So near and yet so far

COLCHESTER United remain the same number of points adrift of the ever-elusive League Two play-off places as they were prior to their 1-0 loss to Accrington Stanley.

But although the U’s are still four points away from the top seven, they have fewer games remaining than most of the teams around them.

And with just four fixtures of the season to go, all against clubs who currently reside above them in the table, a play-off spot is looking a tall order to say the least for John McGreal’s side after their four-game unbeaten run ended yesterday.

Nevertheless, Colchester can still have a big say on who finishes where this season and who ultimately goes up, even if they don’t make the leap themselves.

A winning mentality

ACCRINGTON Stanley’s win at Colchester United yesterday was their seventh successive victory, in League Two.

It is a superb run of form that is only rivalled by some of the biggest clubs in Europe, such as Paris St Germain and Juventus.

Their performance in winning at the Weston Homes Community Stadium was not a classic display; it was a very even first half and before Billy Kee scored a fortuitous goal to score what proved to be their winner just before the hour mark, the leaders were under the cosh.

But successful teams know how to win and Accrington have certainly made a habit of that, over recent weeks.

Forward thinking

IF Colchester United do miss out on the play-offs this season, it will not be because of their defensive record.

Only five teams in League Two have conceded fewer goals than the U’s so far this season and John McGreal’s side are stingier than they were, last season.

What has been more damaging for Colchester has been their lack of punch up front, especially over recent weeks.

The goal-shy U’s have managed just six goals in their last nine matches, with only two of them coming from attacking players.

They have badly missed the scoring input of Sammie Szmodics, who after a prolific December has not hit the net for nearly three months.

But it is not all down to the leading scorer to score; Kurtis Guthrie’s lack of form and subsequent exit, Brennan Dickenson’s absence due to injury and loanee Liam Mandeville’s inability to secure a starting spot have not helped matters either.

Colchester will want to make strengthening their attack a top priority, this summer.

The Wright stuff

AS much as he was pleased to be named Man of the Match, winger Drey Wright would no doubt have preferred to have been walking off with three points rather than a bottle of bubbly after Colchester United’s defeat against Accrington Stanley.

But the winger’s receipt of the award from the match sponsors following his energetic display against the league leaders was well deserved.

Wright’s skilful performance on the right flank was in keeping with his impressive form of recent weeks, where he has been one of Colchester’s most consistent performers.

The 22-year-old has been one of the first names on John McGreal’s team sheet this season, having proved his versatility throughout the campaign.

With the club’s End of Season awards taking place next month, he is without doubt in the running for the U’s Player of the Year accolade.

Comings and goings

HOW many players in Colchester United’s starting line-up yesterday will still be at the club, next season?

Of the team that started against Accrington Stanley, five players – Sam Walker, Luke Prosser, Kane Vincent-Young, Drey Wright and Courtney Senior – will see their contracts up for renewal, this summer while loanee Ben Stevenson is gearing up for a new career at Premier League-bound Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It promises to be another busy summer with comings and goings at the U’s, as John McGreal attempts to mould a squad capable of launching a more sustained promotion bid, next season.