Mark Yeates scored the U's only goal as they went down 2-1 at Loftus Road. The result leaves Colchester United bottom of the Championship for Christmas.

United will face Christmas Day at the bottom of The Championship after a 2-1 defeat at QPR yesterday. The so-called Richest Club in the World had Akos Buzsaky to thank for both goals, the second just seven minutes after the break, before a stirring U's revival saw Mark Yeates grab a goal back, Sheringham hit the woodwork and the Essex denied a very good penalty shout in the last minutes of the game.

The U's were in slightly better shape player wise with Karl Duguid and Kevin Lisbie returning to the squad after injury and illness kept them out of last week's game with Norwich City. However, U's manager Geraint Williams made just one change to the starting line-up with Bela Balogh replacing Matthew Connolly at right back meaning that Clive Platt and Teddy Sheringham continued up front.

For QPR, former U's players Chris Barker and Rowan Vine were in the starting line-up - the latter returning to the team after suspension last week as Italian manager Luigi de Canio went with a 4-5-1 formation that almost appeared to work. Dexter Blackstock was the main attacking threat down the centre with Gareth Ainsworth and Vine on the flanks leaving Buzsaky time and space in the middle of the park.

With the transfer window soon to be opened and the U's in desperate need of new blood in the hopes of getting them out of the current perilous situation, there was interest in a Mystery Man spotted before the game in the U's dug-out. Just to far away to be able to tell who it was, the person concerned arrived before the players came out to warm-up, shook hands with some of them and signed autographs and spent the whole of the warm-up in the U's dug-out - never once going to the home sides technical area. Furthermore, he was watching the pre-match warm up with a great deal of interest, making notes, checking on players name (presumably via the number on their shorts) and generally taking a great deal of interest in the squad before he left with ten minuets to go to kick-off. The mystery man might be nothing to do with a new signing -a Sky commentator perhaps - but he was warmly acknowledged by Teddy Sheringham and, among others, Rowan Vine.

Back to the action and as usual, it was the U's opponents who made the brighter start to this crucial game. Rowan Vine was causing Bela Balogh all sorts of problems at right back. The former Luton striker - currently on loan at Loftus Road from Birmingham City, had too much pace for the Hungarian who would find the afternoon a difficult one. Vine took advantage of a moment's hesitancy from Balogh to cut inside, get in to the penalty area, and hit a shot which was arrowing in between Gerken and the near post before the U's keeper's arm somehow diverted the ball over the top. Shortly afterwards, Balogh was cautioned for a tussle with Vine over by the touchline. It does seem strange to me that Williams decided to put the Hungarian at right back and up against Vine when we know that he isn't the quickest of defenders - it might also have helped if Balogh had prepared for the game by playing for the reserves in that position, rather than his more natural centre half role.

Rangers keeper Lee Camp was the next to be called into action as Jackson's dipping 25 yards free kick was well turned away at his near post for a corner by the former Derby shot-stopper. A mistake by Yeates in midfield allowed Vine to whip in a dangerous ball across the U's six yard box but thankfully there was no Hoops player close to turning the ball home. Good passing from the U's culminated in Izzet trying his luck from distance but in truth the keeper never really looked threatened.

Just before the half-hour mark the home side took the lead through their Hungarian import Buzsaky. There looked little danger to the U's as the defending a throw in from the left but the former Plymouth Argyle midfielder just worked a yard of space for himself on the edge of the box, turned and despite Jackson's efforts, hit a lovely shot into the far corner of the goal.

The U's tried to reply through a Yeates free-kick but Camp was there for what was, in effect, catching practise. United then had to make their first change of the game after a bad challenge from Ainsworth saw Kem Izzet hit the wall surrounding the pitch with a thump. The U's midfielder had to go off with a dislocated thumb and a bad cut after landing on a metal grill by the side of the pitch, but despite the danger, referee Whitestone failed to book the Ranger's midfielder. He was replaced by forgotten man Luke Guttridge who U's fans had rarely seen since his summer arrival from Leyton Orient.

McLeod then had the next chance, attempting to lift the ball over Camp as he came out to challenge, but put the effort well wide of the Rangers goal and that was it for the half. The U's hadn't played up to their potential with neither Platt nor Sheringham gelling up front and subsequently, possession was too easily lost.

Neither side made any changes at the break but there was an early change to the scoreline as QPR extended their lead seven minutes after the re-start. The U's, to be far, had started much brighter in this period and the goal came from a quick, and incisive, counter-attack. It was former World Cup star Teddy Sheringham who lost the ball - his attempted cross cannoning into Adam Bolder and rebounding out to Buzsaky on the half way line. The former Porto midfield played a delightful 1-2 with Blackstock on the edge of the box before firing past the exposed Dean Gerken. Quick, incisive and deadly - everything the U's hadn't been up to that point.

But the goal was the turning point as QPR suddenly panicked at the thought of a home win and, from then until the final whistle, all the play was centred on the 30 yards or so nearest the U's fans.

McLeod started to supply some lovely crosses in from the left and from one, the ball fell to Yeates who found his shot blocked for a corner. They were even closer minutes later as Camp dropped McLeod's cross at the feet of Sheringham who contrived to hit the post from a yard out and then watched as play switched to the other end and Gerken saved Vine's shot at the second attempt.

Much of the U's new found attacking impetus was coming from substitute Luke Guttridge who began to show the U's fans just what he was about - and in the midst of it, earning himself his first start for the club on Boxing Day. The former Southend midfield almost passed unnoticed through the Rangers defence into the box before his placed, curling shot was well saved by Camp for a corner - though if you were being picky you would say it was a nice height for a keeper.

Just after the hour mark and the U's had reduced the lead thanks to Mark Yeates' 8th goal of the season. A ball forward - I think from Guttridge - had Ranger's defence turning towards their own goal but the Irishman was too quick for them, getting to the ball before Rehman and chipping the ball over Camp and in to the far post.

At this point there was a genuine belief that the U's would get the equaliser. Rangers had hardly been seen since their second goal, and surely they would now start to panic? Platt, who was winning most of the aerial challenges against the Rangers defence, saw his shot from a narrow angle beaten away by Camp.

United made their second change of the afternoon with Lisbie replacing the out-of-sorts Sheringham to give the U's a pace option up front which in this correspondent's view, they desperately needed. Their chances of success improved when Damien Stewart was dismissed for a second yellow card for a bad foul on Mark Yeates in the middle of the park.

Lisbie was finding himself in good positions but seemingly unable to get a shot away as Rangers defended for dear life. Guy arrived in place of Baldwin to given the U's an extra attacking option and Guttridge and Jackson attempted to find the opening in a packed Rangers defence.

The U's should have got that equaliser - or at least, had a penalty kick - with just minutes remaining. Lisbie outpaced two Rangers defenders to get in to the box and just the goalkeeper to beat when he was tripped from behind on the verge of shooting. It was a stone wall penalty but referee Whitestone inexplicably cautioned the U's man for diving. Absolutely ridiculous. There isn't a striker on this planet who would rather go down and win a penalty, rather than shooting, particularly in the last minute of the game. Once again, the officials had let the Essex side down for the umpteenth time this season.

So the U's dropped to the bottom of the table some two points away from their nearest rivals. They have two home games to come, against Southampton on Boxing Day and Blackpool on Saturday and need everyone to get behind them to ensure that we get the maximum return.

Shot of the Match: I thought Buzsaky had hit his shot for the goal well wide of the goal but somehow it found the far corner of the goal.

Save of the Match: Guttridge powered his way in to the box and only a fine save from Camp denied the former Southend man his first U's goal.

Moan of the Match: It's easy to say referees but yet again, the U's were let down by a poor decision from the man in black as Lisbie's chance of an equaliser was ended by a defender's boot.

Man of the Match: There weren't too many candidates for the award. Yeates was more productive today and got the ball in earlier while McLeod has clearly been told to get the ball in as early as possible - though why Platt doesn't attack the ball and try to get ahead of his man is a mystery. That said, Platt had a decent game too but my MOTM goes to forgotten man Luke Guttridge who kept the U's moving forward thanks to some exquisite passing. Indeed, anything good from the U's tended to come from the midfielder.

QPR: Camp, Malcolm, Stewart, Rehman, Barker, Ainsworth, Leigertwood (Walton 83), Bolder, Buzsaky, Blackstock (Nygaard 75), Vine. Subs Not Used: Cole, Moore, Balanta.

Sent Off: Stewart (82).

Photo: Action Images

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