At the beginning of last season, it was predicted that Colchester United would make the League Two playoffs, but fail to gain promotion, only to secure League One status the following season.
As the following season approaches fast, we examine the reasons why that opinion will come to fruition.
Momentum Was Building
Having lived through a period of the Cowleys taking a club on a wild ride, once the momentum builds, it can be hard to stop. It felt that, after a poor start to the campaign where the U’s picked up just two wins from their opening 15 games, Colchester United’s cogs began to turn.
Following their victory away at Grimsby Town at the end of November, United went on a run of 22 games where they suffered defeat on just two occasions. That run included 12 victories as the club propelled itself into League Two playoff contention.
In the end, the poor start to the season proved costly. The U’s couldn’t maintain their excellent mid-season form, ending their season by picking up just nine points from their final nine matches and falling three points short of the top seven.
Injuries Proved Costly
One of the reasons for the dip in form during the run-in was the fact that square pegs were required in round holes as the long, gruelling League Two season took its toll.
Jack Payne was included in the League Two Team of the Season for his eight goals and 10 assists from 42 league outings.
The former Lincoln City man looked to be regaining his best form before a calf injury forced him to miss four of the U’s final six matches. Payne managed just 39 minutes in a 1-1 at Gillingham and missed the draw with Crewe Alexandra and defeat to Doncaster Rovers.
Another vital absentee was the veteran striker Lyle Taylor, who finished the campaign with 10 goals and missed the last four games. Colchester managed just two points and one goal in those matches.
Samson Tovide was unavailable for selection on no fewer than 17 occasions last season, leaving Cowley’s side light up front. The 21-year-old managed 13 goal involvements from 27 games, highlighting the importance he has on the team.
The winger Owura Edwards missed six games over the winter period, a spell that saw his side fail to claim a victory. Edwards contributed seven goals and four assists from his 37 appearances.
Between the four of them, these players had 54 goal involvements throughout the season, and their loss was felt by the U’s. Having fallen short of the playoffs by just three points, United could well have seen their place in the top seven secured had they kept players fit.
Typical Strong Cowley Foundations
Colchester United did not miss out on the playoffs due to defensive frailties. Danny Cowley’s side conceded just 47 times in League Two last season, a record better than champions Doncaster Rovers and six of the top nine.
The problem the U’s had was scoring goals themselves, with just 52 strikes in their 46 games and a top scorer with 10 goals, they had to rely on clean sheets to gain points.
Last season, 18 of Colchester’s 46 games ended either 0-0 or 1-1, costing the U’s vital playoff points.
Fiacre Kelleher and Ben Goodliffe may have departed the club, but Northern Ireland international Tom Flanagan has signed a new deal with the club, and Jack Tucker has signed permanently after a loan from MK Dons in the second half of the season.
Ben Perry has been brought in from Nottingham Forest on loan to replace last season’s impressive Forest loanee Jamie McDonnell and will likely provide that barrier in front of the U’s defence.
Last season, the U’s kept a joint league best 21 clean sheets and will aim to repeat that impressive record in the upcoming campaign.
Attacking Depth Added To Squad
In an attempt to address their goal-scoring issues, Cowley has added Oxford United striker Will Goodwin to his squad temporarily and signed Tottenham Hotspur attacker Jaden Williams.
Both have been lively and on the score sheet in pre-season, with Goodwin netting a brace against Dagenham & Redbridge and Williams scoring against Peterborough United.
What Do Colchester United Need?
To put it simply, goals. Too many points were dropped last season as the U’s failed to come out on top in tight games. They played out 19 draws last season and missed out on the top seven by three points. The U’s already have many of the ingredients needed to mount a promotion push but must be able to turn draws into victories.
Why The U’s Will Gain Promotion
It’s that word again: momentum. If Colchester can get off to a good start, confidence will grow and the positivity around the club will go some way to carrying them to results.
Defensively, they are excellent and provide the forward-going players with strong foundations to go and win the game.
If they can keep their creative players like Jack Payne fit and add in the likes of Williams and Goodwin, then the goals may come, and those tight games where the spoils are shared will begin to edge Colchester’s way.
Colchester United were just three points away from the top seven after a dismal start and end to the campaign. Their strength defensively, coupled with more goals and fewer injuries, will see the U’s gain a playoff spot in League Two at the very least.
