Disaster on Day One for Wednesday

Day one of the 2004/05 season turned out to be a total disaster for Chris Turner's new look Wednesday side. They were on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline infront of 24,000 fans at Hillsborough. Colchester, the visitors, had enjoyed the majority of the game's best chances but the game seem destined for a draw with just five minutes left on the clock.

The first goal was a cross from the wing that was met by Fagan sliding in at the far post, the second an unstoppable 30 yard effort by Stockley and the third a great free-kick by Keith to cap off a remarkable spell of football.

But the U's shocked the Owls with three goals in the last five minutes to take the spoils in the season opener, and leave Turner with a lot to be answered for.

The only excuse on offer is that eight players made their debut during the afternoon, and perhaps a case of nerves for his newly assembled squad.

The Owls travel to Blackpool in midweek where another defeat will pile on early pressue for Wednesday. The Seasiders will go into the game as favourites, having beaten the Owls on four occasions last season.

This report from BigOwl:

On the evidence of today its going to be another long hard season. The players we have bought may well be better players individually but they didnt seem to be able to play as a team today! Graeme Lee recovered enough from injury to start with Bullen, Collins and Heckingbottom alongside him in defence standing in front of Lucas.

Midfield saw MacMahon partner Marsden in the centre with Brunt and JP (Jean Paul McGovern) out wide. With Peacock carrying an injury Proudlock partnered Maclean up front which raised a few eyebrows as they are essentially similar in style.

However the game started with a bit of excitement at Proudlock broke through from a JP pass on the right but scuffed his shot at the keeper. A minute later Colchester broke through and Lucas was tested for the first time this season. Colchester had another early attempt and then the play switched to the other box where Maclean forcefully held off a defender in the box and managed to chest the ball down for Heckingbottom who blazed over the bar from five yards out.

A few minutes later JP curled a shot from the edge of the box but the keeper got across quickly to make the save. JP was probably the Owls best player of the half and he managed several good runs and crosses in this half. This is where Colchester took over and stream after stream of U's attacks came in and Lucas was basically our saviour making several smart saves.

One such save came after Heckingbottom playing too far behind the defence played a Colchester striker on and he came in with just Lucas to beat and his strike partner alongside waiting for a tap in. Luckily for us he elected to shoot and Lucas got down smartly to take the sting off the shot which was trickling towards the net when Heckingbottom got back to clear the ball for a corner. Even then the resulting corner needed another excellent save from Lucas with the defence failing to clear the danger.

Collins who had looked solid so far then completely missed a defensive header and the U's striker behind hit an audacious overhead kick as the ball unexpectedly came to him which went just wide of the goal. In this period the best we could manage was a proudlock attempt which was charged down as the striker swivelled in the box to shoot. It had not been a very impressive half for the Owls who basically had been indebted to Lucas for keeping them in the game.

We had spent most of the first half playing the long ballo with little sign of the flowing football shown in pre-season. The missing link of Whelan seemed especially costly as midfield floundered constantly and Marsden only seemed able to pasjõ s the ball backwards.

Half-time: Owls 0-0 Colchester

I made the comment at half time that I didnt think we could play any worse in the second half but I should have bitten my lip because some of what was dished up could easily be described as dirge.

The best we managed to offer at the start of the second half was when both Bullen and Lee dived in to meet a corner but Im not sure which one got the header but it bulleted over the bar anyway. Very early on the U's were denied a blatent penalty when Collins upended a Colchester striker in the box and the referee waved play on.

The Owls still struggled to do much more than play the long ball with Lee especially guilty of wasting pass after pass. Lee went off to be replaced by Branston and Peacock came on to replace Proudlock. Branston made an early brave header but looks a little 'industrial' in his play. A minute later he was lucky not to get a booking after he came straight through the back of a Colchester attacker for a free kick. Peacock nearly put the Owls in fron against the run of play but his shot deflected away from the keepers leg and the chance was gone.

Colchester had a couple of chances and again a combination of Lucas and a miscued shot saved us from conceding. Hamshaw came on for MacMahon and for the first time in the game we looked to have a bit more control in midfield. Maclean partnering Peacock seemed a far better combination and it nearly paid off late on as Peacock looking as if he was being held in the box managed to swivel and put in a good shot which was palmed away.

Maclean also came close but then Colchester stole the show. Collins got booked for shirt pulling as Colchester attacked again and to be fair they had been by far the better side and the penalty claim aside could easily have been several goals up by now but they snatched the lead with five minutes to go as a ball was driven in from the by-line and Fagan (who had tormented us with his pace all the game) poached a goal from a foot out and the crowd of 24,000 plus groaned.

Things went from bad to worse as just 2 minutes later a Colchestjõ er midfielder hit a tremendous shot past a crowd of players from around 30 yards which screamed into the top corner. Instantly we lost the ball and the U's attacked again, gaining a free kick on the edge of the box. Joe Keith rounded off a disasterous afternoon with a superb free kick curling past Lucas for a third goal in five minutes. Full time 0-3.

Colchester came for a win and always looked the better team. Tactically wise CT must be doing an ostrich and sticking his head in the sand as the long ball game does not suit these players at all. If I was to draw any positives from this game its just to say that Maclean and Peacock look a good pairing and with a bit of luck could have scored a couple today. JP also made a good fist of the game and Lucas kept us in it.

Player ratings:-

Lucas 8/10, no chance with any of the goals but saved a far greater beating
Bullen 6/10, looks great individually but the defence did not gel today overall
Collins 7/10, might have given a penalty away but overall the best defender on show
Lee 4/10, obviously not fit and his passing was apalling
Heckingbottom 6/10, defensively better than BBM but this defence was not organised well
Brunt 3/10, the absolute worst I have seen him play, everything he did turned to poo today
MacMahon 5/10, really not in the game as Colchester ran midfield for most of the game
Marsden 6/10, too defensive and needs a ball player around him (Whelan)
McGovern 8/10, alongside Lucas was the star of the show
Proudlock 7/10, some good work from the fat boy
Maclean 7/10, nice touches and good hold up play, unlucky today

Subs:-
Branston 6/10, as I said, 'industrial'
Peacock 7/10, had he been 100 percent fit he would have started alongside Maclean
Hamshaw 7/10, we only got hold of midfield once Matty came on

The ref was on our side but we were outplayed by a pacy Colchester side who at times played some lovely football. They were organised and got their tactics right. They were unlucky not to be several goals up as the game looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw.

To concede in the last few minutes is sloppy but to concede three goals in the last few minutes is pathetic. Anyone who reads a report saying we played okay today was either not at the game or is in line to be sectioned under the mental health act. Blackpool up next who incidentally have now lost their last five games in a row.

Chris Turner's post match comments:

"It was a bad performance today and it's come at the worst possible time because it's the opening day of the season. Everyone will be thinking: "It's no better than last year" and I can't hide behind the fact that we didn't play as well as we have been in pre-season."

"I'm big enough to stand up and be counted. We've got two away games and we need to get two results. I believe in the players we've brought in and I believe we will still be successful this season."