Colchester vs Exeter

[Moomin]

Not confident with this one. I actually think Colchester may well go up this season and I believe they’re decent at home? Norris and Szmodics are a big threat going forward so will undoubtably cause us problems from the off.

We played pretty well vs Northampton last week and we’re starting to get some players back fit but we can’t defend at the moment, which is concerning. Plus our away form isn’t the best so think we will lose this one.

3-1 Colchester

 

[Sydney Posse]

Agree with you Moomin, we cannot buy a win at the moment in the league. I still think we will be up there at final knock-ins as we have a decent squad, but the current form is rubbish. We clearly are totally vulnerable when key people are out

 

[Moomin]

Agree with you Moomin, we cannot buy a win at the moment in the league. I still think we will be up there at final knock-ins as we have a decent squad, but the current form is rubbish. We clearly are totally vulnerable when key people are out

At least MT provided a positive injury update yesterday. It seems like L.Martin and Moxey are both available again so will be part of the squad. Just leaves Brown and Boateng as the main two absentees.

We have the players to produce the goods but need to cut out the silly mistakes at the back as going forward we carry a big threat.

 

[Trapdoor]

Trains from london are suspended. Going to be a rough journey...

 

[Moomin]

Trains from london are suspended. Going to be a rough journey...

Not good. I’d be surprised if we surpass 200 travelling Grecians for this one. I will be listening to this one on the wireless for sure.

 

[dedwardp]

Not particularly optimistic about this one. Our goals have dried up in recent weeks with Norris out injured, whilst at the back Gilmartin is out injured in goal and I've yet to be convinced with Barnes.

Prosser is our best defender and he's out suspended, whilst his replacement Eastman is out injured too meaning we'll have a youngster stepping in at the back. Cameron James would be my preference as he does at least have some experience, but whilst he looked excellent in 2016/17 when he made a breakthrough he was all over the place in his appearances last year and soon disappeared. The only alternative is Ollie Kensdale, a teenager who made his debut in the Checkatrade last week.

The good news is that Pell returns in midfield from suspension today but I'm sure it will be a tight one.

 

[Moomin]

Not particularly optimistic about this one. Our goals have dried up in recent weeks with Norris out injured, whilst at the back Gilmartin is out injured in goal and I've yet to be convinced with Barnes.

Prosser is our best defender and he's out suspended, whilst his replacement Eastman is out injured too meaning we'll have a youngster stepping in at the back. Cameron James would be my preference as he does at least have some experience, but whilst he looked excellent in 2016/17 when he made a breakthrough he was all over the place in his appearances last year and soon disappeared. The only alternative is Ollie Kensdale, a teenager who made his debut in the Checkatrade last week.

The good news is that Pell returns in midfield from suspension today but I'm sure it will be a tight one.

This post has made me more optimistic. Stockley may fancy his chances against a makeshift back line and Norris being injured is a plus for us.

Still not sure we will win though, just hope we give a decent account of ourselves. UTC

 

[denzel ecfc]

How bizarre I'm sure I posted in this before and said 2-1 to us. I stand by it.
In Colchester at the moment about to take the bus to somewhere near the ground. Excellent weather for playing though it will no doubt be chilly at the coldest ground in England.
COYR

 

[dedwardp]

Incredibly frustrating game - earlier in the season we'd have scored three or four today, certainly deserved to win that. Having finally made the breakthrough, to be pegged back so swiftly to such a scrappy goal is hard to take, especially with everyone around us failing to lose too - it's definitely a missed opportunity.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Incredibly frustrating game - earlier in the season we'd have scored three or four today, certainly deserved to win that. Having finally made the breakthrough, to be pegged back so swiftly to such a scrappy goal is hard to take, especially with everyone around us failing to lose too - it's definitely a missed opportunity.

Not sure I agree there. We had just as many chances. At the end of the first half, the free kick and the Stockley header. We were the only ones trying to win it in the end. A fair point imo

 

[dedwardp]

Will agree to disagree then. The chance at the end of the first half was the only chance you'd had before the break, and it would have been against the run of play. We should have gone in ahead at half-time, and it felt like we would come to regret it. The header from Stockley was a good effort but the free kick failed to even trouble the goalkeeper.

Instead, we continued to toil away at breaking you down with a lot of pressure in the second half only to throw it away a minute after finally making the breakthrough. Before the opener the game had 1-0 written all over it and we should have seen it out. Continued to apply pressure after the goal. Pym made a few good saves, there were a number of shots deflected just wide, Mandron missed two complete sitters, Szmodics took one round the keeper but failed to divert his shot goalwards from a tight angle - Exeter looked like a dangerous outfit on the break, sure, but we should have won that.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Will agree to disagree then. The chance at the end of the first half was the only chance you'd had before the break, and it would have been against the run of play. We should have gone in ahead at half-time, and it felt like we would come to regret it. The header from Stockley was a good effort but the free kick failed to even trouble the goalkeeper.

Instead, we continued to toil away at breaking you down with a lot of pressure in the second half only to throw it away a minute after finally making the breakthrough. Before the opener the game had 1-0 written all over it and we should have seen it out. Continued to apply pressure after the goal. Pym made a few good saves, there were a number of shots deflected just wide, Mandron missed two complete sitters, Szmodics took one round the keeper but failed to divert his shot goalwards from a tight angle - Exeter looked like a dangerous outfit on the break, sure, but we should have won that.

Disagree completely. Stockley was an inch wide and the keeper was nowhere! Abrahams was through on goal and could have lifted it over the keeper. Apart from a couple of good saves from Pym I didn't see any equivalent chances from you. Hopefully we will back to our old selves soon and will win games like this.

 

[dedwardp]

https://www.skysports.com/watch/vid...chester-united/11562603/colchester-1-1-exeter

These highlights are, for once, a reasonable indicator of the balance of play.

A few comments from a quick glance on Twitter:

"could have (undeservedly) nicked it at the end. Must be grateful to Christy, who kept us in the game with some great saves in both halves"

"a battling backs to the wall point at promotion rivals Colchester"

"We were sensational for the final minute of the half, the rest was Christy Pym keeping us in it"

"Luckily for us Christy has kept us in the game so far"

"the Grecians will be glad to get to the break on level terms - Matt Taylor's side have been under the cosh for long periods"

 

[denzel ecfc]

Well yes the first half you edged it. And?
How can the highlights ignore Stockleys header and his free kick? Were they given the feed from the home club

 

[Sydney Posse]

Definitely would have taken a point before the game, and take comfort from Denzel's take on things. Still think we have the makings of a successful season, but need to get back to winning ways soon as cannot keep relying on the others dropping points. Colchester are decent for this level, so a point gained in my book UTC

 

[Moomin]

Pleased with the point but it certainly sounded like we rode our luck in the first half. Pym pulled off a couple of great saves apparently.

That said, it’s good to hear we improved in the 2nd half and created so chances too so it’s definitely a point gained imo.

Macc at home on Tuesday is a massive game as a win will give us a nice confidence boost going into a 10 day break but anything less than that won’t be good enough.