasted for the 96 minutes.
Wolves will provide the test this weekend to determine whether we have what it takes to challenge for the top six.
And I'm sorry, but we should be securing three points against teams like Bristol City. A point away from home is only useful if we can start to win our home matches.
Up the U's | |
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| Robins v U's Durham's assessment on 21:23 - Oct 1 with 894 views | RSCOSWORTH |
To be fair to O'Driscoll his comment was taken out of context. I read the article and he was referring to the Bristol City fans expecting every game to be a walkover and how he wants the fans attitude to change and respect the fact that League One is a tough division. |  |
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