… you gotta take your time. Or something like that. But, of course, there’s taking your time about things and there’s bumbling your way into the third month of the season with people starting to take notice that your win column is lying empty. The interim gaffer says that our ‘willingness‘ to beat Cambridge cost us three points. To us, it was a lack of ideas and poor substitutions that saw us drop two points. Still, at least we emerged with one point – eh?
Now we’re knee deep in autumn, it’s going to be a long old winter if we don’t start winning soon. And our latest bid to jump-start the season before it’s too late comes at Colchester.
Colchester United v Stevenage: The Preview…
Who are Colchester United?
Our first-ever match against the Us back on Boxing Day 2011 is probably one of the most iconic Boro’ games of recent times. But that 6-1 demolition is a fair old while ago now and much has happened between us since. Not much of it has been good either. Last season saw us beat the Essex side for the first time in 10 encounters. And, for good measure, we went and won at their place once again on Boxing Day to complete a rare league double.
Our Record vs Colchester United: P 12 — W 3 — D 2 — L 7 — F 16– A 23 — Pts 11
Last time out: Colchester United 1-2 Stevenage, 26 December 2018
What’s their current form?
The Us have lost one of their last eight League Two outings, which puts them third in the form table right about now. And that’s a problem for a Boro’ side who are no nearer a win than we are winning the EuroMillions rollover. Add into the mix a Colchester defence that has let in just nine goals so far and we’re gonna have to buck some real trends here.
It’s not worth us picking holes in their relatively modest scoring record for this season so far. And we can’t be bothered to wax lyrical about their average home form. We’re not in the position to. Our stats are all rubbish and that’s why we’re bottom of the table. But if it helps, the Us have scored most of their goals before the half-time interval.
If we can get ahead though, the stats show us having a 60% chance of keeping it. Hmm.
Got a fun Colchester United fact?
19,072 is Colchester United’s record home attendance – set when Reading came to town in November 1948 for an FA Cup First Round game. But everyone ended up having to go home early as thick fog meant the match was abandoned after 35 minutes.
Is that all there is?
Er, not from this preview – no. Keep reading, yeah?
What are the bookies saying?
Guess what – our current run of form doesn’t fill the bookies with much fear that we could actually win this one. In at a best price of 10/11 (multiple), the Us are fancied to make our winless worries continue for another week. Mind you, the 7/2 (BetFred) on us to do this is almost attractive enough for us to reach for a 50p piece. But we did say “almost”, so…
Which Colchester United player should we watch out for?
Theo Robinson hasn’t wasted time settling in at Colchester United after arriving on loan from Southend towards the end of the summer transfer window. The ex-Jamaican striker has started, come on as sub and scored four times. It means he’s level with Luke Norris, one more to watch for – though Norris has taken twice as many games to score his four.
Who is reffing this?
Nick Kinseley. Now, we could do with a win. So, let’s hope this lucky charm of a ref plays his part. We’ve won our last four when Mr Kinseley has been in charge, including our 3-1 home win over the Us last season. And in each of those four, we’ve scored at least three times. That means something has to give here. Either we end our winless run and take it to five from five on Mr Kinseley’s watch. Or his happy spell as our lucky charm is over…
Our Record: P 21 — W 12 — D 5 — L 4 — F 38 — A 20
Last time out: Port Vale 1-4 Stevenage, 19 April 2018
And, finally, what do you reckon?
We could say that we’re feeling really upbeat and confident about our chances. But we’d be telling a porky pie. And that is not becoming of us. Our record against the Us is shaky enough without lumping this never-ending wait for a win into the mix. It’s one of the least-effective attacks up against one of the most-effective defences in this one.
It’s not rocket surgery to work out we’re right up against it.
Colchester United v Stevenage scorecast: 2-1 – it won’t be as memorable as some of our past trips to Essex. We’ll go behind, get back on terms and then come up annoyingly short as we try and hold on for a point. And we’ll go again for that first win next weekend.
