COLCHESTER United played out a 1-1 draw at Barrow, on Saturday.
The U's rescued a point at Holker Street, after Lyle Taylor's stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Elliot Newby's first-half opener for the Bluebirds.
Here are five talking points from the U's draw, in Cumbria.
HAVING trailed for most of the game at Holker Street, it was very much a case of one point gained rather than two dropped for Colchester United at Barrow.
While the home side were understandably left kicking themselves after conceding an equaliser in stoppage-time for the third time in four matches, the U’s once again showed their ability to strike late and rescue something from an away game which they had looked destined to lose.
Just like they had at Port Vale and Accrington Stanley earlier in the season, Colchester scored a late goal to claim a 1-1 away draw.
There’s no dressing up the fact that the U’s lie 21st in the League Two table, two points above the relegation zone and are without a win in their last nine games, in all competitions.
SAMSON Tovide wasn’t even expected to be in the Colchester United squad for their game at Barrow.
So for the young striker to come off the bench and make the impact he did after returning from a hip injury was a huge bonus.
Colchester were trailing 1-0 and hunting for an equaliser when Tovide came on in the 70th minute and he certainly made his presence felt during his time on the pitch – in true Samson style.
READ MORE: Colchester United fans have their say on draw at Barrow
The Barrow defence struggled to handle the powerful forward and it was Tovide’s strength and awareness that ultimately paved the way for Lyle Taylor’s late equaliser, which ensured the U’s made the long trip back to Essex with a point.
Tovide has only been out for three weeks but it feels like a lot longer, such is his influence on the team.
NO team has drawn more games in League Two than Colchester United, this season.
The U’s have shared the spoils in 50 per cent of their 14 league games, with the majority of those draws coming away from home.
Danny Cowley’s side are generally a tough nut to crack and picking up points at the likes of Barrow and Port Vale is commendable.
But in order for those points to become more valuable, it is essential they start winning at the JobServe Community Stadium.
It’s mid-table side Bradford City at home next up for the U’s in the league this weekend and they must build on the Barrow draw by getting three points, in front of their own fans.
LET’S face it, Colchester United fans haven’t had too much to shout about over the last few seasons.
So seeing your side grab a stoppage-time equaliser away from home was at least something for them to smile about, on the long journey back to Essex.
“They’ve been incredibly loyal in the most testing of circumstances,” said boss Danny Cowley, after seeing the U’s pick up a point at Barrow.
“I don’t suppose it will make that seven hours any quicker but it might make it a little bit of an easier journey home.”
Many of them will have left at the crack of dawn, in the hours of darkness and returned in the middle of the night, in the hours of darkness, all for the love of watching their team.
It’s not been easy supporting Colchester on the road, over recent seasons.
They are yet to taste victory on their travels this season and have registered only five away league wins since May 2023, so those who made the 650-mile round trip to Holker Street in November deserve all of the praise they get.
IT’S certainly a good job that Samson Tovide has returned from injury, given Colchester United’s diminishing attacking options for their next league game.
Leading scorer Lyle Taylor will miss the U’s home clash with Bradford City after being called up for international duty by Montserrat, while Owura Edwards and Anthony Scully remain sidelined due to injury.
It will be interesting to see how U’s boss Danny Cowley deals with Taylor’s absence, this weekend.
Bringing in Tom Hopper alongside Tovide would be the most likely option but youngsters Oscar Thorn and Hakeem Sandah are also options.
Taylor will undoubtedly be a big miss as he showed with his equaliser at Barrow and how the U’s cope with his absence will be crucial in determining whether or not they can claim a much-needed win, against the Bantams.
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