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Colchester United continue to frustrate as the nearly men, after conceding a 93rd minute equaliser last Saturday that the Railwaymen did precious little to deserve (though to be fair, the lad took it well). Away at Brizzle Rovers we deserved at least a point from our second half pressure, and away at Swindon we deserved at least a point from our first half dominance. In the end though, just one point that should have been at least five. There’s no point in crying about it though, if we don’t take our chances, these things will happen. Mind you, Harry’s goal was a peach!
What’s even more frustrating (I’ll get over it, promise) is those additional four points would have put us joint top of the league, which only goes to show that no one is taking the league by storm right now. Tomorrow’s opponents Cheltenham Town are one of the unbeaten teams in the league so far, but with the last four as draws they are currently just outside the play-offs and two points ahead of the U’s. However, this does mean that Sombrero Steve’s Robins are likely going to be very difficult to break down.
Form is temporary… So, six games in, and like a Labrador that’s just spotted a tennis ball, the U’s have spent most of their time charging enthusiastically around League Two, occasionally crashing through a hedge but generally heading in the right direction. The U’s have mixed grit, graft and the odd moment of footballing wizardry to keep us dreaming of bigger things. One week they look like promotion contenders; the next they kindly remind us that this is still League Two. The defence has usually been sturdier than a Roman villa, while up front there’s enough threat to keep opposition managers reaching for the antacids. In short: imperfect, entertaining, and unmistakably Colchester.
Played for both It’s only right that the featured player for this one is Harry Pell. Never the most talented footballer, Harry was the footballing equivalent of a pub landlord who somehow ends up captaining the tug-of-war team, refereeing the quiz night and winning the raffle all at once. Competitive, outspoken and full of personality, he was a natural leader who thrived on getting under opponents' skin while remaining hugely popular with teammates and supporters. This is why he’ll always be considered a legend at both Cheltenham and Colchester.
Harry in a nutshell
There are loads of others on the played for both list, but a few stars include Jamie Cureton, Kayodi Odejayi, Ben Stevenson, Chris Iwelumo, Steven Gillespie, and from back in the day, Chris Fry.
Head to head It probably won’t come as a surprise, given my location, that Cheltenham are equal third in my list of teams I’ve seen the U’s play most (alongside Bristol Rovers and behind Exeter City and Swindon). In fact, my last game watching the U’s was our final game of last season at Whaddon Road – that was a good way to finish the season.
Back in the days of the Southern League, we played Cheltenham often, with a pretty decent record too – won eight, drew six and lost only four. Following our entry into the Football League, we didn’t see the Robins again for nearly 40 years, until our relegation to the Conference in 1990. Mind you, we kept up the dominance with three wins and a draw over those two seasons.
Cheltenham finally achieved promotion to the Football League in 1999, of course under Steve Cotterill during his first stint at Whaddon Road. Since then, like us they have mostly bounced along between Leagues 1 and 2 (mostly 2) and one brief foray back into non-league in 2015. In that time, our record against each other has been a bit more even, with the U’s winning 11, drawing five and losing eight. Still, with an overall record of W22 D12 L12, we must be a borderline bogey side for the Robins?
Line-up A difficult line-up to predict here. Overall the performance against Crewe was pretty good – the one player who I thought wasn’t quite at the races was actually Thorn, and his control and cross for Harry’s goal was superb. However, I’m banking on Lisbie being fit to replace him out on the right, otherwise more or less as is from last Saturday..
Substitutes: Thorn Ihionvien Kuffour Smith Terry Vincent-Young Williams (Jaden)
Cheltenham are proving themselves a tough nut to crack so far this season, but I’m reckoning the U’s will peel them open like a freshly roasted pistachio tomorrow, and finally deliver the walloping we’ve been threatening. U’s to win 4-0, with a brace from Kouassi, one from Payne and Bradley finishing things off from the bench.
Weather watch It’ll be a bit of a grey day tomorrow, overcast and quite humid, making the 22 degrees feel more like 24-5. There’ll be a fresh breeze from the west-south-west, and a modest chance of some rain being about.
I’m aware of at least one Sombrero likely to turn up tomorrow, but is potentially wasted as Cotterill is on a three match touch line ban.
I wonder which U’s will turn up? We have played like Real Madrid for 40 minutes and like the Muppets for 60. Our Substitutions either improve our shape or create utter calamity. Depth of squad is evidently an issue.
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Robins again! It’s only bloody September! on 21:59 - Sep 18 with 1047 views
Excellent preview. I agree Thorn should be dropped even though he is top on assists. Doesn't do enough for me throughout the 90 minutes. We need somebody wide who is prepared to run at the defender. Let's hope for a good performance.
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Robins again! It’s only bloody September! on 23:06 - Sep 18 with 1002 views
Didn't realise that Lisbie had been out injured. I thought he had just been dropped due to inexperience with the arrival of Thorn. Unless you meant Akande you has been scoring goals for fun for the U21s?
Robins again! It’s only bloody September! on 23:06 - Sep 18 by ghughes11
Didn't realise that Lisbie had been out injured. I thought he had just been dropped due to inexperience with the arrival of Thorn. Unless you meant Akande you has been scoring goals for fun for the U21s?
I must admit, I assumed he must be injured, as he’s not even been making the bench. You could be right, it could be an ability decision.
Another two points dropped from one up situation. However two calls by the ref affected the outcome and both correct despite DC post match interview . Big hand ball leads to the penalty and showing a stud in a challenge leads to straight red. Draw was a fair result, both teams looked average with the U’s to patient and ponderous in all play and lack penetration before and after the goal. They need to show more urgency in the performance.
It was Alfie's birthday today, so we had a big family lunch in Bristol. As a result, I only caught the last 30 minutes, but it was enough. A great goal on the break from Sesay, but we were already under pressure from Cheltenham. No argument about the penalty, no argument about the red card either. In the end, we did well to get a point, so I have to be content with that. After all of the second half shenanigans, goal celebrations, yellow and red cards, prolonged handbags on the pitch, I couldn't work out why only four minutes were added on, but on this occasion I was mightily relieved.
Robins again! It’s only bloody September! on 18:37 - Sep 19 by bwildered
Another two points dropped from one up situation. However two calls by the ref affected the outcome and both correct despite DC post match interview . Big hand ball leads to the penalty and showing a stud in a challenge leads to straight red. Draw was a fair result, both teams looked average with the U’s to patient and ponderous in all play and lack penetration before and after the goal. They need to show more urgency in the performance.
Totally concur about both decisions, but we seem to be in the minority from my survey of post match pub opinion. What on earth was Raggett doing with his arm erect…..waving to his mum?
Minutes after he came on I predicted Williams would see red. Incredibly aggressive in a 1960’s style that has (sadly) been lost in the modern game. To be fair, his impact from the bench did lift us, but one can’t leap high and come down studs first above the ball without consequence.
A point was a fair result. We are four points from the relegation zone and four from automatic promotion. That’s better than our status in most seasons I have watched. My glass is still half-full with positivity.
Robins again! It’s only bloody September! on 18:37 - Sep 19 by bwildered
Another two points dropped from one up situation. However two calls by the ref affected the outcome and both correct despite DC post match interview . Big hand ball leads to the penalty and showing a stud in a challenge leads to straight red. Draw was a fair result, both teams looked average with the U’s to patient and ponderous in all play and lack penetration before and after the goal. They need to show more urgency in the performance.
We've now led in six of seven matches but only won two! A concerning trend.
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