U’s 0-1 Brighton – Report

COLCHESTER UNITED fell to their third successive home defeat at the hands of lowly Brighton & Hove Albion, on Easter Monday.

In a quiet first half the U’s were perhaps the better of the two sides, although neither team dominated.

U’s centre-halve Chris Coyne blocked a powerful effort from Lloyd Owusu early on.

A while later and U’s man Mark Yeates wriggled through the Albion back-line but goalkeeper Michel Kuipers did well to block his shot.

Minutes later, ex-U’s defender Adam Virgo, now with Albion, shot straight at Dean Gerken as the visitors had a chance.

And Yeates was involved once again, this time crossing for Anthony Wordsworth who failed to connect with his head.

Just before the interval, away stopper Kuipers got down well to his left to save a low effort from Ashley Vincent as the first-half ended 0-0.

On fifty one minutes, diminutive Brighton midfielder Dean Cox forced Gerken in to a top draw save.

And six minutes later the U’s were behind after failing to defend a free-kick from the right-hand side, Owusu rose highest to head the ball past a hapless Gerken in the U’s goal.

Moments later and Yeates nearly equalised but his header went wide.

However, with the game coming to a close Albion substitute Craig Davies broke clear but his low drive was foiled by Gerken.

In a dire performance, the U’s failed to test Kuipers once during the second period and this performance shows that big changes are needed this summer.

U’s: Gerken, White, Coyne, Baldwin (Trotman 55), Lockwood, Izzet, Hammond, Wordsworth (Wasiu 68), Hackney, Yeates, Vincent.