U’s resorting to direct tactics?

LISTENING to the post-match comments of an opposition manager can often be pretty revealing.

While Colchester United head coach John McGreal admitted his side lacked “zip” in losing 1-0, his Carlisle United counterpart Keith Curle’s analysis was equally as enlightening.

“The opposition didn’t have that natural flow in their game and in the end, a footballing team had to resort to lumping balls into our box and trying to fight for second balls and scraps,” said the Cumbrians boss, after leading his side to a fourth league away win of the season.

Curle’s comments perhaps illustrated how difficult it is for away teams at the Community Stadium but also, his delight in seeing his Carlisle side force a U’s side so often dominant on home soil to change their approach.

Don’t look back in anger, U’s

OASIS were riding high in the pop charts and John Major was Prime Minster, the last time Carlisle United had won in Colchester prior to their 1-0 victory yesterday.

Some members of the current U’s squad were not even born when Dean Walling’s goal gave the Cumbrians victory at Layer Road, back in 1995.

Carlisle’s display will not go down in history as the most exciting to be produced by a visiting team at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, in its nine-year existence.

‘Some might say’ it was a smash and grab performance but the main difference was that they seized their opportunity when it came along.

The curse of the hamstring

HAMSTRING injuries have been a hot topic in football in general, over recent weeks.

With the likes of N’Golo Kante, Sadio Mane and Shkodran Mustafi have all been stricken by the ailment during the international break, to the detriment of Premier League clubs.

The injury seems to be a common occurrence throughout the four divisions at the moment, not least at Colchester United.

The loss of in-form defensive duo Ryan Inniss and Kane Vincent-Young to the grievance proved particularly damaging to the U’s against Carlisle United.

Doug Loft has been playing through the pain barrier with the problem in recent games, with Tom Eastman having just returned from a similar injury.

Crucially, the loss of Inniss and Vincent-Young forced U’s head coach John McGreal to change a winning team.

Making a stand

PERHAPS Colchester United’s loyal South Stand contingent should set up base at the other end of the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

After all, they have been rather starved of goals at that part of the ground, during John McGreal’s reign in charge.

According to knowledgeable U’s fan and historian Graeson Laitt, nearly three-quarters of Colchester’s 62 home goals have been scored at the North Stand end since the start of last season.

Unfortunately, there were no goals for U’s fans to cheer in any part of the stadium yesterday, as they drew a blank in a home league game for the first time since April.

Far from over the Hill

COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal had praised the longevity of his old Tranmere Rovers team-mate Clint Hill, prior to his side’s game against Carlisle United.

And McGreal was equally as liberal in his post-match compliments for the evergreen defender, who was a rock at the heart of the visitors’ defence in their victory and played a big part in them keeping a clean sheet.

Hill celebrates his 39th birthday next week and is showing no signs of slowing down, following more than two decades in the professional game.

Little did McGreal know when Hill was emerging as his talented young defensive understudy at Prenton Park that more than 20 years on, the former QPR centre-back would play a part in the downfall of the U’s side he now manages.