 | Forum
Thread | Exiles to be exiled at Rodney Parade by superb Super U's
at 23:36 11 Apr 2025
First some great news, DC has deservedly scooped the league Two Manager of the Month award for March.
Salford City moved closer to the U’s after winning 3-1 at lacklustre Notts County this evening (Friday). County could implode and miss out they looked poor and disjointed tonight.
League Table:
Bradford 41 73
PV 41 73
Walsall 41 72
Doncaster 40 70
Wimbledon 41 68
Notts Co 42 68
Grimsby 41 65
COL U 41 62
Crewe 42 61
Salford 41 61
Our five Cup Finals:
Saturday 12 April 3pm Newport Away
Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+
Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away
Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
The remaining key League two fixtures:
12 April
Doncaster v Wimbledon
Swindon v Bradford
Barrow v Walsall
Harrogate v Grimsby
PV v Bromley
15 April
Salford v Doncaster
17 April
Bradford v Notts Co
18 April Good Friday
Wimbledon v Chesterfield
Carlisle v PV
Grimsby v Swindon
Salford v Accrington
Tranmere v Doncaster
Walsall v Harrogate
21 April Easter Monday
Newport v Walsall
Chesterfield v Bradford
Crewe v MK Dons
Gillingham v Wimbledon
Morecambe v Salford
Notts Co v Cheltenham
PV v Grimsby
26 April
Wimbledon v PV
Doncaster v Bradford
Harrogate v Notts Co
MK Dons v Grimsby
Tranmere v Crewe
Walsall v Accrington
3 May
Bradford v Fleetwood
Carlisle v Salford
Notts Co v Doncaster
PV v Gillingham
Crewe v Walsall
Grimsby v Wimbledon
Tomorrow sees the U’s travel to Rodney Parade to do battle with the Exiles led by Nelson Jardim. It goes without saying that this is a must win. Our recent record at Rodney parade is not brilliant but our win against Notts Co has given the team momentum and so win we will by 3-0 with Samson Tovide a brace and Owura Edwards on the scoresheet.
Newport weather will be 16 degrees Celsius sunny with little or no breeze.
DC will also have a couple of key decisions to make regarding his starting XI.
The first nine places seem fairly standard (injuries to Bishop, Anderson and Payne notwithstanding). It is the strikers where he needs to consider who starts. Tovide is a certain starter and Simpson may get the nod over Taylor.
I would like to see Aboh and Lisbie travel with the squad and one at least of them to get some minutes.
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Iandolo
McDonnell
Thorn Read Edwards
Simpson Tovide
Subs
Smith Aboh Taylor Lisbie Tucker Scully Hunt
What a pleasure it is to be challenging at the right end of the table and to be there on merit.
The faithful should be travelling in good numbers and we hope to have closed the gap on Grimsby at 5pm who face a difficult game at Harrogate.
Enjoy the game.
Up the U’s
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Thread | Magpies to have wings clipped by the Super U's at the JCS
at 05:13 5 Apr 2025
After that second magnificent unbeaten run which came to an unceremonious ending at Valley Parade, the game which really hurt us was that 2-1 home defeat to Grimsby. Even a draw that evening would have done. Still, we move on and that point at the Priestfield on Tuesday night could be vital in the final reckoning.
Now you could be forgiven for thinking that the Cowleys have walked under more ladders than Fred Dibnah climbed in his illustrious lifetime or they have run over more black cats than there are Sunderland supporters given the recent horrendous list of injuries and that nagging virus which has plagued the JCS.
The Virus has been particularly virulent with a gastro element and fever, headache and flu-like symptoms. I am wondering whether we shouldn’t have approached the EFL for some latitude given the ferocity of the virus and the number of key players who were affected. Still, we didn’t and that’s that.
Most recent victims of the virus have been Lyle Taylor, Jamie McDonnell, Ellis Iandolo and Kane Vincent-Young. Hopefully all four will be back in the reckoning for today’s match.
The injury list includes Harry Anderson, Samson Tovide, Teddy Bishop, Jack Payne and Owura Edwards, none of whom are likely to be back for the Magpies game.
Frankly those who are left have been simply incredible to keep us in with a shout of the Play Offs after all these trials and tribulations.
Current Table:
Walsall 40 72
Bradford 40 70
PV 40 70
Notts Co 40 68
Doncaster 39 67
Wimbledon 40 65
Grimsby 40 62
Crewe 40 61
COL U 40 59
Chesterfield 39 58
The games don’t come much bigger than today’s game against Notts County. I’m afraid to say that this is a must win for the U’s in order to close the gap on Grimsby and Crewe and to keep Chesterfield at bay.
At the start of the season, we would have taken a top seven place (I did predict it in August) but after the two recent defeats it has become a more difficult task and one which shows that despite the brilliance of our form since January we cannot let up and must keep recording those all-important victories.
The old maxim couldn’t be more apposite, we have six cup finals to play. We probably need to win four and to draw the other two. It can be done, however.
Saturday 5 April 3pm Notts Co Home
Saturday 12 April 3pm Newport Away
Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+
Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away
Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
Stuart Maynard brings his Notts County side to the JCS boosted by a victory over MK Dons (however doesn’t everyone beat the Franchise). Our old friend Sam Slocombe will be number two to Alex Bass whilst the evergreen David McGoldrick and Alassana Jatta will offer a big threat up front.
Now last season we won a pulsating game 5-4 at the JCS but both teams have been transformed since then. Notts County have stopped the Kevin Keegan approach to football, (we will score one more than you) whilst the Cowleys have stiffened the U’s resolve and have created a team capable of beating anyone in the League.
The weather in Colchester today will be 15 degrees Celsius, warm and sunny with a gentle breeze. Hopefully the ground staff have been working wonders on the pitch. At least they might have put down some green coloured sand so that it does at least look a little more ascetically pleasing on the eye.
Now here comes the difficult bit, who will DC start at 3pm.
I’m going for the following:
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Iandolo
McDonnell KVY
Thorn Read Gordon
Taylor
Subs:
Smith Aboh Scully Connolly Tucker Jolliffe (Simpson under sufferance)
I’m trying to keep this preview as positive as possible but neither Rob Hunt nor Tyreece Simpson should be anywhere near the pitch tomorrow or for the rest of the season. Prove me wrong both of you!!!!!
However, with no Samson Tovide or Owura Edwards or Jack Payne – Simpson might have to be on the bench.
Now the all important scoreline. 2-1 to the Super U’s. A difficult but enthralling game will see us just coming out on top. Lyle Taylor and a spectacular free kick from Arthur Read.
Attendance, possibly nudging 8,000 given that the Magpies will bring 800.
Enjoy the game.
Get behind the team and Up the U’s
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Thread | Gillingham
at 18:52 1 Apr 2025
Sorry no preview
Team
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Tucker
Read Iandolo
Thorn Payne Edwards
Simpson
Smith Hunt Aboh Jolliffe Taylor Scully Connolly
Score 3-1 to the U's
Enjoy the game |
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Thread | Bantams to experience avian flu at the feet of the imperious Super U's
at 20:24 21 Mar 2025
Now one look at the fixture tomorrow and we would see a league Two clash between two sides vying to get promotion to League One. Nothing spectacular in that, the game is only worth three points and defeat either way doesn’t signify the end of the road for one of these teams in that aim.
Or does it?
Football has this amazing knack of throwing up a game at the optimum possible time.
An International break so Sky Sports + have the rights to screen it at 3pm (steady Ed), the opportunity for the Bantams to offer a fiver a ticket including the hordes of Colchester fans (1000) who will travel to Valley Parade. A crowd of 22,000 plus in the University of Bradford Stadium AKA Valley Parade, the largest since the stadium was rebuilt, bigger even than our game there in March 2023 when I sat amongst the 20,383 to witness a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Bantams.
Earlier in the season a 99th minute equaliser from Jamie McDonnell gave us a deserved point against Bradford at the JCS.
But tomorrow it will be something special. Bradford have just lost to Gillingham and Tranmere both 1-0 and lost their 10 successive home victories on the trot record. We are unbeaten in 13 games and looking for our 6th successive victory (we last won 10 in a row between December 2005 and February 2006 and we know what happened in May 2006).
But forget about everything prior to this Saturday because it means nothing, we have won nothing yet. The important thing that matters is that we have 9 cup finals to play and only then can we look at the league table for the final reckoning.
Saturday 22 March 3pm Bradford Away – Sky Sports+
Friday 28 March 7:45pm Grimsby Home - Sky Sports+
Tuesday 1 April 7:45pm Gillingham Away - Sky Sports+
Saturday 5 April 3pm Notts Co Home
Saturday 12 April 3pm Newport Away
Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+
Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away
Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
They can be the most important games since 2006 and DC and NC know that we are on the margins of achieving something special this season but it will not be defined by Valley Parade (although a victory will continue to shorten our promotion odds at the bookies).
Now DC is right to play down the game and to heap praise on the Bantams (but not too much). A big crowd can be intimidating for the Away contingent, but equally it can become a pressure cooker for the Home team. For long periods of that game in 2023 the stadium fell silent as Colchester threatened the Bantams goal and the tension was palpable. As I wrote earlier big crowds can also be a hindrance to the home side.
When we won at Sheffield Wednesday some years ago, the crowd became hostile to their home side as we demolished them 3-0.
One man who must stand strong tomorrow is the referee Mr Will Finnie from Luton. No homers please.
League Two table top seven:
Walsall 37 69
Bradford 36 66
Wimbledon 37 63
Doncaster Rovers 37 63
Notts Co 37 61
PV 36 61
COL U 37 58
The truth is that over the past three months we have crept under the radar and have not only closed the gap on those above us, but also have indicated that we have the right to be there amongst them.
Psychologically three points at Valley Parade gives us 61 points and places further pressure on those in the automatic positions. Graham Alexander knows all about pressure, he has seen it all in the game but so have the Cowleys. George Lapslie will also be a leading light for the Bantams tomorrow as will Sam Walker who might put his back out picking the ball out of the net!
The Bradford weather will be 14 degrees Celsius with light showers and light winds and some sunshine. The pitch will be challenging but we know all about that!!!!
It is unlikely that DC will make any changes to his starting XI:
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Hunt
Read Iandolo
Anderson Payne Edwards
Taylor
Subs:
Smith Gordon Simpson Tucker Aboh Thorn Jolliffe
Much has been made of Bradford’s injury woes, but do not forget we are without Teddy Bishop, Samson Tovide and KVY and Jamie McDonnell is away on International duty.
It is possible that we might have Anthony Scully on the bench tomorrow, but we will see.
Now I have a ticket for the game, but it is unlikely that I will be able to make it. Sadly, I am unwell at present (and have been for some little time) and neither of my sons are available to drive me to the game. It is likely therefore that I will have to content myself with watching on Sky Sports +.
The faithful might be happy with that, I have been to 7 games this season and everyone has been a drawn encounter. I am very disappointed though not to be at VP.
The U’s can win tomorrow and will win tomorrow. 2-1 with Lyle Taylor on the mark with an Edwards classy long-range effort.
We do not need to fear the Bantams. A degree of respect yes of course, but we are there to show that we are not making up the numbers but deserve to be there on merit.
For those travelling, safe journey, enjoy the game and I will be cheering on the U’s from darkest Durham.
Don't forget your blue and white scarves.
Up the U’s
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Thread | Valiant Super U's to overcome PV at the JCS tonight
at 10:40 11 Mar 2025
Another Away win, another resounding performance, this time against one of our bogey teams results wise in Cheltenham. Michael Flynn didn’t disappoint in his vitriolic post-match rant. Some of the most outrageous comments I have ever read from a Manager.
All I would say Michael is keep away from the Cheltenham festival. Should you venture along then “Honest Durham” could offer you the following nags.
The Ryanair Chase has “Hitman” on the card, whilst the Champion Hurdle has “Brighterdaysahead” but definitely save your money Michael for the Gold Cup and “Gentlemansgame”.
So, the Super U’s forge ahead and are now unbeaten for 11 games for the second time this season. The first set of 11 was ended with three straight defeats but this time the second set looks more decisive; the U’s are stronger and the support from the bench is far more effective.
The table also makes for pleasant reading:
Walsall 36 68
Bradford 36 66*
Doncaster 36 62*
Wimbledon 35 60
Notts Co 35 58*
PV 34 58*
Crewe 36 56*
Grimsby 35 56*
COL U 35 52
The teams with asterisks denotes those rivals that we still have to play. In fact, the Bantams game is boiling up to be an absolute cracker prior to Easter.
In fact, you have to consider that it is now any 7 from these 9 teams for promotion. We have 11 games to play with the possibility of three more games after these.
To put these statistics into context if we go back through some of the Col U records, we last reached the play offs in the truncated season 2019/20 when we finished 6th with 58 points from 37 games and lost to Exeter in the play-off semi-final.
Prior to that 2018/19 saw us achieve 70 points from 46 games.
2009/10 whilst in League 1 and we achieved 72 points from 46 games.
2005/06 was that halcyon season under Parky when 79 points from 46 games saw us finish runners up and gain promotion to the championship.
1997/98 and we achieved 74 points from 46 games in the old Third Division.
1995/96 and it was 72 points from 46 games and prior to that in 1991/92 92 points from 46 games in the Conference and promotion.
The prospect of more than 70 points from 46 games this season is an appealing one but we can do much better than that both points and position wise.
Tuesday 11 March 7:45pm PV Home - Sky Sports+
Saturday 15 March 3pm Fleetwood Home
Saturday 22 March 3pm Bradford Away
Friday 28 March 7:45pm Grimsby Home - Sky Sports+
Tuesday 1 April 7:45pm Gillingham Away - Sky Sports+
Saturday 5 April 3pm Notts Co Home
Saturday 12 April 3pm Newport Away
Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+
Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away
Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
Of course, a 12th game unbeaten is the ultimate aim this evening. Port Vale will be difficult. We drew 1-1 at Vale Park earlier in the season. They are an uninspiring but forthright side and certainly hard to beat having only lost 6 games this season whilst winning 15 and drawing 13. Darren Moore can count upon former U’s defender in the shape of Connor Hall.
Now the JCS is at last becoming a fortress and tonight’s televised game is followed by another tight game on paper against Fleetwood, again at the JCS. Six more points ahead of the Bantams game and we could already be in the Play Off positions before we go to Valley Parade.
Of course, before I continue to way lyrical things are not all rosy sadly. Teddy Bishop is side-lined for several matches unfortunately. Jamie McDonnell will miss the next three games after picking up sufficient bookings (which accounts for 2 games) and being selected for the U21’s for Northern Ireland which means he also misses the Bradford game.
However, DC has options with Tucker available in defence and Manny Egbo able to play in midfield and of course Arthur Read is an old stalwart (written with affection) in midfield.
I don’t know whether Kells is available tonight but hope that all has gone well with the birth of his new baby.
Kyreece Lisbie has been loaned to Braintree which seems an excellent move for his development. For the first time in some seasons, we have an abundance of striking talent.
Samson Tovide, Lyle Taylor, Tyreece Simpson, Ken Aboh and Anthony Scully who might finally be available for the Fleetwood game.
DC could bring Hunt into defence and move Egbo into midfield with Read. Some of Egbo’s best play comes when he is running with the ball from midfield to attack.
Then we have Thorn, Gordon, Anderson and the brilliant Edwards in attacking midfield/winger positions.
Jack Payne, a contender for player of the season, is simply outstanding this season.
Weather tonight is likely to be 4 degrees Celsius, mostly cloudy with an 8% chance of rain.
So, what does DC do?
Something along these lines:
Macey
Hunt Tucker Flanagan Iandolo
Egbo Read
Gordon Payne Edwards
Tovide
Subs:
Smith, Anderson, KVY, Thorn, Taylor, Simpson, Aboh
Of course, Kells plays in defence instead of Hunt if available for selection.
A decent crowd can be expected (4,500) after more superb support from the faithful at Whaddon Road. Scoreline, a gritty hard fought 2-0 victory with Tovide and Edwards on the scoresheet.
The U’s are going up!
Enjoy the game.
Up the U’s
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Thread | Bradford City Away Saturday 22 March
at 13:46 8 Mar 2025
Tickets are now available on the Bradford City site for Colchester supporters at £5 each regardless of category.
You can access their site via the tab on the Colchester official web site under Away tickets.
Up the U's |
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Thread | Super U's to clip Robins' wings at Whaddon Road
at 20:59 6 Mar 2025
Suddenly things are looking very bright for DC and his Colchester United squad.
The club has started to play with purpose and ambition and the results are very pleasing.
Now of course complacency is the last thing that we wish to consider pervading the corridors and changing rooms of the JCS but there is a togetherness and camaraderie prevalent within the team, squad and amongst the supporters.
This Saturday we look to extend the number of unbeaten games to 11 with a decent result at the Cheltenham EV Charger Points Stadium formerly the Johnny Rocks stadium but Whaddon Road is how I will remember it. Michael Flynn the pantomime villain is in charge but they also have former U’s favourite Ashley Vincent as First Team coach. U’s former player Harry Pell is still on the scene.
Now we owe them for a number of previous results but especially the Vertu trophy defeat recently and this weekend offers the perfect opportunity to rectify that result. I think that we will not only keep the unbeaten run going but also secure a 3-0 victory against the Robins.
Current table (top):
Walsall 35 68
Bradford 35 66
Doncaster 35 61
Notts Co 34 58
Wimbledon 34 57
PV 33 57
Crewe 35 55
Grimsby 34 53
Bromley 35 51
COL U 34 49
Salford 34 49
Still plenty of games left and points but nothing can be taken for granted. Just ask Walsall who stumbled again the other evening and are now in serious danger of losing top spot to the Bantams. They still hold a ten-point advantage over Notts County in fourth spot but is it possible that they could slip outside of the automatic promotion spots and into contention for the play offs. Highly likely on current form.
As far as Colchester is concerned we still need to reach 72 points for that coveted seventh spot. Another 23 points from 12 games.
Maybe too early to predict the top seven but how about this – Bradford City, Doncaster, Notts Co, Walsall, Wimbledon, PV and Colchester United. Colchester v Wimbledon at Wembley in the League Two Play Off final on Monday May 26th.
Now Durham don’t get carried away (ed.).
Now no more of this careless talk or loose lips for the moment but more victories like the last two and the Cowleys will be dreaming of leading the team out at Wembley.
Fixtures:
Saturday 8 March 3pm Cheltenham Away
Tuesday 11 March 7:45pm PV Home - Sky Sports+
Saturday 15 March 3pm Fleetwood Home
Saturday 22 March 3pm Bradford Away
Friday 28 March 7:45pm Grimsby Home - Sky Sports+
Tuesday 1 April 7:45pm Gillingham Away - Sky Sports+
Saturday 5 April 3pm Notts Co Home
Saturday 12 April 3pm Newport Away
Friday 18 April 3pm Crewe Home – Sky Sports+
Monday 21 April 3pm Doncaster Away – Sky Sports+
Saturday 26 April 3pm Salford Away
Saturday 3 May 3pm Barrow Home
I have predicted the Sky Sports+ Colchester fixtures based on the criteria that they are not Saturday and not 3pm. I am unsure of later Sky Sports+ fixtures. Is it possible the Bradford game might be switched to 1230pm? And shown on Sky.
DC has already hinted that this will require the squad to see us through the 12 fixtures (perhaps 15 games).
A settled team and squad is vital and injury and suspension free. Teddy Bishop could sadly be sidelined for some weeks and Read is doubtful for Saturday. Manny Egbo could play midfield and KVY full back if DC wants to make changes if neither Read nor Bishop are available.
Jamie McDonnell has gone under the radar, but he has been Mr Consistent for the U’s of late. Someone who needs a goal is Lyle Taylor who has failed to find the net recently.
If all are fit then our best XI for starting is probably Macey, Egbo, Kells, Flanagan, Iandolo, Bishop, McDonnell, Gordon, Payne, Edwards, Tovide but options surround, Thorn, Taylor, Aboh, Simpson, Scully, Read, KVY, Lisbie and Anderson. So, we are looking strong both starting XI and substitutes.
This weekend DC will be anxiously looking at the fitness of Teddy Bishop (just when he was hitting some real form) and Arthur Read. It may be too soon for both of them so I would go for:
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Iandolo
McDonnell KVY
Gordon Payne Edwards
Tovide
Subs
Smith, Tucker, Thorn, Taylor, Anderson, Aboh, Scully (surprise return)
A good following of the faithful at Whaddon Road, will any be staying for the Cheltenham Festival I wonder starting next Tuesday.
Weather will be a mild 15 degrees Celsius partly sunny and breezy but dry.
3-0 to the U’s with Tovide, Payne and Kells on the scoresheet.
Enjoy the game.
Up the U’s
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Thread | Super U's to secure three more promotion points against ChezVegas tonight
at 18:53 4 Mar 2025
No time for any preview today so I am just running with the DC Official starting XI:
Macey
Egbo Kells Flanagan Iandolo
Read McDonnell
Gordon Payne Edwards
Simpson
Subs
Smith Anderson Tovide Tucker KVY Thorn Taylor
Scoreline Colchester 2 Chesterfield 0
Sky Sports + tonight
Enjoy the game.
Up the U's
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Colchester United v Chesterfield prediction logged |
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Thread | Today's early games
at 13:08 1 Mar 2025
Salford 1 Bradford 0
Tranmere 1 PV 1
36 minutes played.
I'm watching the Moor Lane game and the pitch is shocking.
Bradford have two players injured in the first half and both substituted.
Up the U's [Post edited 1 Mar 13:15]
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