The Official Colchester United Match Thread (Sponsored by Colchester Community Stadium "for all your "Actually, I kinda miss Layer Road" needs")

Gills are now four unbeaten in the league following last Saturday’s second-half comeback at Shrewsbury, and we head to darkest Essex tomorrow to take on Colchester in the revoltingly early kick-off. Sky can take limited blame for this one as, the 12.30pm Saturday kick-off being marginally more palatable than a weekend with no game, this rearranged Tuesday night fixture being the prize for our joint FA Cup failure.

While our second 45 last weekend demonstrated remarkable resilience (any recent Gills side pre-Ainsworth would have lost that game), our defensive performance again resulted in soft goals conceded to an average side. We’re going to struggle to find a positive conclusion to the season unless we can stop routinely shipping the first goal of games. In 18 matches so far, we have conceded first in 11 of them and gone on to win just one of those (Newport away). Despite only losing four games in which we’ve gone behind, finding ourselves at a disadvantage in nearly two-thirds of our matches is not a recipe for success.

Our opponents tomorrow are second in the League Two form tables across both the last five and ten matches and come into this one on the back of three successive victories and six in their last eight. Back in August and September, Gills were flying high at the top of the table, while the pressure was very much on Danny Cowley with Col Ewe down in 20th. Since then, the form of the two sides has reversed in spectacular fashion, with just a single point now separating the two.

Colchester have unearthed a gem in the shape of Kyreece Lisbie (son of former Gills loanee Kevin), who has notched six goals from just 11 starts, while former Gill Jack Tucker has been ever-present and chipped in with just one fewer goal in 18 appearances, as he netted in 116 for us. Cowley’s side have not found goals in short supply—28 scored so far, averaging more than two a game across the last eight weeks.

Gills have increased defensive options available this weekend, with both Andy Smith and Shad Ogie back in contention. GA has noted a change in this area would free up last weekend’s successful penalty-taker, Robbie McKenzie, to return to his more usual midfield spot. Sam Vokes might miss out after departing early against the Shrews, but Josh Andrews has generally offered more in a very similar role this season. Morris was mentioned as being close to a return last weekend, but there’s been no mention of him this week. Turner’s unfortunate status as chief scapegoat therefore seems assured for at least one more week.

Tomorrow is the 111th fixture between the two teams. Colchester lead by 40 wins to Gills’ 38, with 32 draws. Remarkably, there has never been a draw between the two sides at their newish identikit gaff; Gills lead six wins to five. For the highlights, we’ll go with the crucial 0–2 Gills win a couple of weeks after the Galinson takeover in January 2023, when, roared on by a 1,200+ army, Gills finally dislodged themselves from the very foot of the Football League on their way to securing safety.

Gills' underwhelming performances of late may finally have caught up with us in terms of ticket sales, with fewer than 800 sold in advance of this one, although that could also be partially explained by the early kick-off and the fact Christmas is nigh and spending is directed elsewhere. It's unusual for us to visit Colchester with them in sparkling form, our victories there in recent years have tended to come against a side struggling in the league, but they will be keen to leapfrog us in the table and another poor first half from us could well see that happen.

Safe travels if you're trying to bypass the Bluewater/Lakeside madness to attend tomorrow, I hope you all make it in good time and roar us on to at least another point from a difficult away day.

Enjoy the game and...

COYG!!!