Wolves V U`s – Match Report

Wolves 1-0 Col U


Elliott (31)



U`s Suffer Narrow Defeat in the Black Country

Colchester United continued their poor run of form as they went down 1-0 to Wolves at Molineux last night. Stephen Elliott got the goal in the first-half as the U`s hit the post twice and were unlucky to return to Essex empty handed.

The U`s, who have not taken three points from a game since the 20th of October, made one change from last weekends home defeat against Crystal Palace with the on-loan Adam Virgo coming in for suspended centre-half Pat Baldwin.

Wolves started with ex-Southend man Freddy Eastwood partnering Stephen Elliott in attack, both recalled following Sundays Black country derby draw against West Brom.

Midfield powerhouse Seyi Olofinjana picked up a thigh injury in that games so was replaced by former Liverpool trainee Darren Potter in the centre of midfield.

Thirty-four short of 21,000 fans packed out Molineux as the away side started brightly, dominating possession in the opening stages.

With twelve minutes on the clock Irish wing man Mark Yeates wriggled away from a handful of challenges and let fly, only for his effort to thunder against the woodwork.

So close to a perfect start?

A few minutes later, U`s pacy front man Kevin Lisbie worked himself some time on the edge of the 18-yard-box only for rookie keeper Wayne Hennessy to comfortably save the Jamaican`s shot at the second time of asking.

The in-form Johnnie Jackson was the next in a U`s shirt to come close to getting an opener but his free-kick drifted wide.

With just over half-an-hour on the clock, on-loan midfielder, Darron Gibson`s curling cross was met with a bullet header from Freddy Eastwood. Dean Gerken, in the Colchester goal, made a breathtaking one handed save, only for Stephen Elliott to react quickest to the loose ball and head home past the hapless Gerken.

The U`s defence were looking for off-side, but the goal stood. Hungarian centre-back Bela Balogh got injured, in the build-up to the goal, and had to be substituted as a result, with Matt Connelly taking his place.

The home side went looking for a second, the visitors were shaken, Gerken got down well to his left, to deny Eastwood from giving his side a second.

Early in the second-half, Jackson sent another free-kick wide of Hennessy`s goal; substitute Connelly wasted another golden chance, for the away side, heading over from a corner.

However, the home side nearly put the game to bed when the lively Eastwood saw his long-range effort cannon off the post and roll away to safety.

Veteran midfield lynchpin Kevin Watson made way for former Swansea man Kevin McLeod, who took up a position on the left of midfield.

McLeod made an instant impact; he played a neat one-two with fellow U`s midfielder Kem Izzet but saw his low drive force Hennessy into a smart save down low to his left.

The evergreen Teddy Sheringham replaced Lisbie, with just over quarter-of-an-hour to go. With one final throw-of-the-dice, full-back Danny Granville`s cross was cushioned down by Sheringham in to the path of an on-rushing Izzet.

The Turkish midfielder turned and drilled a shot which struck the woodwork and rebounded into the arms of Wayne Hennessy who gratefully gathered.

The result leaves the U’s in 20th place in the Coke Cola Championship, one point off bottom spot. Luck isn`t on the U`s side at the minute, but let`s hope we have a change in fortunes prior to our meeting with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Saturday?!