[ 1 Jan 24 ] Colchester Utd v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills and Colchester cannot be split with both sides wining 31 meetings and 27 ending in draws. Both sides have won 1 of the last 2 meetings, 2 of the last 5, 3 of the last 7, 4 of the last 9 and have each won 5 of the last 13 meetings.
- The Gills have won their last 3 league and cup visits to Colchester and have kept clean sheets in all 3 since their last defeat there back in September 2015 - their only loss in 6 visits in which they scored in all 6 (10 goals in total).
- The away sides have won the last 3 meetings and have kept clean sheets in each. The last time either the Gills or Colchester won a home meeting in league or cup was a 1-0 Gills win on the 28th December 2015. The away side have won 6 of the 7 league and cup games since.
- Colchester have lost their last 5 away league games and conceded 13 goals in them. At home, they have won once in 4 league games making it 1 win and 7 defeats in their last 9 league games but that win came in their previous home match - a 2-1 win over Salford.
- The Gills have conceded 30 league goals this season but Colchester have conceded 35 in only the second halves of their league games, the most in the division. They have conceded 13 second half goals in their last 7 games, 1 fewer than the Gills' second half total conceded from all 24 games.
- Colchester have conceded 18 goals in their last 7 league games and the 51 in total is the joint worst total conceded along with Sutton. Their last 19 league games have seen 43 goals conceded and just 1 clean sheet kept.
- Colchester faced 13 shots on target against AFC Wimbledon in their previous game, eventually losing a 2-1 lead to lose 5-3. At an average of 5.6 per game, their 140 shots on target faced is the most in League 2. The most the Gills have faced in a League game this season is 8.

(15:00) EFL Sky Bet League 2: Colchester Utd v Gillingham FC - Kick Off [ 5 - 3 - 2 ]

(15.03) Hawkins and Jefferies combine to create a fantastic chance for the Gills to score but an excellent save prevents it.

(15.14) Akinde wins a header and finds a Colchester attack who ensures a shot evades Turner but somehow puts it wide when almost certain to score.

(15.33) A flicked effort by Ehmer finds the 'keeper equal to it and he produces another great save. The follow-up falls to Ogie and calls for handball are ignored as the 'keeper makes another good save just as the offside flag goes up.

(15.45) The referee adds on 1 additional minute.

(15.46) Half time 0-0

(16.02) The second half kicks off.

(16.05) Hawkins smashes a header off the face of the crossbar.

(16.06) Colchester clear and counter attack with 4 on 3. The Gills can't get back but Turner comes to the rescue.

(16.08) Jefferies blasts through the Colchester defence and pulls the ball back for the left foot of Malone who, unlike on Friday, fails to find the top corner and blasts over.

(16.11) GOAL! Colchester Utd 0-1 Gillingham: Malone

(16.15) Ogie blasts a fierce shot at goal which the 'keeper touches onto the woodwork. Utd break and Alexander has to time a challenge perfectly.

(16.30) A testing Colchester ball across the box misses everyone and goes out for a goal kick after Hopper swung a foot at it but misses.

(16.47) There will be 5 additional minutes.

(16.53) FULL TIME 1-0

Attendance: 4,923 (998)
Position: 10th
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Match highlights:
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67818519