Bristol City 1 U's 1 - Durham's View

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.

U's line up:

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' 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.

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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