The U's lost 2-1 at home to Bristol City this afternoon. Clive Platt put United ahead but Adebola and McIndoe gave City a vital three points in their promotion push.

Colchester United lost by the odd goal in three here at Layer Road today as Bristol City continued their remarkable attempt to win promotion to the Premiership. United took the lead through Clive Platt but within sixty seconds Dele Adebola had restored parity and Michael McIndoe's deflected shot looped over the head of Dean Gerken. City had Bradley Orr sent off ten minutes from time for his second yellow card offence but United couldn't force an equaliser.

Adam Virgo had recovered enough from his ankle problem that saw him substituted against Hull at halftime last weekend so it was a case of how you were for Geraint Williams' men. There were changed on the bench though as Kevin Lisbie returned from injury and Dean Hammond took his place in a U's team for the first time. Teddy Sheringham was not even included in the sixteen.

City were going to play a 4-5-1 formation with Adebola the front man, and former Australian A-League player of the year Nick Carle playing just off him. More attacking threat would come from Ivan Sproule and Michael McIndoe on the wings whist Brazilian goalkeeper Adriano Basso - who has eyes on the England keeper’s shirt - would be the last line of defence.

The first half of this game was scrappy to say the least with McIndoe particularly guilty of being caught offside on far too many occasions. City's skipper Jamie McCombe almost gifted the U's a goal in the early moments of the game as he passed the ball past keeper Basso who had come out to collect Izzet's free-kick at the edge of the box. He was only saved by his central defensive partner Liam Fontaine who reacted quickest and cleared the ball before Vernon could tap the ball in to an empty net.

Duguid headed a John White cross in to the side netting at the far post before the U's skipper saw Basso save his shot from just outside the box after more good work from the U's had created the opportunity. Then the U's created their best chance of the half. They moved the ball around nicely before McLeod's cross in to the box fell to Izzet. With his back to goal, the former Charlton man laid the ball off to Vernon who, from just outside the six yard box, fired in to the City fans behind the goal. It was a chance the U's were going to rue by 5pm.

Vernon, on his full home debut for the club, had another good chance moments later when running on to Platt's flick-on but could only lift his shot in to the Aaron Skelton Memorial Netting above the Layer Road end.

On 39 minutes there was double catastrophe for the U's as two of their back four received treatment for injuries. John White's looked to be the most serious as he fell under a challenge from Sproule. He was stretchered off with a dislocated elbow but I understand that it has been popped back in okay. Whilst treatment was being given to White, City's physio was looking after Chris Coyne who was also clearly suffering from what appeared to be double vision. Though he saw out the half, he would been withdrawn at the break.

Danny Granville came on to replace John White at left back but he could only watch as Marvin Elliott's shot took a slight deflection on its way to hitting Gerken's post and going for a corner. However, a goalless half was just about what these two sides deserved as they went in for their half time cup of tea.

As expected Chris Coyne failed to appear for the second half which forced Williams into a re-shuffle at the back. Granville went to centre-half, Johnnie Jackson switched to left-back - a position he played for the club when he first arrived on loan in 2003 - with Dean Hammond making his debut and going to the centre of midfield alongside Izzet.

The reshuffle seemed to do more for the U's as they took the lead five minutes after the break through Clive Platt 8th goal of the season. Again, it was good work from the U's as Vernon touched the ball in to the path of Duguid who in turn picked out McLeod on the edge of the box. The former Swansea man hit a decent enough shot but Basso fumbled into the path of Clive Platt and his effort was bundled over the line. It was Platt's first goal since Boxing Day.

Now could the U's keep a clean sheet and therefore grab another vital three points in the relegation battle? Quite simply no, as a minute later, a long ball in to the U's box from McAllister saw Adebola get above Granville and flick the ball in to the far corner of the net. The U's had led to their own downfall though as it had they who had given away possession too cheaply to allow the cross.

Adebola almost made it two for himself and City as McIndoe finally got beyond Phil Ifil and fizzed in a low cross which the on-loan Coventry only had to tap in to the net. Somehow, he spooned it skywards and Gerken was grateful to tip it behind for a corner which Adebola then headed over.

Manager Gary Johnson made his first change of the afternoon as the ineffectual Carle was replaced by Darren Byfield as City went 4-4-2 and looked to capitalise on a perceived lack of pace in the U's rearguard. McLeod had a chance to put the U's back in front after Vernon's cross but instead of heading it back from whence it came, he tried to find the near corner and frankly, was no where near.

Just before the hour mark, and just eight minutes after United had taken the lead, the visitors occupied that position. City won a free kick in the U's half which they took quickly to McIndoe. A U's man finally went to him as he went to shoot from 30 yards and fortunately for the visitors, it looped over Gerken and in to the back of the net. The U's can hardly complain about a deflected goal seeing as how Jackson had scored two deflected free-kicks in two games recently however, it did seem that the luck of day was going against the side from North Essex yet again.

City manager Gary Johnson then saw his son Lee cut in from the right-hand side towards the box but his shot was straight at Gerken before Williams made his final permitted change with McLeod - who was again was a disappointment - replaced by Lisbie. This meant another reshuffle with Lisbie going upfront, Vernon to right midfield and Duguid switching to the left. Jackson's long-range effort was cleared away for a corner while a lovely cross from Ifil saw Lisbie's diving header go some way wide of Basso's goal.

With eleven minutes to go, City were reduced to ten men and really, Bradley Orr can have little complaint. He was booked in the first half for a body check, and then, a good three or four seconds after the referee blew for a foul, booted the ball as far away as he could. It was a yellow card offence for time-wasting, and though I don't think any player should be dismissed for such a thing, according to the letter of the law referee Taylor had no choice. It was another good decision from Taylor who had a very good game in that he was hardly noticeable. Yes, the odd decision went against us but you can't expect him to get it right all the time and I thought this was a competent performance from the man in yellow.

Johnson made late changes to his side with Cole Skuse and Tamas Vasko replacing Sproule and Adebola as the U's pressed for an equaliser. The best chance came from a Jackson free-kick which was cleared out towards Duguid on the edge of the box. Unfortunately, the U's skipper hit his rasping drive too well as Basso, who saw it late, was grateful that it was straight at him. A yard either side and I fancy the U's might rescued a vital point in a game which they deserved to take something from. They now face Wolves next week in a must-win fixture before they start to get caught adrift of the relegation pack.

Shot of the Match: Duguid's late strike was just too good to beat Basso.
Save of the Match: Neither side made the goalkeepers over-work, but Basso was in the right place to stop Duguid's late effort.
Man of the Match: After a particularly dodgy start to his U's career, Adam Virgo has really found top form and therefore, he was my MOTM by some distance.

Colchester: Gerken, Ifil, Virgo, Coyne (Hammond 46), White (Granville 39), Duguid, Jackson, Izzet, McLeod (Lisbie 67), Vernon, Platt.
Subs Not Used: Cousins, Watson.

Booked: Izzet.

Goals: Platt 50.

Bristol City: Basso, Orr, McCombe, Fontaine, McAllister, Sproule (Skuse 80), Johnson, Elliott, McIndoe, Carle (Byfield 55), Adebola (Vasko 84).
Subs Not Used: Weale, Noble.

Sent Off: Orr (79).

Booked: Orr.

Goals: Adebola 52, McIndoe 58.

Att: 5,609

Ref: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).

Photo: Action Images

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