Colchester United drew with Accrington Stanley in League Two

Missed opportunity

COLCHESTER United will view their 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley as a missed opportunity.

The U’s will be incredibly frustrated that they were unable to claim a vital victory, having been 1-0 up at home against a team playing with only ten men.

Often, having an extra man can prove to be a handicap rather than an advantage and that seemed to be the case with Colchester.

READ MORE: John Coleman reveals 'touchline banter' with Cowleys in U's draw

Rather than capitalise on the situation, they seemed to retreat and lost any of the tempo and momentum they had generated in the first half, in which Noah Chilvers had given them a crucial advantage.

It’s not the first time it has happened at the JobServe Community Stadium either, this season.

Morecambe won 3-1 at Colchester last October, despite playing with ten men for more than an hour after James Connolly was sent off for leaving a boot in on Samson Tovide, while the pair were on the ground.

Danny Cowley felt his side’s inability to claim victory was down to their mentality and changing the collective mindset of his side will arguably be the biggest challenge for the U’s management team, over the coming months.

Attacking imbalance

COLCHESTER United felt the absence of Arthur Read against Accrington Stanley.

The former Luton Town youngster has been the heartbeat of the U’s side, this season and they missed his energy and drive in midfield, after he was ruled out again with a calf injury.

The absence of Harry Anderson was significant, too; the on-loan Stevenage winger provides vital width in the side and his absence after suffering an injury in training seemed to disrupt the natural balance of the team.

Colchester boss Danny Cowley chose to hand John Akinde his first start since New Year’s Day and the experienced striker made his presence felt alongside Tom Hopper in attack, before departing after just over an hour.

READ MORE: Colchester United fans have their say on Accrington Stanley draw

But while Jayden Fevrier provided width on the left, the emphasis was often on right-back Jayden Richardson to give attacking impetus on the opposite flank, backed predominantly by Cameron McGeehan.

But without Anderson, the U’s seemed a little lopsided in attack at times and therefore failed to put ten-man Accrington under enough pressure, in the second half.

Classy Chilvers

NOAH Chilvers’ fabulous strike for Colchester United against Accrington Stanley will have meant a lot to the midfielder.

Sadly, it was tainted somewhat by the U’s inability to see the game out and claim a win but the former U’s academy player will have taken great delight in seeing his long-range effort hit the net, given the testing times he has experienced, this season.

Chilvers has been a target for criticism from some Colchester fans at times during the current campaign but the midfielder deserves credit for the way in which he has got his head down, remained professional and continued to work hard for the cause.

He has not shied away from the challenge and has impressed playing in a more withdrawn role for the U’s over the last couple of games and has accepted the responsibility that that entails.

Tough nut to crack

THERE was an over-riding feeling of disappointment after Colchester United’s draw with Accrington Stanley.

The Cowleys hate not winning and they will have been as frustrated as anyone else with the outcome.

But since taking charge last year, they have made the U’s much harder to beat.

Colchester have lost only one of their first six matches at the helm and that is significant, given that the U’s had lost one of their previous ten league games, prior to that.

READ MORE: Colchester United player ratings after Accrington Stanley draw

Wins are vital at any time of the season and especially now for Colchester, as they attempt to pull themselves away from League Two relegation danger.

Nevertheless, it is a positive that the U’s are proving a tough nut for opposition teams to crack these days, which they certainly weren’t at times earlier in the season.

U's own goal

JOHN Coleman admitted in his post-match interview that there was an element of fortune about their equaliser at Colchester United.

‘Our goal was a fluke,’ reflected the Accrington Stanley boss, after seeing his side escape with a point from the JobServe Community Stadium, despite playing nearly half the game with only ten men following Brad Hills’ red card.

But the U’s will be disappointed with the chaotic nature of Riley Harbottle’s unfortunate own goal, which ensured the visitors a share of the spoils.

There didn’t appear to be too much danger when the ball was delivered into the penalty area but time seemed to stand still when Harbottle diverted it past the stranded Owen Goodman and into the vacant net.

Colchester have generally looked much more solid defensively since the Cowleys came in but it was the sixth own goal the U’s have conceded so far, this season; the last thing they need to be doing in their predicament is gifting opponents goals.