| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's 18:57 - Mar 10 with 2885 views | durham_exile |
We are beginning to get to the business end of the League Two season. The top nine sides all have 11 games to play with only Luton after 34 games played, having 12 to play.
After Tuesday evening, Plymouth Argyle, despite their humbling by Blackpool remain second whilst Pompey after their victory at Crawley move into the final automatic promotion place. That means that there are only 8 points separating 3rd place from 9th position.
Doncaster 35 69
Plymouth 35 65
Pompey 35 59
Carlisle 35 58
Luton 34 57
Stevenage 35 55
Exeter 35 54
Mansfield 35 52
COL U 35 51
Now on Saturday JM will have fully prepared his charges to entertain Paul Cook’s Pompey in what is arguably the biggest game of the season so far. Ok I know that no game is worth more than three points, but this is simply huge for both teams. Pompey will want to cement their place in the top three, whilst the Super U’s can close to within 5 points of third position with a victory.
Of course, momentum is the key word to describe a team’s ambitions now, invariably it is the team that enters the Play Offs with momentum that achieves the ultimate goal and of course with 33 points still to play for, any of the top 9 could achieve one of those automatic places (on paper of course).
Colchester were visibly buoyed by the performance and results at Cambridge United. The great away support (1,415) and emotional scenes after Sammy Szmodics’ deserved equaliser has encouraged the U’s to believe that promotion is achievable this season. Equally Pompey’s dismal failure to defeat Crewe Alexandra at Fratton Park will have reinforced the fact that any team can defeat any other in League Two. Look out for the games at Luton v Stevenage and Mansfield v Plymouth, which also look like close encounters tomorrow.
Cook is likely to stick with his starting XI from Tuesday night, meaning that Enda Stevens is likely to have recovered from his injury sustained against Crawley.
Team:
Forde, Evans, Burgess, Clarke, Stevens, Rose, Michael Doyle, Baker, Naismith, Bennett, Eoin Doyle
Therefore, everyone’s boo boy Gary Roberts is likely to be on the bench.
Pompey have a decent away record with 8 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats. Make no mistake this will be a bruising and difficult encounter.
Let us be clear however, Colchester United have the second-best Home record in the league (10 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats) with only leaders Donny Rovers sporting a better return. The game is set to be a cracker and likely to be played in front of more than 6,000 inside the WHCS, with over 2,200 making the journey from the south coast.
Now JM has a decision to make. Will he risk Lewis Kinsella and Sammy Szmodics, will Richard Brindley be fit? I reckon that he could do a lot worse than select an unchanged team, perhaps with a slightly changed 3,4,3 formation.
Walker
James Elokobi Briggs
Wright Lapslie Garvan Murray
Fosu Porter Dickenson
Subs:
Barnes Vincent-Young Wynter Kinsella Szmodics Bonne Pyke
JM has proven capable of making inspired substitutions from the bench and in Szmodics, Bonne and Pyke, he has three players than can turn the game in the last 25 minutes if required. Fresh legs and fitness could tell tomorrow in what will be a warm Spring day (15 — 18 degrees centigrade) and on a fast and true surface at the WHCS.
The following Tuesday evening Colchester play host to the Stags from Mansfield Town before an encounter with the Railwaymen at Crewe on the following Saturday. Yes, the games are coming fast and furious at present.
The opportunity for the U’s to have had a complete week’s rest; whereas Pompey played on Tuesday evening, could be the difference between success and failure tomorrow.
It is all about the result and three points, which will enable the Super U’s to be buoyant at 4.50pm, whereas the Pompey chimes will fall silent.
Enjoy the game and the atmosphere at fortress WHCS.
Up the Super U’s
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 14:06 - Mar 11 with 2776 views | durham_exile |
Super U's
Only one change
Szmodics in for Fosu
Up the U's | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 14:16 - Mar 11 with 2769 views | gerry_us |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 14:06 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
Super U's
Only one change
Szmodics in for Fosu
Up the U's |
Good move. |  | | |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 15:25 - Mar 11 with 2750 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 14:16 - Mar 11 by gerry_us |
Good move. |
1-0 Pompey
Lots to do for the U's | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 15:28 - Mar 11 with 2749 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 15:25 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
1-0 Pompey
Lots to do for the U's |
Pyke and Bonne will be crucial second half | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 15:43 - Mar 11 with 2737 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 15:28 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
Pyke and Bonne will be crucial second half |
JM needs more attacking intent and soon.
We must score next | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 15:50 - Mar 11 with 2736 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 15:43 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
JM needs more attacking intent and soon.
We must score next |
HT 0-1
JM needs to change it up, Bonne and Pyke required.
Come on a big 45 mins | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 15:56 - Mar 11 with 2729 views | gerry_us |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 15:50 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
HT 0-1
JM needs to change it up, Bonne and Pyke required.
Come on a big 45 mins |
Early days Peter. Take a pill!  | | | |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:00 - Mar 11 with 2724 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 15:56 - Mar 11 by gerry_us |
Early days Peter. Take a pill! |
Gerry it's too much to bear!
I am trying to keep calm though!
Up the U's
JM must bring Bonne and Pyke on soon second half | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:06 - Mar 11 with 2722 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:00 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
Gerry it's too much to bear!
I am trying to keep calm though!
Up the U's
JM must bring Bonne and Pyke on soon second half |
Fosu on
6,504 attendance incl 2,204 from the south coast | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:08 - Mar 11 with 2715 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:06 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
Fosu on
6,504 attendance incl 2,204 from the south coast |
Long way back now 2-0
JM missed a golden opportunity by not playing more attacking option from the start.
Szmodics should have been used as a super sub while still regaining fitness.
Come on, time to stand up and be counted. | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:10 - Mar 11 with 2707 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:08 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
Long way back now 2-0
JM missed a golden opportunity by not playing more attacking option from the start.
Szmodics should have been used as a super sub while still regaining fitness.
Come on, time to stand up and be counted. |
Defeat today and play offs is the best we can achieve.
Keep the faith.
Up the U's | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:14 - Mar 11 with 2699 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:10 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
Defeat today and play offs is the best we can achieve.
Keep the faith.
Up the U's |
There is no point in signing a striker like Pyke on loan if he is not going to be played.
His pace will unsettle the Pompey backline, Bonne also.
Be bold JM | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:19 - Mar 11 with 2693 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:14 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
There is no point in signing a striker like Pyke on loan if he is not going to be played.
His pace will unsettle the Pompey backline, Bonne also.
Be bold JM |
Sadly we are being outplayed. Nothing to lose by bringing on the twin strikers.
Come on | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:22 - Mar 11 with 2688 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:19 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
Sadly we are being outplayed. Nothing to lose by bringing on the twin strikers.
Come on |
Game over
Time for a lie down in a darkened room.
Up the U's | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:33 - Mar 11 with 2666 views | gerry_us |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:22 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
Game over
Time for a lie down in a darkened room.
Up the U's |
Not like you. 4-3?  | | | |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:49 - Mar 11 with 2633 views | Daniel |
It's as bad as the score suggests. For the third game in a row JM has persisted with Porter upfront and we've not looked like scoring. You would have thought we would have learnt from our relegation last season that Porter upfront by himself doesn't work. |  | | |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:54 - Mar 11 with 2627 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:49 - Mar 11 by Daniel |
It's as bad as the score suggests. For the third game in a row JM has persisted with Porter upfront and we've not looked like scoring. You would have thought we would have learnt from our relegation last season that Porter upfront by himself doesn't work. |
All we can do is move on to Tuesday night.
There is no point in signing strikers or recalling strikers if we are not going to play them.
Very disappointing defeat.
Up the U's | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:58 - Mar 11 with 2612 views | durham_exile |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:49 - Mar 11 by Daniel |
It's as bad as the score suggests. For the third game in a row JM has persisted with Porter upfront and we've not looked like scoring. You would have thought we would have learnt from our relegation last season that Porter upfront by himself doesn't work. |
Elito hat trick for Cambridge today at Carlisle
JM managerial experience is limited but playing at home with an excellent record, he should have been more adventurous.
Up the U's | |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 18:37 - Mar 11 with 2515 views | gerry_us |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 16:58 - Mar 11 by durham_exile |
Elito hat trick for Cambridge today at Carlisle
JM managerial experience is limited but playing at home with an excellent record, he should have been more adventurous.
Up the U's |
OK, a bad day at the office but still all to play for as several teams above us had a "mare" as well today. Good to have another game so close to put it right, and it IS a must win game Tuesday or we will have to settle for mid table and go again next season, hopefully with a full squad.
Have you come out of your darkened room yet Peter? | | | |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 20:54 - Mar 11 with 2393 views | Leadbelly |
The stats say we had 40% possession, 5 shots, none on target to Portsmouth's 60%, 18 shots with 10 on target. Sadly, it felt a lot more one sided than that.
Very bad day at the office against a very good side. |  |
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| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 09:44 - Mar 12 with 2158 views | BlueStripes |
4-0 flattered us, it should have been 6 or 7. They were far superior to us in every department. Portsmouth are no world-beaters but we made them look like it yesterday and why the hell did McGreal play Porter on his own up front! The guy did his best but he's a target man and had no-one to nod the ball on to, the few times he did manage to win it in the air.
All this talk about making the play-offs is nonsense I'm afraid, I think we'll do well to finish top half with the crippling injury list we have. This season has been a bit of a wake-up call (if last season wasn't!), the fact is we're a very average League 2 team and, unless things change, I think we're in for a lengthy stay in this division. | | | |
| Silence from the Pompey chimes will be deafening after defeat by the Super U's on 11:16 - Mar 13 with 1782 views | oxfcolu |
The boys will have to raise their game considerably after that performance. All the negative brigade on numerous sites including the gazette are having a field day. They are rubbing their hands together saying I told you so. Lets hope JM plays 2 up top tomorrow as a start. |  | | |
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