Just watched the Colchester highlights on player

11 minutes doesn't give you the full picture obviously but the overriding impression was that having dominated the game (well, I'm assuming we did seeing as we were winning 3-0) we then set out to throw it away. I wish someone who went yesterday had come on to write a report but I haven't seen one.

A few have commented on their first goal and Pearson's culpability in it. Well, he deserved all the stick going for that one. The ball was floated pretty aimlessly towards our corner flag and young Ben had a few options. He chose the wrong one. The simplest would have been to drop his right shoulder and check inside, and then roll it to the keeper for a big clearance. The second option would have been to turn properly and hoof it hard up the line, out of danger. The EASIEST thing would have been to simply kick into touch where he was. But no.....he chose the hardest course of action. He turned and seemed to welly it straight at Wabara who was actually under pressure himself. Pearson, by the way, was under no real pressure. The ball ricocheted off Wabara who had no chance of controlling it and they scored while Pearson stuck his arm up for offside, absolutely pointlessly.

The second was poor defending as well. The line seemed to freeze to let Porter run on to a speculative cross into the middle. It could have been offside but it wasn't given and they were back to 2-3. After that they had plenty more chances to score another, or even more. We led a charmed life and Davies did plenty of good work to keep them out.

As for us Nyatanga stuck one in that was disallowed - not clear why - and SSW had a chance in the six yard box which he couldn't get on the end of. There were other chances as well, before our goals. The goals themselves were all very well worked. I liked the third best of all - nice bit of trickery from Hammill who freed up Watkins. Marley cut into the box completely free and did well to look up and find Ivan Toney. An inch perfect cross and it was on his head and he guided it into the corner.

I suppose it's the sign of better things that our luck finally seems to be changing. Goals are going in now where, before, they were missing the post by inches or the opposition keeper was making decent saves. I will take another lucky win next weekend and the same on Boxing Day at Bury. These results ARE achievable the way we are playing. By then we should be inching towards mid table with a push for much higher to come in the second half of the season.

Everyone - supporters and pundits alike - is saying what a poor division this is so any team with a bit of quality should be able to walk it. I don't see that Burton Albion have any more quality than we have so there is no reason why we can't get to where they are. Some might scoff but things are looking up now, and the momentum is with us.

 

We were always taught if in doubt put it out - schoolboy stuff

 

It seems to me that claiming for offside and playing the offside trap is a deliberate tactic enforced by Johnson. Before games our back four practice it.

 

Nyatanga was offside from the free kick (we were in line with it), and he headed it across goal for Winnall to tap in, I think.

 

Ah ok then. Wasn't clear on the video

 

It would be negligent not to practise it. Just another part of the professional game.

 

It is negligent to claim it every time the opposition puts a ball forward. We are **** at it and standing waving our arms in the air has cost us big time. And not for the first time this season either.

Personally I'd prefer us to play hoenst football rather than trying to cheat