The two teams have never met before and let’s all prey and hope we won’t get the chance to meet that often as Colchester are and were awful in patches. Thankfully Sunderland got the much needed three points and with both strikers contributing to the goal tally chart, all in all, the day was better than expected. A typical crazy 5-10 minutes in the final period of the game brought back the realism that we are not there yet but things are improving, slowly.
The game started with many changes (as usual) and I was happy to see Varga back in the centre of defence alongside the impressive Collins. The two didn’t have much to do all game due to Colchester not threatening until near the end with three clear cut chances that thankfully stayed out and kept our hearts from our mouths. With the late blow against Southampton, the scare mongers were out in the SoL but we got our much needed break and finally sealed a win to push us a little higher in the league.
The game did start off with no real movement and the team found it hard to adjust to the new 4-5-1 formation that Keane decided to test today; the main threat and direction came from Yorke and Yorke only. Elliott, who was unfortunate not to get a game in mid-week with Ireland, also looked bright and shows exactly what we have been missing, genuine skill and pace on the ball.
There was an early wake up call for the U’s as a shot hit the post but the linesman had his flag raised well before the chance came back off the post. This seemed to raise Sunderland’s game and chances were starting to be created with a cross from Wallace on a plate for Varga but Brown seemed to get in his way and Stanislav could not direct the header onto target.
The game centred around what Yorke was going to do next as he waited for the crucial ball. He is frustrating at times when the whole of the Stadium is politely reminding him he is allowed to have a shot now and then but decides to keep it simple rather than testing the goalkeeper. You could see that Elliott was in the mood to play some good football and created our first real chance when his cross was drilled across the goalmouth only to be cleared by the defender.
The pressure continued until half time and finally Elliott got the goal he deserved with a classy turn to beat his marker and a low shot that beat the keeper at his near post. His hard work and determination paid off and showed what it meant to the fans by screaming at the SWC with his fist pumping in the air. Exactly what was needed just before the break and a platform to build on for the next 45 mins.
Keano kept the same team for the second half and the team-talk must have inspired the boys who played some genuinely great football that was a joy to watch in patches (yes you read right, we passed the ball for more than 6 times) and had Colchester chasing shadows for most of the 2nd half. The referee at times lost control of the game and made some decisions that were shocking and if Chris Brown were to read this he would agree. The decision of him holding the players shirt and then issuing a card for it for complaining was harsh to say the least.
The second goal came and was one of the moves of the game with some incisive passing from leadbitter to brown, then to whitehead who cut the ball back to set up Sleeves for his 2nd goal and 3rd of the season. The move showed that if Sunderland do get the ball down and pass and move we are a very good team. Sunderland were then denied the goal of the season with again more ‘sexy’ passing which lead to a great chance that was just scuffed wide.
Brown who had a goal disallowed for offside was rewarded by being subbed in the 68m for Connelly, the decision was correct as Brown was getting infuriated with the referee and was becoming a risk to receiving a red card. Brown played well and was a target man but again he is not what we want up front, hopefully this changes in January.
Once this change was made Sunderland decided to play like their normal selves and lose possession far too easily and invite pressure onto themselves. We decided to lose the ball as much as Frank Lampard in midweek for England and resulted in us conceding a sloppy goal for Iwelumo who scrambled it home. The goal was coming due to possession being thrown away and Wallace being skinned on the right wing by their impressive right back who crossed it in and the goal was conceded after a great block on the line by Collins.
Sunderland lost their heads after this goal and sat back to allow United to push for an equaliser, Sunderland escaped where we would normally surrender and a great chance from Cureton was blazed over the bar in the dying moments.
Connelly who replaced Brown finally broke his goal duct and hopefully will be the start of a run for him and his new club. The goal was from a counter attack and his low drilled effort which hit the post crept in to finish the game 3-1 in our favour.
I was generally very happy with the performance, there is still a bit of doubt in the team but they overcame this and fought out a hard earned win with some moments of the ‘Leeds’ away performance. Stephen Elliott was class all afternoon and more performances like this will see his goal tally increase with no doubt.
MOM – Stephen Elliott