City Draw in the Smoke….

Colchester 1 City 1 

The BSkyB TV organised K.O. was at 5.20 p.m.  The evening still and barmy.  The ground “quaint” (Estate Agent language).  The game view at pitch level from low terracing, not good for perspective but certainly close up!  Wednesday at Stamford Bridge to Layer Road on Saturday – the sublime to the ridiculous!  

Leicester without Hume, Clemence and Wesolowski.  Colchester missing the evergreen Sheringham (suspended) but with Micky Adams recruited to the management.   

The result, as last year, 1 – 1. 

The Saturday before bonfire night, low stands and a firework spectacular from several local gardens throughout.  A pall of smoke hung over the pitch in the second half.  Rockets flared over the ground. 

City, solid through the middle.  Set up in a 3 – 4 – 3 formation.  Fryatt slightly withdrawn off the front two and working hard.  We were competitive and tried to play at pace, conceding width which ex Foxes loanee Mark Yeates, for the home side, used well.

 

Fulop in goal very safe on crosses.  Colchester, with changed personnel from last season, playing in the same pattern.  The tall Platt (ex of MK Dons) the new target man instead of Iwelumo, but he was well policed in the air by a powerful N’Gotty…..

 

Leicester led early.  Campbell turned tightly and advanced down the inside right channel at pace.  He crossed hard and low for John to score centrally.  The away side generally on top in the first period, finished the half strongly, but restricted to shooting from distance.

 

John scored his 2nd for Leicester since his recent arrival on loan (pic courtsey of Raymonds/LCFC) 

Right on the break, an equaliser.  Yeates moved across the penalty area from the right, crossed wickedly, a positive downward header by Jackson bounced in from five yards out at the foot of the back post.  Sheehan had been booked for wrestling the winger to the ground earlier.  

Second half.  Each side had spells in control and chances.  Leicester substituted Cort for John, then Newton for Campbell, both without impact.  The visitors tended to give the ball away to often.  Izzet booked at the death for Colchester. The draw a fair result in a well refereed game.   Chambers and Kenton can be pleased with their midfield shifts. 

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A supporter’s view: after all the recent changes Leicester more compact, playing better to the strengths of players, still lacking the wing back quality to really benefit from a tight three at the back.  We do not concede easily, the goalkeeper looking better and better, but lacking goals still and we must be more successful at The Walkers.   

The ball should be cherished more when we are in possession.  Taggart seems to have a defined role now, freed from Megson’s shadow, and appears more effective – Burrows, senior and experienced, a stablising figure.  The Championship is tight and a run of results for any team will make them play off contenders. 

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Leicester: Fulop, Chambers, Kisnorbo, N'Gotty, McAuley, Sheehan, Stearman, Kenton, John (Cort 64), Fryatt, Campbell (Newton 80). Subs Not Used: Henderson, Maybury, Sappleton. Booked: Sheehan.  Goals: John 7.

Colchester: Gerken, Baldwin, Connolly, Granville, Jackson, Watson (McLeod 63), Duguid, Izzet, Yeates, Lisbie, Platt. Subs Not Used: Cousins, Elokobi, Virgo, Balogh. Booked: Izzet.  Goals: Jackson 45.

Att: 5,661  Ref: Andy Penn (W Midlands).

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