Goals were preventable

Colchester United have gone from keeping three successive clean sheets to shipping seven goals, in their last two matches.

From a U’s point of view, Wycombe Wanderers’ opening two strikes in their 3-1 win at Adams Park were preventable and out of character for a defence that has consistently proved its worth in League Two, over recent months.

No wonder Colchester head coach John McGreal cut a frustrated figure afterwards, given that his players had failed to execute some of the things that had been outlined in training in the build-up to the match.

Despite their bright start to the game, the U’s were suddenly left with a mountain to climb after conceding what were ultimately avoidable goals.

As McGreal said afterwards, Colchester were made to work hard for their chances while much of the time, Wycombe were not.

Left-sided issues

Drey Wright has proved his versatility for Colchester United throughout this season.

At Wycombe Wanderers yesterday, he ended up in a position where he started the campaign – left wing-back.

Wright as always gave his all in the role, although he had his work cut coping with Wycombe’s dynamic right-back Tafari Moore who made quite an impression on his debut after signing on loan from Arsenal.

Wright’s inclusion in that position was forced on U’s head coach McGreal a little, following Kane Vincent-Young’s hamstring injury, loanee Kyel Reid’s return to parent club Coventry City and Lewis Kinsella’s recent loan departure to Aldershot Town.

It could well be an area Colchester will try to strengthen while they have the chance, during the current transfer window.

A welcome return

The last time Luke Prosser kicked a ball in anger in League Two prior to his long-awaited return at Adams Park yesterday, Leicester City were reigning Premier League champions and Barack Obama was still the US president.

It has certainly been a long and tough road back to full fitness for the Colchester United club captain after his first knee operation back in November, 2016.

Prosser was typically more concerned about his team’s performance and result than his comeback in the aftermath of the U’s defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.

But after more than 14 months on the sidelines, running onto the pitch as a second-half substitute for Ryan Inniss must have felt like a blessed relief for the former Southend United defender, given all he has been through.

Attacking intent

Colchester United’s starting line-up at Wycombe Wanderers was nothing if not attacking.

Sammie Szmodics, Kurtis Guthrie and Mikael Mandron all started at Adams Park, along with Drey Wright.

That was probably reflected in the impressive way in the positive way in which Colchester began the game but after Guthrie had been denied by Chairboys keeper Scott Brown, they conceded two goals in quick succession and were left with it all to do.

Guthrie and Mandron have been paired together in each of the U’s last two games; it will be interesting to see whether or not it is a partnership head coach John McGreal will stick with, between now and end of the season.

Senior service

There were not too many bright spots for the 580 Colchester United fans who were in Buckinghamshire to witness their side’s disappointing defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.

But the impact made by young attacker Courtney Senior after he came off the bench in the latter stages of the 3-1 loss was certainly a big positive.

Senior looked bright and lively in the time that he was on the pitch after replacing Brandon Comley with 15 minutes remaining and capped his impressive display with an assist for Sammie Szmodics’ consolation goal.

Given the high standard of his performance at Adams Park, the former Brentford youngster must surely be a serious contender to start the U’s home clash with Grimsby Town, next weekend.