Five observations from Colchester United's draw at Fleetwood Town
COLCHESTER United have become a side who are difficult to beat.
The U’s lowly position in the League Two table might not necessarily currently reflect it but Danny Cowley’s team are proving a tough nut to crack for opponents.
It’s now five unbeaten - and two defeats in 12 in all competitions - for Colchester, following their 0-0 stalemate at Fleetwood Town, on Saturday.
Yes, there have been plenty of draws in that time but the resilience and determination that the U’s are now showing, particularly away from home, provides a source of encouragement after a testing start to the season.
It was just a shame that Colchester did not come away from their first visit to Highbury Stadium since 2015 with a win, given their overall performance.
They will feel they were the better side and the only downside to their display was perhaps that they were not clinical enough, in the final third.
OSCAR Thorn will have had plenty of time on the long journey back to Essex to reflect on the gilt-edged opportunity he missed in the final seconds of stoppage-time, at Fleetwood.
The youngster could not hide his disappointment after seeing his last-gasp effort fly over the bar just before the final whistle, as Colchester United’s chances of grabbing a late winner went begging.
READ MORE: Fleetwood boss Charlie Adam's view on Colchester United draw
But while Thorn will naturally be disappointed not to have taken the chance after coming off the bench in the second half of the 0-0 draw, one positive was that he was in the right position in the penalty area to have had the opportunity to take it.
It was a big miss but the winger will have more chances to make an impact, if he continues to get into the right areas.
COLCHESTER United’s injury list is growing.
No sooner had they welcomed back Owura Edwards, Teddy Bishop and Samson Tovide from the treatment room, it seems as though there will be more absentees for the U’s coming games.
Ben Goodliffe and Harry Anderson both worryingly limped out of the 0-0 draw at Fleetwood Town, while there is also a concern over Edwards’ hamstring.
Top scorer Lyle Taylor missed the trip to Highbury Stadium with an ankle injury and with Tom Hopper and Tom Flanagan also currently sidelined, boss Cowley’s options will be more limited for the home clash with Swindon Town, on Tuesday night.
Needless to say, they will need players back sooner rather than later, given the number of games coming up in the next few weeks.
COLCHESTER United’s 0-0 draw at Fleetwood Town ensured they kept back-to-back clean sheets in League Two for the first time since April 2023.
The fact that the U’s have gone 19 months without achieving the feat is perhaps a reflection of their struggles near the relegation zone but also of the new-found solidity they have been showing, at the back.
Aaron Donnelly has been a hugely impressive performer for Colchester at the heart of their defence and even when Ben Goodliffe went off injured at Fleetwood just before half-time, Fiacre Kelleher stepped in as a more than able deputy for more than half of the game.
READ MORE: Colchester United player ratings after Fleetwood Town draw
The form of full-backs Ellis Iandolo and Mandela Egbo has also been a key factor in the U’s new-found defensive resilience and add to that the important saves made by goalkeeper Matt Macey over the last few games and you can see why Colchester are proving hard to penetrate.
It’s not just the form of the goalkeeper and back four, either; the U’s are defending from the front with Samson Tovide’s hard work in attack setting the right precedent.
DANNY Cowley made sure he spent plenty of time chatting to Colchester United’s fans up at Fleetwood, no doubt conscious of the mammoth effort they had made to be at Highbury Stadium by the lunchtime kick-off, on Saturday.
The U's head coach himself must be sick of the sight of motorways, with it having taken the team bus practically the whole of Friday to have reached Lancashire due to traffic problems.
Colchester supporters know they are fully appreciated by the Cowleys and their coaching team and players.
That goes a long way, as does seeing their team produce another impressive away performance where they looked competent and organised, in all areas.
It will have at least made the long trip back down to Essex more palatable, after such an early start.
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