The U's were hammered 5-1 at Carrow Road yesterday with U's old boy Jamie Cureton scoring a hat-trick.
Judas is an important figure over the Easter period. Indeed, he 'stars' in the original Easter epic and, over the last couple of years, he has starred again. This time last year though, Jamie Cureton was a hero for his hat-trick against Southend United.
Yesterday, he was the villain with a well-taken hat-trick that broke United hearts. The former U's striker took full advantage of lapses in the U's defence to register his first hat-trick of the season in a 5-1 thumping of the Division's bottom club. Kevin Lisbie grabbed the U's goal.
In fairness, Norwich were the better side and deservedly took the points. Five-one might have flattered them slightly - by virtue of their appalling defence - but you can't keep giving goals away like the U's do. Those that moaned about the team selection should remember that Williams hasn't got anyone else and has a whole potential starting eleven sitting in the stands. The latest victim of the injury curse was Matt Heath who picked up a groin strain in training on Friday and - as I understand it - has been ruled out for the season. It’s a pity as he was starting to look very impressive.
So Williams starting eleven showed three changes to the side that faced Hull City on Tuesday evening. Kem Izzet came back in to midfield in place of the crocked Karl Duguid, Bela Balogh replaced Heath and Medy Elito swapped placed with Anthony Wordsworth. The one potential bright spot was the return of Pat Baldwin to the bench after missing the last two months with a knee injury.
Glenn Roeder's side contained plenty of attacking options with Dion Dublin and Jamie Cureton up front and Darren Huckerby on the right-hand side. However, there was a potential weak link at the back with Garry Doherty in the side - the man can neither pass the ball or run - and with the pace of Lisbie against him, would surely struggle.
However, it was the U's who struggled right from the off as everything that could go right for The Canaries, did though when Jackson hit Platt's knockdown over the bar the large contingent of U's fans wondered whether this might be their day. Just six minutes in though, and United were a goal down through fullback John Otsemobor. Huckerby dragged John White out to the touchline leaving an enormous game between the U's fullback and the nearest central defender Adam Virgo which should have been plugged by a U's midfielder. Otsemobor brushed off the challenge of Elito to run in to the game, though a couple of challenges, and lifted the ball over Gerken and in to the net for a dream start for the struggling Norfolk outfit.
Jackson had a good chance for the U's shortly afterwards as Platt sent him away down the inside-left but he dragged his shot just across the goal as weather conditions changed seemingly with every attack. One minute it rained, the next it snowed and the next, you were shielding your eyes from the sun. I never knew Norfolk was so cold.
City blew their next chance. Pattison got the better of Ifil down the City left and, getting to the ball before Virgo's attempted challenge, pulled the ball back to the unmarked Russell six yards out. Somehow, the former Stoke man back with City for his second spell poked the ball wide. Keeper Gerken then had to be at his best minutes later. A superb ball out to Huckerby ended with the former Coventry man racing in to the box only to be denied by a superb challenge by John White. Gerken had to be alert and brave to twice dive on the loose ball.
Jackson saw another shot blocked for a corner after good work from Ifil who had successfully appealed against his red card on Tuesday evening. Izzet tried his luck from thirty yards but keeper Marshall was able to make a comfortable save. Izzet then crossed for Lisbie to head on to the roof of the net before City extended their lead.
The goal again came down the U's left hand side as Huckerby toyed with White before getting to the by-line and delivering a cross which Cureton, finding a yard or so off his marker, volleyed past Gerken. Almost immediately afterwards, Cureton was booked following a challenge on Bela Balogh.
The U's did respond though. Lisbie headed against the woodwork following a cross from the right-hand side before the U's reduced the arrears through leading scorer Kevin Lisbie. It was an awful header from Doherty that freed Lisbie to a position where he had just the keeper to beat. He coolly took the ball past Marshall before poking the ball in to the empty net. Maybe this was the lifeline that would get the U's back in to the game as Ifil tried a long-range shot from a good 35 yards that Marshall was equal to.
Both sides made a change at halftime. Doherty was replaced by Alex Pierce while Elito made way for Scott Vernon. The young U's winger has been unfortunate that he has had to be thrown in at the deep end, but Williams finally realised, that he is simply not ready for this level of action yet.
The second half saw City come racing out of the blocks, eager to get back in to a two goal lead. Dublin might have done better heading towards goal rather than trying to knock the ball down but minutes later, the former Manchester United striker spotted Gerken off his line, and chipped a ball from 40 yards which unluckily hit the cross bar. Though the ball rebounded out to Jamie Cureton not only did he spurn the chance, but it wouldn't have counted as the former Swindon man was offside.
However, that was just a sighter for Cureton who made no mistake from the penalty spot on 53 minutes. The play was at the far end from where we were sat and I didn't get a good look at Ifil's challenge on a Norwich player. However, based on the lack of protests from United's players, I can only deduce that the award was correct and Gerken was sent the wrong way by Cureton.
It was almost four minutes later - and at that point we were saying it’s a case of 'how many?' now for the home side - as Gerken came out quickly to deny Huckerby from bearing down on goal. The U's goalkeeper was also bright to prevent a Cureton effort from going in.
Finally, the U's mustered something that could be quantified as an effort on goal in the second through substitute Scott Vernon. The former Blackpool man cut inside from the left and struck a shot which I didn't think Marshall coped particularly well with - but he did enough to concede a corner.
With twenty minutes remaining Lisbie was forced off through injury to be replaced by Wordsworth meaning that Vernon move in to a more attacking position. The recent substitute almost got on to the end of Platt's flick on inside the box but couldn't quite control the ball enough. City keeper Marshall saved Platt's header as United desperately sought a goal that would set up a grandstand finish with even Bela Balogh getting in to the act with a shot which, in truth, went some way over the bar.
With two minutes remaining, and United tiring, Cureton completed his hat-trick with a well-taken effort. Dublin received the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the box and laid it off to Cureton who curled the ball deliciously in to the corner of the net.
Worse was to come for the U's as Dublin got the goal he deserved, though there was more than an element of luck to it. Russell's attempted shot was going well wide of Gerken's goal but hit Dublin, who quick as a flash, chipped over Gerken and under the cross bar - it was probably the goal of the game.
United were well beaten. They look a relegation side and I hate to say it, but some of the players involved today, are just simply not up to Championship football. Yes, Geraint has an extraordinary injury list but he, and the club, has to start planning for next season in League One. Whether Williams will be given that opportunity is only for Robbie Cowling to decide.
Shot of the Match: Without a doubt it has to be Dublin’s 40 yard lob that left Gerken stranded, and unluckily came back off the woodwork.
Save of the Match: Gerken was really brave to dive at the feet of two Norwich players in one first half incident.
Moan of the Match: The foul-mouthed individual who I was unfortunate enough to sit in front of. I hate hearing fans asking for professionals to break other player’s legs - they just wouldn’t do it. But this was most abusive individual I have ever heard who, quite simply, knew nothing about football. Even the person attending alongside was embarrassed. The most surprising aspect - this individual was female.
Man of the Match: On a bad day for the U's only three players stood out for me though I would never complain that individuals who played badly were not giving 100% in terms of effort. Gerken was not at fault for any of the goals as far as I could tell which just leaves the midfield pairing of Hammond and Jackson. Both gave everything in the U's cause. but I'm going to go with the former Bright man Dean Hammond who just, by a whisker, beats Jackson.
Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell, Doherty (Pearce 46), Bertrand, Huckerby (Rigters 78), Fotheringham, Russell, Pattison (Croft 54), Dublin, Cureton.
Subs Not Used: Camara, Evans.
Booked: Cureton.
Goals: Otsemobor 6, Cureton 36, 53 pen, 87, Dublin 90.
Colchester: Gerken, Ifil, Virgo, Balogh, White, Hammond, Jackson, Izzet, Elito (Vernon 46), Platt, Lisbie (Wordsworth 70).
Subs Not Used: Bankole, Baldwin, Guy.
Goals: Lisbie 41.
Att: 25,215
Ref: Mark Haywood (W Yorkshire).