Colchester United drew 1-1 with Leicester City this afternoon with Mark Yeates scoring the U's goal from a superb free-kick.
Colchester United picked up an excellent point at Leicester City this afternoon - but will leave wondering whether they should have taken all three points. Foxes goalkeeper Tony Warner made five excellent second half saves to prevent his side from going further behind after Dickov's goal had cancelled out Mark Yeates' opening goal. It may be a good result but sadly, a point does little to aid United's fading play-off ambitions.
Lambert made use of his new signings during the week though Ashley Vincent was not considered due to his injury. Karl Hawley lined up alongside Clive Platt up front with Neal Trotman taking the place of the unfortunanate Chris Coyne (my MOTM last week) to partner Baldwin.
United started the game by giving little away inthe opening fifteen minutes as the expected Leicester onslaught failed to occur. Only Tierney's mis-placed back header caused any concerns with King heading the resulting corner over the bar. Yeates tried his luck from a very tight angle shortly afterwards as he tried to replicate Andre Arshavin's recent goal at The Emirates.
United took the lead midway through the half. Perkins won a freekick seven yards from the penalty box. Ideal for the U's Irish free-kick expert and really, it was no surprise when Warner failed to keep out Yeates' sublime effort for his 11th of the season.
City had to make a change just after the hour mark as Cleverley came off worst in a collision with Kem Izzet and was replaced by Lloyd Dyer. It was from the sbstitute that Morrison headed wide to allow the U's to go in to the break by far the happier of the two sides.
The second half was far more interesting with both sides creating plenty of chances. Fryatt almost added to his long list of goals this season with a shot onthe turn but could only scoop the ball wide after some good one touch football from the home side. Perkins fired over after Yeates' strong run before Platt found himself in the U's book after delaying a Leicester City free kick.
Whilst debutant Trotman was having a good game at the back for the U's, Karl Hawley had been much quieter but, on the hour mark, he almost celebrated his debut with a goal. He broke away into the box but tried to cut back on to his favoured right foot which allowed Gilbert to get in a goal-saving tackle. Just seconds later, the on-loan Preston man should have done much better following Trotman's header back across goal but he missed the target when well placed and had time to pick his spot.
City manager Nigel Pearson made his second change of the afternoon with 20 minutes of the second period gone and it paid almost immediate dividends with the equaliser. Mark Cousins tried to punch Matt Oakley's corner away on two occasions but the U's failed to clear their lines and Dickov, who had just replaced Gradel, stabbed the ball home.
United continued to look for another goal though and it was only Warner who kept them out. He somehow managed to keep out Platt's header after Trotman had nodded the ball back across goal before the former Liverpool shot stopper denied Yeates at the near post. A flurry of chances was ended as Platt somehow missed the target at the far post after Morrison's inadvertant flick-on.
City responded. Fryatt blazed over as he got a rare sight of goal before a quick 1-2 by Dyer saw Cousins make a good save to keep the U's level. Jackson replaced Perkins and Yeates - who had endured an awful loan spell at Leicester before returning to the U's last season - was taken off with time running out and replaced by Wordswrth.
In injury time, it was the U's who looked more likely to nick the winner but Hawley couldn't find the gap past the impressive Warner. It says womething about Colchester's performance away from home that the home sides goalkeeper was a clear winner of their Man of the Match award but ultimately, this result has done little to aid the U's play-off ambitions.
U's: Cousins, Maybury, Trotman, Baldwin, Tierney, Perkins (Jackson 74), Hammond, Izzet, Yeates (Wordsworth 90), Platt, Hawley
Subs not used: Gerken, Coyne, and Wasiu,
Leicester: Warner, Gilbert, Morrison, Hobbs, Mattock, Cleverley (Dyer 34), Oakley, King, Gradel (Dickov 66), Fryatt, Hayles
Subs not used: Stockdale, Berner, Kisnorbo
Ref: Keith Stroud
Att: 20,218