Report from the Sunday Mirror - Can't agree with the ratings though ! Reid a 6 !

Reid was immense throughout and deserved at least an 8
I suspect this report is more to do with Graham Poll

POLL ON TOP OF WORLD
Coca cola CHAMPIONSHIP ALL THE TOP ACTION SP ALL THE GOALS After his Germany howler ref enjoys the last laugh over fans
Jack Steggles

Colchester 1

Barnsley 2

RUMPUS ref Graham Poll was a target for the fans from the minute he arrived at Layer Road for his first competitive match since his World Cup nightmare.

Poll - also known as the 'Thing from Tring' - was in the firing line for the first time since he made himself a laughing stock in Germany.

He earned notoriety by booking Croatian defender Josip Simunic THREE times before sending him off in the match against Australia.

And he was reminded of his blunder the minute he emerged from the tunnel to go through his pre-match warm-up.

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Poll was given stick all the way round as he lapped the pitch and was greeted with shouts of "World Cup - and you f***ed it up."

He showed he has a thick skin by reacting with a broad smile.

There were chants of "Off, off off" from the fans, who let him have it with both barrels when he booked Colchester midfielder man Kem Izzet for a 17th-minute foul on Brian Howard.

"Two more, you only need two more," they bellowed as Poll brandished his first yellow card of the season.

The inevitable "you don't know what you're doing" followed when he allowed a heavy tackle on Colchester skipper Karl Duguid to go unpunished.

Poll acted as peacemaker when Colchester players reacted angrily to a tackle from Sam Togwell on Gary Richards that earned the Barnsley man a booking.

And he moved quickly to calm down Colchester sub Pat Baldwin who, warming up on the touchline, had questioned the eyesight of the linesman when he missed a blatant offside.

Poll did not need the escort off the pitch he got from security men at half-time and both managers were quick to praise his handling of the game.

Barnsley boss Andy Ritchie said: "He was excellent in the dressing room before the game and did his job well on the pitch.

"He's the best referee we've had for a long time - it's nice to be able to praise an official after a match."

And Colchester's Geraint Williams said: "He was excellent, we had no problems at all with what he did."

For the second time in a week, Barnsley came from behind to win, with Ritchie praising their battling spirit. The result left Colchester still looking for a first Championship point after three matches - and if they keep making the sort of mistakes they made here it is hard to see how they will stop the rot.

Barnsley came up with Colchester last May, doing it the hard way through the play-offs. Yet they were a more solid outfit and looked a much better bet to thrive in their new surroundings.

Colchester lacked nothing when it came to effort, but that alone will not be enough to keep them afloat.

Most of the classy touches they did show came from highly-rated Greg Halford, attracting growing interest from a number of Premiership clubs.

And the big worry for fans is that Halford won't want to stick around and be part of a team in urgent need of new talent.

It was Halford who gave " Colchester the lead with a close-range header three minutes before half-time after Izzet pulled the ball back from the by-line.

But Colchester failed build on that and Barnsley took control after the internal.

They were level in the 56th minute when Colchester were unable to deal with from Michael Mclndoe, leaving Marc Richards a simple opportunity.

And Colchester were caught again in the 77th minute when Brian Howard took advantage of more defensive uncertainly by letting fly a 25-yard left-footer that left keeper Ailbian Davison standing. It was a bitter disappointment for boss Williams, who said: "That was the worst performance of the three we've produced since we've been in this league. But having got in front I thought we might win it.

"Like most other managers I'm looking for more players. But I won't sign someone just for the sake of it - they've got to be better than those I've already got here."

Ref Poll refused to comment. "I've got nothing to say - nothing at all," he said as he made his departure.

HOW THEY RATED

COLCHESTER Davison 6, Duguid 5, Richards 5, Brown 6, Elokobi 6, Halford 7, Watson 5, Izzet 6, Jackson 5 (Iwelumo 49mins 5), Garcia 5, Cureton 5 (Guy 69mins, 6).

BARNSLEY Colgan 6, Hassell 7, Reid 6, Kay 6, Heckingbottom 6, Devaney 6, Togwell 6 (Rowe 82mins), Howard 8, McIndoe 7, Richards 7 (Healy 89mins), Hayes 7 (Wright 74 mins, 6).

MAN OF THE MATCH

G Poll ...who else! 8

REFEREE

G Poll (Tring) 8

 

I've got the Sunday Mirror & I can't get over the first sentence.

"Bungling World Cup referee Graham Poll had to endure a barrage of abuse from the terraces as he returned to action handling Championship strugglers Colchester and Barnsley yesterday."

Not quite sure how to read that. Are they saying that we're both strugglers or just Colchester? If struggling means finishing 8th, I'll accept a season of struggle!

Also, in my copy, the reporter only gives Poll 6.

 

What a load of rubbish

the 'abuse' directed at Poll was all good natured and he responded in kind. he handled the match excellently and there were no complaints from Andy Ritchie or Geraint Williams. As for championship strugglers, the old stereotypes are coming into view again. Do these so called 'journalists' ever do any research? I think not. Makes me so angry but hey, we ought to be used to it by now.

 

But Colchester failed build on that and Barnsley took control after the internal.

Internal what?

 

Same report same reporter in Sunday People, what's going on?