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Colchester
United v West Bromwich Albion
Layer Road, Colchester.
21st September 2004, 7.45pm. |
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Match
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| Result |
Colchester United |
2 - 1
AET |
West Bromwich Albion |
| Scorers |
Craig Fagan (29)
Ben May (118) |
Geoff Horsfield (50) |
| Attendance |
4,591 |
| Teams |
4-4-2
1 - Aidan Davison (GK)
12 - Pat Baldwin
5 - Wayne Brown
18 - Liam Chilvers
14 - Stephen Hunt
3 - Joe Keith
26 - Neil Danns
6 - Kevin Watson
8 - Gareth Williams
9 - Craig Fagan
28 - Richard Garcia |
3-5-2
(GK) Tomasz Kuszczak - 29
Martin Albrechtsen - 14
Cosmin Contra - 16
Thomas Gaardsoe - 4
Darren Moore - 5
Riccardo Scimeca - 2
Lloyd Dyer - 18
Jason Koumas - 7
Scott Dobie - 12
Zoltan Gera - 11
Geoff Horsfield - 9 |
| Substitutes |
13 - Dean Gerken (GK)
2 - Greg Halford
17 - Bobby Bowry
11 - Jamie Cade
20 - Ben May |
(GK) Joe Murphy - 28
Jonathan Greening - 8
James O'Connor - 23
Artim Sakiri - 20
Rob Hulse - 17 |
| Substitutions |
G Halford for L Chilvers
(59)
B May for C Fagan (73)
B Bowry for G Williams (91) |
J Greening for Z Gera
(64)
J O'Connor for C Contra (74)
R Hulse for S Dobie (98) |
| Yellow Cards |
Craig Fagan (40) |
Thomas Gaardsoe (61)
Riccardo Scimeca (69)
Jonathan Greening (110) |
| Red Cards |
None |
None |
| Referee |
A Kaye (West Yorkshire) |
Is it just that cup
competitions don't suit us as a Premiership club or what. This was
our third cup tie as a Premiership club and it has resulted in a
third ignominious defeat to lower league opposition. I didn't go
to Wigan two years ago, but this match reminded me very much of
what happened at Watford two years ago.
Pure and simple, the best team won. And if they'd have taken half
their chances, Colchester would have won by a country mile. Albion
were simply awful. Colchester may have harried and battled their
hearts out, but Albion are supposed to be a top flight club and
there were several internationals in the side tonight - Albion simply
could not keep the ball. You can point to key absentees from the
first team such as Kanu, Clement and Purse, but the players out
there are good enough to have beaten Colchester comfortably.
The first half was dreadful from an Albion point of view. Inside
a few minutes, the home side had gone close twice and it was no
more than they deserved when Fagan put them ahead with a superb
finish just before the half hour. I can't remember Albion having
a shot on goal, let alone testing Aidan Davison in the U's net.
Horsfield and Dobie weren't getting a huge amount of service but
they were either muscled out or were offside whenever the ball was
played up front. Scimeca was given his chance in midfield with Contra
given a first start, but Ricky had an awful night. He was caught
in possession time and again and his passing was dreadful. Unfortunately,
he was not alone. Koumas was largely anonymous and even Gera looked
out of sorts.
A roasting at half time seemed to have had an effect as Albion started
the second half much more determined. They were starting to get
close to the Colchester penalty area with some neat passing moves
and they grabbed an equaliser five minutes after the break when
Horsfield latched onto a ball over the top from Gaardsoe to finish
well - for once he was not offside. Albion should've been in front
minutes later, but after a lovely move involving Koumas and Dyer,
Horsfield screwed the ball wide.
Albion looked the better side for another ten minutes or so before
they faded into obscurity once again, and Colchester took charge.
Greening came on for Gera and while he was industrious, he couldn't
really make the difference. O'Connor replaced Contra with sixteen
minutes left and, while the little Irishman did have a positive
impact, Albion still never looked like getting a winner until the
last ten minutes.
Koumas suddenly woke up and started running at the Colchester defence
and causing problems. But other than a shot from the Welshman that
was turned round the post, the goal was rarely threatened. Albion's
goal was also largely untroubled but that was only due to some poor
finishing from the U's strikers. Kuszczak was forced into a save
in the last minute, one which he spilled before Gaardsoe cleared.
In extra time, Albion threatened a couple of times in the first
period, but as time went on, the home side looked more likely to
grab a winner. Hulse came on for Dobie for his first appearance
of the season, but made little difference.
From a corner three minutes from time, a goalmouth scramble ensued
as Kuszczak saved and Dyer cleared off the line, but May forced
the ball over to give Colchester the win they deserved.
If Jeremy Peace was looking for an excuse to sack Megson, he surely
has it now. It may have been a group of players that had never played
together before, but they looked as if they had never met. One has
to question why we played with three at the back against a League
One side, with Contra as a wing back when I doubt he's ever played
in that position before - Albrechtsen certainly doesn't look comfortable
in a back three. And why, with the exception of Big Dave, did the
team appear to be so devoid of passion and desire. Are the players
waiting for Megson to be sacked?
I've not advocated getting rid of Megson before, but I'm not sure
whether he has the ability, or the support of the players, necessary
to turn this around.
Marks
Tomasz Kuszczak - 5 - Not called into too much action, but was less
than convincing when he was.
Martin Albrechtsen - 5 - Out of sorts, obviously uncomfortable in
a back three.
Cosmin Contra - 5 - Early days to make a judgment, but he failed
to impress both defensively and with his passing. He must be better
than that.
Thomas Gaardsoe - 6 - One of the better performers, but not the
Gaard we saw last season by a long stretch.
Darren Moore - 7 - MOM. Only because he never stopped battling and
he did what he is capable of doing. Won most things in the air and
read the game well.
Riccardo Scimeca - 4 - An awful night for Ricky; couldn't pass wind.
Lloyd Dyer - 5 - Tried hard, one or two useful moments but tired
badly.
Jason Koumas - 5 - Was on for a 3 or 4 until the last ten minutes
when he finally produced some quality.
Scott Dobie - 5 - Caught offside time and time again; did little
else.
Zoltan Gera - 5 - Didn't produce what we know he can; got caught
in possession too often.
Geoff Horsfield - 5 - Dreadful in the first half, a little better
in the second.
Jonathan Greening - 7 - Positive impact but had little around him
to work with.
James O'Connor - 6 - Very bright for the first ten minutes but faded.
Rob Hulse - 5 - No service, made no difference.
Gary Megson - 4 - Team selection may have been forced through injury,
but tactics looked all wrong and there was no sign of being able
to change the game.
Jon Want, 21st September 2004.
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