Colchester v Luton

Luton saw Chris Coyne return to first team duty but Robinson was absent injured. Sol Davis was on the bench and Newell started the match as he finished in the Coventry match with Leon Barnett in midfield.

Peter Holmes was on the bench, but curiously, there was no place for Adam Boyd. Boyd's lack of involvement has been difficult to fathom considering he is the most expensive signing for Luton for a long time.

Colchester were looking for their tenth successive home win so it was somewhat surprising that Luton seemed to have the upper hand early on and looked more like the home team than Colchester did.

However the first goalmouth action saw Chris Coyne make a perfectly time challenge to deny Iwelumo a shot after Garcia's pass set him free beating the offside trap.

Morgan showed his confidence is high when he hit a fierce shot from 20 yards but unfortunately it was straight at keeper Gerken.

Edwards had an opportunity after turning the left back inside and out but his shot lacked power and direction.

In the 23rd minute, Colchester went ahead against the run of play when Izzet sent in a teasing cross which was met by the head of McCleod and it looped into the top left hand corner with Kiely unsighted.

Morgan treied another 20 yarder but Gerken gathered it easily, then Brkovic made the error of the match when clean through with Vine and Morgan wide open in front of goal, when he decided to shoot and Gerken saved with his legs, when a pass across goal would surely have seen a tap in equaliser.

Luton were a goal down but in total command but as the chances fell thick and fast, no one seemed capable of any composure in front of goal.

On the half hour, Vine got free in the penalty area, after Brkovic's clever flick. Vine sent the keeper the wrong way but his goal bound shot clipped the leg of the diving keeper.

Next, Vine was presneted with a golden opportunity when a Gerken clearance went straight to him, but he dallied on the ball too long and Baldwin got in a tackle.

Luton were playing the better football and Barnett hit a screamer which he would have been talking about all week were it not for a superb save by Gerken tipping it round the post, but just as it seemed Luton must surely equalise soon, they were hit on the break when Cureton's first touch was superb and his shot even more so and was heading at speed into the top corner when Kiely got his fingers to it and guided it onto the bar. This should have heralded a warning to the town but unfortunately it was unheeded and Garcia was allowed too much time on the ball and his simple cross was simply converted by the unmarked Iwelumo for a 2-0 half time deficit to the Hatters.

Straight from the restart Watson clipped a post with a speculative effort from way out, but Luton continued to impress going forward except in their finishing.

David Bell skyed one over the bar when well placed after good work from Edwards and almost immediately Garcia was allowed to roam unmarked in the box to steer home a Watson free kick.

On the hour Vine missed another chance and then Brkovic shot over the bar when it seemed impossible to miss after Foley laid it on a plate for him.

Colchester handed the Town yet another lesson in finishing when on 65 minutes Cureton chipped onto Iwelumo's head and he placed his header perfectly past the bemused Kiely.



Sol Davis was introduced into the fray to heartfelt applause and Feeney replaced Edwards, perhaps investigating that possibility for when Edwards departs in the transfer window? His first involvement saw a superb shot tipped around the post by the seemingly unbeatable Gerken. It was a great shame that it did not find the net because it would have been just the sort of goal to silence his critics and give him confidence, so, unless he gets a chance on Friday night and scores, he will have gone an entire calendar year without scoring, which cannot do much for a player's confidence. Perhaps a loan spell might see his scoring form rekindled?

From the corner, as the ball was in flight, Garcia shoved Coyne over in the box and the referee awarded the penalty kick, which Vine dispatched perfectly, but it was little consolation for the Town who had played some excellent football at times, and did not deserve to lose 4-1, but if you miss the number of chances that they did on the day, you can hardly expect to win in this league.

With their away form and confidence in tatters, the last thing you want is an away fixture against the League leaders on Sky TV but that is what they have to contend with on Friday evening. Will we need a calculator to keep score or will they respond and play as we know thay sometimes can?

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