We started with the same 4-4-1-1 as on Tuesday night and while that worked away from home, it didn't at home. For the first 5 minutes, Okocha was mesmerising and we looked like we could go on and score a handful, but once we lost that bit of momentum we were poor for most of the afternoon. We lacked any decent width. France worked tirelessly off the ball - to cover and to make space to receive the ball - but on it he just wasn't good enough. He missed the best chance of the first half when one on one with the 'keeper. On the left, Barmby started OK but pulled up early with what looked like a strained groin or hamstring. See you in August, Nick. Marney replaced him and forced a save with his first touch but never got into the game after that. He passed poorly, offered no width and made several poor decisions, one of which could've cost us the game.
We missed Garcia and Hughes badly; we looked a much poorer side without them. We also missed Deano. Colchester didn't have a lot about them but they had two huge, strong forwards who held the ball up and allowed guys like Jackson and Izzett to get into the game. We didn't have that luxury at all. Campbell just isn't capable of holding the ball up and playing alone up front with Okocha wandering around somewhere behind him. We were hideously exposed up front. Colchester defended deep and let Okocha have the ball, knowing there was no chance of him putting Campbell in behind. With the lack of width, it limited our options. In the first 15 minutes, Barmby made two runs from deep that caused problems and Ricketts got into 3 great crossing positions (and delivered great crosses) but in the last 75 that just didn't happen enough.
In the second half, Folan, replacing Walton, gave use a bit more muscle up front. He provided a target for longer balls (our early goal kicks and free-kicks were ludicrous). Unfortunately, Okocha dropped back into a 4 man midfield and the game passed him by for 45 minutes. He produced one magic moment, a beautifully flighted free-kick from which Campbell headed in the equaliser. Aside from a couple of set pieces, we struggled to find any real openings. Folan seized on a poor clearance and wove past two defenders, but with the goal gaping he ran into Campbell. Okocha looked incredible at times throughout. Particularly early on, he played 2 fantastic balls across the box, but overall I thought we looked in poorer shape with him in the side. To be fair to him though, we'd need to judge him while playing alongside Hughes and Garcia and perhaps with a more substantial striker alongside him.
I try not to pick on individuals but I thought Wayne Brown was abysmal today. He was hesitant, made poor decisions, tried to win balls that he was never going to make, headed poorly and distributed appallingly. I'm sure he was keen to impress against his former employers, but he failed, with knobs on. His partner Turner seemed equally hesitant at times in the first half, but grew stronger and had a typically strong second half. He made one defensive header from almost under the crossbar that defied belief. With a Colchester player up his backside, he stooped and almost wrapped his head around the ball to head it out - sensational stuff. Ricketts looked equally uncertain on most occasions. In fact, the Colchester goal was the result of a bout of indecision from Ricketts and Brown, letting the ball bobble around on the edge of the area. What followed was a breathtaking strike into the top corner but it should never have been allowed to happen.
Colchester are not a good side. It's easy to see why they are down at the bottom. They lack any imagination and really struggle for pace. They are well organised and they have lots of height but a decent side would put them to the sword. Unfortunately today, we weren't that side.
At home, I think we must leave out Walton. I'm trying not to make a snap decision about him but he's really been awful in all three home games so far. Ashbee has had to be the midfielder who tries to join the strikers but with all the will in the world, he's never, ever going to be good enough to do that. I'm all for playing two stubborn midfielders away from home but at home, we need to use Marney or Hughes to give us some quality and drive from the middle. Ash was decent today. He made some great interceptions and tackles and he was sensible on the ball. I love Ash, I really do. Whenever he makes a mistake, it's just water off a duck's back, he gets straight back on with the task and is happy to make the next tackle or receive a pass. He's got loads of bottle, he doesn't go missing, and he's always available. Some of his passing over 30 or 40 yards is excellent too, a great feat for a guy who struggled to pass it 10 yards a few years ago. On the list of our best ever signings, Ian Ashbee, who cost nothing, must be in the top 5 easily.
The officiating today was rubbish again. The ref made some mistakes but he's going to, he can't see everything. He was badly let down by the idiots who ran the line. What are they there for, seriously? They are happy to get involved in making Mickey Mouse decisions but whenever there is a key incident, they develop a temporary blindness. They couldn't assist the referee less if they went down the pub for 90 minutes instead. They were only beaten in the 'Garbage' stakes by our rotten fans. Firstly, only 15,500 could be bothered to turn up and then they sat on their hands for 90 minutes. As for the morons who booed the team at half-time, it'd be for the best if they cleared off and 'supported' someone else. How do you know when your support is rubbish? When you are being taunted for being rubbish by a team who get 5,000 at home games and can just about manage 3 taxi-loads to an away game.
This week has been a massive missed opportunity. We got a great point away from home, but 2 points out of 6 against lowly opposition just isn't good enough. I think we can forget the play-offs now. Our run of fixtures will prove too much. The guys have been fantastic so far though, I hope things don't just peter out now. It'd put us in good stead if were to finish in the top 10 and would make attracting players much easier. So it's onto WBA next. They seem to have found some form today. We're capable of getting something though, especially if we get Hughes, Garcia and Deano back.
Ratings: Myhill 7, Ricketts 6, Pedersen 6, Turner 6, Brown 5, France 6, Barmby (Marney 5), Walton 5 (Folan), Ashbee 7, Okocha 7, Campbell 6.