Leicester 1 V Colchester 1 – Report

Leicester (0) 1 V Colchester U (1) 1

Yeates, 23

Dickov, 66

Saturday, March 21 2009 The Walkers Stadium
Attendance: 20,218

Colchester`s top scorer Mark Yeates hit another sensational free-kick as his side came away with a 1-1 draw against Leicester.

Yesterday`s game saw the winger net for the eleventh time this season. He, alongside new loan signing from Preston, Neal Trotman, was a contender for Man of The Match.

“Today’s performance was as good as I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” said manager Paul Lambert at full-time as he reserved praise for Yeates, striker Platt and talked down the possibility of securing Trotman permanently.

Colchester waited until the 20th minute for a noteworthy effort. Eventual scorer Yeates, who once played for Leicester, shot from a tight angle against Tony Warner. The ball zoomed wide.

Moments later, David Perkins was fouled by Andy King and the U`s left Yeates to work his magic – the Irishman struck a sweet dead-ball into the top left-hand corner. Advantage Colchester.

King had the chance to atone for his error, and equalise, but four minuets latter he headed over the bar from a Matt Oakley corner. City`s Tom Cleverley also substituted with a dislocated shoulder, by Lloyd Dyer, before the break.

During the second half, both sides continued to have chances.

Matt Fryatt and Barry Hayles both had chances, with the former attempt leading to Fryatt firing the ball over the bar from eight yards out.

Yeates also had another free-kick effort parried wide by Warner before Foxses` substitute, Paul Dickov, grabbed an equaliser.

Journeyman Dickov scored his third goal of the season to secure a point for League One`s run-away leaders. He had been on the pitch for less than 30 seconds.

Mark Cousins, in the U`s goal, was left dealing with a failed clearance from a corner, and in the mêlée Dickov capitalised; his finish was into a virtually emtpy net.

Clive Platt had two chances after that to put the U`s back in front, but the game ended all square. Colchester must now know that they will be playing League One football again next season, but still came away with a creditable draw.

Manager Lambert highlighted that consistency is needed for the side to challenge at the top: “We should have had at least three goals today. Clive Platt’s header could have gone in, and Mark Yeates had a great chance.”

Speaking on the BBC, he added: “It’s easy to come somewhere like this, to a great stadium, and play so well, but we must do this every week.”

U`s: Cousins, Tierney, Maybury, Trotman, Baldwin, Hammond (c), Izzet, Yeates (Wordsworth 90), Perkins (Jackson 74), Platt, Hawley.

Substitutes: Gerken, Coyne, Wasiu