Colchester United fan Si Collinson gives his U's views

In the week building up to it from the Swindon Town game, it seemed everyone was buzzing to see what Danny and Nicky Cowley’s home debut would bring.

Before the game, the ground was filled with an air of excitement and an atmosphere to match.

A lot of credit must go to the BWA – the Blue and White Army, a fan-led group who are really bringing colour and identity to match days – for their well thought-out displays, the bring a scarf campaign and flags that really added to the occasion.

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The Cowley brothers were, of course, given a roaring reception and a much larger than normal crowd added their voice to the occasion throughout.

However this was not all about the Cowleys; there was a game of football to be played and one that I was worried about.

Usually when we play a game with a larger than normal crowd and there is an expectation going into the game, then well to be frank, we tend not to deliver.

This seemed to be the case in the first half as we were very flat, lacking intensity and were a million miles off where we were at Swindon.

Although Bradford did allow us a lot of the ball, we were just to slow in playing forward and created our own problems at the back.

This was highlighted when Bradford exploited an overload down the right hand side and got their goal that had been coming.

We were 35 minutes in and 1-0 down. How was this game going to go? Were we going to be the same old Col U who returned to type?

At half-time, it was a topic of debate; here was the real first test of the new management duo and what they could bring out of the players in the second half.

It's one thing chasing a game away from home but at our own place in front of a crowd that is used to expecting the worst, it is a much harder test.

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Credit where credit is due, the second half was much better – not that it was very difficult given the first.

We played more on the front foot and with a passion that showed fight and a desire to get back into the game.

Tom Hopper was rewarded for all his effort and hard work with the goal to equalise the game.

While both sides had chances to win the game, I feel on reflection a draw was a fair result given all the hype and potential banana skin such a game brings.

If I was to pick a fault, it would be the Matt Jay substitution.

While his replacement Connor Wilkinson did liven up the game and looked very confident with the ball at his feet, it would have been nice to see them both together as that pair could have broken the Bradford lines between them.

I know I'm not privy to all the information and there may be a very valid reason why it was Jay who came off but I do feel there were more likely candidates to be replaced rather than him.

In the cold light of day on reflection, with everything surrounding the game and our new management, I will happily take a point and move on.

We have to remember we are third from bottom and wholesale changes will not happen overnight.

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But we're two games unbeaten and there are signs of what the Cowleys are doing to improve the side; their style is starting to come out, especially in the second half on Saturday.

Given time and a few players of their choosing, we will see improvement over every game.

What is important is that as fans, we understand the benchmark and get behind the team at every game and do our bit.

As Danny Cowley said in his programme notes, it is not just an 11-man job and we as supporters have our own part to play. Up the U’s.