Recently perennial strugglers, yet who have a reasonably good record against us, the "U"s, they are my nearest League 2 club which I have seen at home several times when they have played Rovers. Once I even saw them play arch Rovers rivals, Pompey when we were en-route to Suffolk for a short holiday!
Their form overall has been quite impressive and better than their current league position, marred by the recent home defeat by Barrow which came as a result of 3 goals in the final stages after they had had a man sent off. They lost 2-0 at Stockport in mid November when the stats pointed to a fairly even contest and before that at Swindon. not long before that though, they beat Shrewsbury away in the Cup, won at Accrington and also at Grimsby .
Apart from narrowly getting by Notts County in a high-scoring game at the end of September, their home record is poor. So we are up against a travelling force to be reckoned with, yet we are putting in good performances if you disregard our shortcomings at the back, shortcomings that can be attributed to weak links in the chain which seem invisible to those who do the team selection.
So once again, we may be good for a goal or two, but
1. Will the defence be capable of protecting our goal against a side which registered practically as many shots on goal and on target as the League leaders on their ground and:
2. In doing so conceded half the number of fouls as those opponents and forced them into also collecting 3 yellow cards to Colchester's one.
It's tougher than it looks from a distance. 2-2 (Faal/Ironside)
DPL v Colchester United
posted on 28/11/23
Trouble is at the moment you can't see us not conceding one or two goals. The attacking midfield seems to be working and finishing seems to be better. Perhaps it will all come together tonight but then, who knows? It's my birthday and the fire brigade are on standby to put out the candles on my cake so I'll be positive and say 3-1 to us . Ironside, Faal.
posted on 28/11/23
I'll also be positive, but just 2-1 to the Rovers. Close to score of he starts, otherwise Ironside.
posted on 28/11/23
Greetings from Northumberland.
In a pub with a load of Newcastle fans 😮
Rovers 2-2 Colchester
Ironside to score âš½
posted on 28/11/23
Just seen the team before I have to leave. With no real "winger" in the starting eleven, who are going to be the wide men? Im tempted to change Close to Rowe, but will stay with Close.
Still no real goalkeeper!
posted on 28/11/23
Forgot to predict today so will have to sit this one out. Ler's hope Rovers go on to win it.
posted on 28/11/23
After some slick impressive passing and football in the first quarter we loosened any semblance of grip and seemed to sit back after eventually going ahead. We then paid the price with Jones exhibiting his slow reactions by starting his dive too late as the defence allowed the scorer clean through.
He did make a couple of stops in the second half which will have sent his admirers into ecstasy. One of his clearances actually travelled some distance away from danger.
The team woke up as the second half ground on, although the skilful interplay in the early stages was no longer evident. But we got a goal thanks to Faal and then a stumbling fall by Molyneux was deemed to have been the result of a foul in the box with the penalty duly converted by the ever-reliable Ironside.
So, a win, but I’d hoped for a better performance.
posted on 29/11/23
I think I should look at Nookie's prediction before making mine. Congrats young man!
I'm glad we won, but all I've seen is the very short highlights on UTube. Not an impressve performance, and I thought the penalty a little "soft". Thank gawd we do not have VAR in League Two!
We have now crawled up to 17th, 8 point above relegation. and 8 points out of a play-off place. I think we will avoid relegation, and, unfortunately, also a play-ooff place.