DISORGANISED, unable to think on their feet or adapt to a change in situation.

All of these things were clear from the off at Stevenage last Saturday - and that was just the host club before the game.

A problem with the ticketing system left us travelling Colchester United fans – except Ian for some reason – stuck queuing at the turnstiles for more than 30 minutes, waiting to be let in.

As it turned out, perhaps we'd have been better off staying outside but once in, the food on offer made up for the delay to some extent.

At least we were all in to see an entertaining pre-match situation, with the U’s keepers trying to warm-up at the exact moment the Stevenage groundstaff had to tend to the grass in the six-yard box.

With a few choice words and some well-aimed balls, the situation was soon sorted out, with the travelling fans adding their voices to the situation.

The warm up continued and the groundstaff suddenly remembered they had grass elsewhere that needed them. All very entertaining.

Sadly, this proved to be the highlight of the afternoon for the U’s.

The match itself proved to be the normal tale of our season - lots of possession, a few chances created, but unable to find the back of their net for all our time on the ball.

Stats are a big part of the modern game and while our possession may have looked good on paper, the reality was that there was too many sideways passes with not enough penetration to cause to much of an issue.

And at times, when we did have the upper hand, we seemed to slow the game down.

Frank Nouble did have the ball in the net with a strong header that was annoyingly cancelled out due to a marginal offside.

It was in and around our own penalty area the drama of the day was played out, with Shamal George adjudged to have brought Elliott List down just inside, picking up a yellow card and more worryingly, a rib injury.

While there is a debate about whether it was in or outside the 18 yard box, personally I would rather see a yellow and the chance to save the penalty, or worse case have to chase a 1-0 deficit rather than have Shamal shown a red card, go down to ten men and they have the whole of the second half with the man disadvantage, with the added issue of our number one goalkeeper suspended.

But it was a frustrating way for the tie to be settled and really sums up how things are going.

Gazette:

Now while the players have to - and are - taking some flack for our poor league form, for me the buck has to stop with the manager.

Hayden Mullins is not this fan's favourite on a number of levels, the main one being his seemingly reluctance to acknowledge fans at the end of games, instead of just sulking down the tunnel come over and show some appreciation - it takes seconds, yet means a lot.

For me, his actions seem to imply, rightly or wrongly, that he thinks he is bigger than the club and all the fans.

That could be tempered down if he was producing tactical masterclasses week in, week out but frankly, for me the opposite is true.

Take Saturday for example - we were losing but had the ball more than them, yet could not make anything of it.

With 55 minutes on the clock, surly adding a second striker would help tip the balance, if not maybe a fresh pair of legs?

But there appeared no sign of activity, not even players warming up or looking likely to come on - what sort of message does this send out?

Two of the three subs made were not tactical but enforced due to injury and the third was way too late in the game to influence.

We NEED to be changing things around or before the 65th minute if the plan is not working - this allows the subs time to get into the game and find their feet.

For me, ten minutes is not long enough when chasing points.

We have two home league games this month in very quick succession. We need the points or else it will be a very long winter and run in to May.

Just to highlight a point, Stevenage have already sacked their manager and having beaten us, are now level on points with the U’s.

We have a game in hand against Forest Green Rovers (don’t hold your breath on those points) but surely this must be sending a message out that something needs to change asap or else we are doomed this season.

After all that, I know I’ll still be there at all the games and cheering on the lads.

We need to get behind them on the pitch as much as we can and hope that the changes are made as needed, in the technical area. Up the U’s.