Catman

Rangers are now flush with cash following billionaire Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal's investment this week which has seen them dubbed 'the richest club in the world'.

Mittal's potential funds, combined with those of Formula One moguls Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, are expected to signal a January spending spree the like of which the Championship has never seen.

And Rangers, like a Ferrari starting at the back of the grid, have already picked off three back-markers to roar up to 21st and should have the rest of the division looking nervously into their rear-view mirrors over the second half of the season.

Buzsaky, who will become the west Londoners' first big-money signing when he joins permanently from Plymouth for £500,000 in January, provided a sign of things to come with two fine goals.

Rangers held out to stretch their unbeaten run to four games despite centre-half Damion Stewart's late sending off.

The future looks distinctly bleaker for Colchester who, despite Mark Yeates' consolation strike, have now replaced Rangers at the foot of the table and, crucially, will have little opportunity to buy their way out of trouble.

The hosts were first on the attack with Rowan Vine bursting clear in only the second minute.

The on-loan Birmingham striker outpaced the Colchester defence and drew a smart reflex save from visiting goalkeeper Dean Gerken.

Dexter Blackstock was then denied by a brave block from Pat Baldwin before Vine fizzed the ball across goal with no-one on hand to apply the finish.

Blackstock also headed Gareth Ainsworth's cross wide as Rangers pushed for the opener.

Johnnie Jackson's free-kick and Kem Izzet's low drive provided some relief for the Colchester backline, although both were comfortably dealt with by Lee Camp.

But Rangers took the lead in the 27th minute when Hungarian star Buzsaky collected Bob Malcolm's throw-in, turned on the edge of the Us' area and curled a superb left-foot shot past Gerken.

The goal prompted chants of '1-0 to the billionaires' from the delighted home faithful.

Colchester were dealt a further blow when Izzet limped off, before midfielder Kevin McLeod, a former Rangers player, fired over.

Teddy Sheringham spurned a glorious chance to level shortly after the break when he swivelled onto Luke Guttridge's knock-down only to shoot horribly wide.

And Buzsaky made him pay in the 52nd minute with his fifth goal in 10 games for Rangers, playing a delightful one-two with Blackstock before rolling the ball underneath Gerken.

Moments later Camp almost gifted Colchester a goal back when he dropped Danny Granville's cross at the feet of Sheringham, but the former England man could only shoot against the post.

Camp made amends with a fine save from Guttridge's low shot, but he could do nothing to keep out Yeates in the 62nd minute when he charged onto Sheringham's flick-on and dinked the ball over the Rangers goalkeeper.

But Camp kept out a late close-range Clive Platt, before Stewart saw red, for a second booking in nine minutes after a high tackle on Yeates.

Lisbie was then shown a yellow card for a dive when he appeared to have been brought down in the area as Rangers held out for the victory.

 

Catman

Colchester V Southampton
Jhon Viafara's close-range finish had given the visitors a deserved lead at the break but Platt struck straight after the restart to earn the Us only their second point in five matches and keep them within three of safety.

The hosts came into the game with just one win in their last 12 games and on the back of a loss to relegation rivals QPR, and their first-half performance suggested there was little chance of that woeful run of form ending against Saints.

The home team did fire the first warning shot after eight minutes, Kevin Lisbie driving the ball wide of the left-hand post from just outside the area.

But that was a rare moment of concern for Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davies and it was the visitors who took the lead in the 19th minute.

In-form striker Stern John, who bagged a hat-trick in the recent 4-0 demolition of Hull, was the architect this time, laying the ball across the face of goal from the left channel for Viafara to slot home.

Bradley Wright-Phillips then fired wide of a post from 20 yards as George Burley's side looked to capitalise further.

Kevin McLeod tried to get the home side back in the game with eight minutes of the half remaining, but his shot from outside the area flew past the right post.

The home side came roaring out of the blocks after the restart though and were level just two minutes into the second half, Lisbie knocking a deep right-wing cross back across goal for strike partner Platt to lash into the net.

Wright-Phillips, looking for his third goal in four games, sought a quick response with a vicious effort from 25 yards which Us keeper Dean Gerken was forced to punch to safety.

Andrew Davies had a chance to restore the visitors' lead on the hour-mark, but headed Youssef Safri's inswinging corner over the bar from six yards.

The visitors piled on the pressure in the closing stages, desperate for a winner which would have moved them to within three points of the play-off places, but Colchester's defence, with the impressive Pat Baldwin to the fore, stood firm.

And goalkeeper Gerken also played his part in the rearguard action, first brilliantly tipping Grzegorz Rasiak's powerful shot over the bar with three minutes remaining and then palming away a Davies header.

 

Catman

Colchester V Blackpool
Vernon's goals saw off Us but Claus Jorgensen and Andy Morrell could have added more as they dominated the first half.

Blackpool defender Michael Jackson, restored to the side in place of the suspended Ian Evatt, had the first clear chance of the game in the fourth minute.

An outswinging corner from Wes Hoolahan was met by Jackson, whose thumping header flew narrowly over the crossbar.

The visitors started brightly and only home goalkeeper Dean Gerken prevented them from going behind in the 20th minute.

Jorgensen scampered down the right wing and let fly with a fantastic effort from 20 yards and Gerken had to be at his best to tip the ball around the post.

Sustained pressure from Blackpool was unsettling the home side and they got their reward in the 26th minute.

Hoolahan was again the architect as he fed Vernon from the right wing.

The midfielder steadied himself and drilled the ball high into the goal past Gerken to give the Tangerines a 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later and Colchester were lucky not to be further behind as the visitors struck the woodwork through Morrell's powerful effort.

Morrell turned provider in the 36th minute, giving Colchester a real mountain to climb.

He fed Vernon again from the right, who finished well to double their advantage.

It took until the 52nd minute for Us to muster a decent effort and it fell to midfielder Johnnie Jackson.

He was well placed on the left side of the penalty area 12 yards from goal, but his shot fizzed past the post.

Colchester kept battling and threatened in the 65th minute through Mark Yeates.

An inswinging corner from Yeates looked to be heading in at the far post, until the previously untested visiting goalkeeper Paul Rachubka backtracked and punched it to safety.

United made an attacking switch a minute later in the hope of troubling the Blackpool defence with Kevin Lisbie replacing the tiring Teddy Sheringham.

For the second game in a row, Hoolahan was replaced by David Fox to steady the midfield, before Morrell missed a glorious chance to finish Colchester off.

He then fell foul of the referee, booked for a challenge on Pat Baldwin.

Team-mate Shaun Barker followed him into the book for time wasting in the closing stages.

Colchester toiled in the closing stages but they never looked like breaking down a solid Blackpool rearguard.

They remain in a precarious position at the foot of the table and have a real fight on their hands if they are to retain their Championship status.

 

Catman

Colchester V Charlton
Lisbie, who only managed to score 13 goals in 12 years with the Addicks, added another two to that tally in the blue of Colchester with a penalty and a spectacular overhead kick.

By contrast fellow striker Chris Iwelumo, who moved in the opposite direction to Lisbie, fluffed his lines in front of goal.

Substitute Luke Varney pulled one back for Pardew's side in first-half stoppage time, but a Christmas period which has yielded three draws and two defeats may have all but ended their chances of automatic promotion.

Colchester, who kicked off rock-bottom of the table, saw out a typically nervy second half to secure their first win in seven attempts while Charlton trudged off to a chorus of boos.

The visitors were quickly on the attack with Mark Yeates playing in Lisbie, who was bravely denied by Nicky Weaver.

At the other end Iwelumo tested Dean Gerken with a low drive from the edge of the area.

But Colchester took the lead in the 15th minute after Patrick McCarthy challenged Lisbie in the box.

McCarthy and Lisbie went to ground together, but referee Clive Penton pointed to the spot and the Addicks old boy slammed home the penalty.

Charlton looked to hit back immediately and Jerome Thomas fizzed a shot into the side-netting.

But the hosts were leaving gaps at the back and Yeates fired narrowly wide before Clive Platt shot at Weaver.

Iwelumo, who hit 35 goals in two seasons with the visitors, squandered a gilt-edged chance for his new side when he headed Thomas' cross wide.

And Lisbie showed him the way to goal in fine style on the half-hour after the Charlton defence failed to deal with Yeates' cross.

Lisbie challenged McCarthy in the air and as the ball looped up, the 29-year-old hitman was first to react with a stylish bicycle kick which gave Weaver no chance.

Lloyd Sam fired wastefully over before exasperated Charlton boss Pardew hauled off McCarthy for Varney.

And the nippy frontman struck in first-half stoppage time when he swept home Sam's low cross from close range.

Varney had the ball in the net again before the interval but he was adjudged to have fouled Colchester full-back George Elokobi.

Lisbie spurned a glorious chance just after the restart when he wriggled clear in the area only to fire wide from the angle, before referee Penton waved away a penalty claim for an apparent handball by Addicks defender Jonathan Fortune.

Pardew was claiming a penalty when Elokobi bundled over Sam, before Iwelumo somehow managed to miss Sam's cross from a yard in front of goal.

Substitute Darren Ambrose should have secured a point in injury-time, but came up with a shocking miss when one on one with Gerken.

 

Catman

FA Cup 3rd round Colchester V Petersborough
Manager Geraint Williams has never beaten a side from the bottom division in cup competition during his Colchester reign and his side never looked like ending that hoodoo as they were outplayed by Darren Ferguson's promotion chasers in Saturday's third-round tie.

Aaron Mclean opened the scoring early in the first half before Teddy Sheringham equalised from the spot but goals from George Boyd and Charlie Lee sealed the match in the second half.

Both managers made just one change to the teams that both secured 2-1 wins on New Year's Day with Sheringham coming in up front for Colchester in place of Clive Platt and Jeff Hughes replacing the suspended Jamie Day for Peterborough.

And Hughes made an immediate impact as his corner led to the opener after just four minutes.

He whipped in a good ball from the left side and Mclean was on hand to stoop low and head home for his 20th goal of the season from six yards.

Boyd then scuffed a shot wide before the Us had their best chance as Mark Tyler saved well with his legs as Mark Yeates tried to place a shot past him.

Mclean should have had his second when bringing a good save from Dean Gerken and the striker had another golden chance just after the half-hour as Chris Whelpdale supplied a good cross from the left which Mclean headed against the post.

But Colchester were level two minutes before the break when Whelpdale nudged Kevin Lisbie in the back in the area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Despite Lisbie scoring from 12 yards against Charlton last time out it was Sheringham who took the spot-kick - and he tucked it away for his fourth goal of the season.

The Essex side were not level for long however as Posh regained the lead within a minute of the restart through Boyd.

Whelpdale threaded a ball to Lee on the right who supplied the cross for Boyd to make up for his earlier miss and volley home left-footed from the edge of the area, giving Gerken no chance.

Sheringham nearly had Colchester level again just seven minutes later as Yeates supplied a cross which found the veteran frontman, who had timed his run to perfection, but he poked his effort wide.

Yeates was on hand again in the 71st minute with a surging run and cross which found substitute Karl Duguid who skewed his shot well over the crossbar when he should have done far better.

And he was made to regret that miss just two minutes later as a corner at the other end from Hughes was met by the head of Lee to seal Peterborough's place in round four.

 

Catman

Colchester V Bristol C
Bristol City returned to the Coca-Cola Championship automatic promotion places with a 1-1 home draw against Colchester, but they failed to capitalise fully on Watford's defeat at Preston.

Gary Johnson's side suffered an early setback when Kevin Lisbie gave struggling Colchester an early lead with his ninth goal of the season.

But the Robins rallied before half-time to level and could have won it before the interval.

Ivan Sproule levelled with his first goal in 16 games after 32 minutes before Hungarian defender Tamas Vasko had an effort ruled out for offside.

United held on to end City's run of four straight home wins with their 14th away point of the season, but Geraint Williams' side remain in a perilous position at the foot of the table, while City are second.

City had lost just one of the last nine league fixtures going into the game, but manager Johnson made two changes following the FA Cup reverse to Middlesbrough, with Lee Trundle and Michael McIndoe recalled.

Colchester's record signing, Chris Coyne, made his debut as one of four changes made by manager Geraint Williams after the 3-1 FA Cup defeat to ambitious Coca-Cola League Two side Peterborough.

Coyne signed from League One Luton in a £350,000 deal on Thursday and started in defence alongside fellow new boy Phil Ifil, who made his first appearance after signing from Tottenham.

Trundle headed straight at Dean Gerken in the United goal before the visitors struck after six minutes.

Johnnie Jackson, who this week agreed a contract extension at Layer Road, met a cross with a cushioned header for Lisbie to rifle in a right-foot shot from 12 yards for his third in three games.

Lisbie forced Adriano Basso to parry moments later and former Spurs midfielder Jackson then forced the Brazilian goalkeeper to save well after a right-foot shot from 12 yards.

Darren Byfield and Lee Johnson, the manager's son, had shots blocked and Sproule shot off target as City failed to test Gerken.

But Northern Ireland striker Sproule equalised from 12 yards with a right-foot shot from Johnson's pass.

City thought they had gone ahead 90 seconds later when Vasko found the net after McIndoe's free-kick, but the assistant referee had raised his flag for offside.

McIndoe failed to test Gerken, before Clive Platt shot and Jackson had a shot blocked early in the second half.

Basso comfortably saved from Kem Izzet's shot from the edge of the box, but City then began to dominate both territory and possession.

However, the hosts could not create clear-cut opportunities and Byfield was replaced by Enoch Showunmi.

Striker Trundle had an effort blocked and Colchester then lost goalkeeper Gerken through injury.

Vasko fired over from the edge of the box and Marvin Elliott shot straight at replacement goalkeeper Mark Cousins late on as Colchester held on to draw.

 

Catman

Colchester v Barnsley
Barnsley boss Simon Davey praised Jon Macken's return to Oakwell after the striker scored the only goal to beat Colchester on Tuesday night. The former Derby striker, who Barnsley signed on a permanent basis on Monday for an undisclosed six-figure fee, pounced in first-half stoppage-time.

His goal side clinched Barnsley's first win in nine league matches against Colchester to halt the Tykes' recent slide down the Championship table.

Davey was naturally delighted with Macken's goalscoring return, adding: "That's why we wanted John five or six weeks ago.

"We haven't won a league game since he left and I've been chasing him for a month now.

"I was disappointed when Derby called him back, but he was in the Premier League then. Now he's back and we're happy about that."

Davey admitted his gamble to send out goalkeeper Heinz Muller for the second half paid off as the big German played on despite sustaining a first-half knee injury.

The manager said: "He's done something to his knee. It feels a little bit unstable at the moment, we had him scanned at half-time, but there was no major damage that we could see.

"We had a few words about whether he should come back out for the second half and I won."

Substitute striker Istvan Ferenczi was ready to replace Muller, who injured himself while blocking a first-half corner, but Davey was relieved not to have to call on the Hungarian.

"If he'd have been out there people would have been asking why I changed the keeper.

"It was one of those gambles. I put five outfield players on the bench. It's calculated gamble that might have backfired, but fortunately we've come away with the points."

Despite hobbling on one leg Muller pulled off outstanding saves to deny Phil Ifil's stinging first-half drive and then Adam Virgo's goalbound volley in the second period.

Davey said: "Fair play to Heinz. We needed him in there. At 6ft 6in he has a presence and he pulled off two good saves.

"I don't think Stan (Ferenczi) would have got to them, so it was a good decision."

Colchester manager Geraint Williams felt his side was punished for squandering several chances and admitted Muller made the difference.

Reflecting on the game, he said: "We had two or three very good chances and didn't take any of them and got caught with a suckerpunch in first-half injury-time.

"In the second half we were a little bit disappointed because I didn't think we created as much as we should have.

"Kevin Lisbie's had a great chance, Adam Virgo got in and the keeper made another great save, while Dean Gerken didn't have a shot to save apart from picking the ball out of the net.

"To be honest I thought the injured keeper made three or four excellent saves.

"I don't quite know what his injury is. I hope it's nothing too serious and I don't think it really is.

"But he's a hero, he played up to the crowd and they loved it, so good luck to him."

 

Catman

Colchester v Sheff U
David Carney rescued another point for Sheffield United as he scored his second goal within a week to earn his side a 2-2 draw at Colchester. Luton Shelton claimed his first league goal for United moments before half-time but Kevin Lisbie equalised seconds after the re-start.

Inspired by that goal, bottom club Colchester went on to take the lead midway through the second half after Johnnie Jackson's free-kick took a huge deflection off unfortunate defender Chris Armstrong.

But the lead was short-lived and it was Australian midfielder Carney who once again saved his side's blushes to earn the Blades a point.

The home side started brightest as Mark Yeates' shot sailed over and Karl Duguid's header went wide.

United centre-back Chris Morgan did well to block Clive Platt's goal-bound effort while John White's 18-yard drive flew over the crossbar after the resulting corner was not cleared.

The visitors enjoyed a period of solid pressure towards the end of the half and were rewarded with a timely strike in the 45th minute.

Morgan was the unlikely supplier as his ball found Jamaica international Shelton who took the ball in his stride and calmly stroked the ball beyond Dean Gerken.

However, just 26 seconds into the second half former Charlton striker Lisbie levelled the scores for Colchester when he collected Kemal Izzet's feed from the left and lashed home the equaliser.

Inspired by Lisbie, the Us were soon 2-1 ahead courtesy of a wicked deflection in the 63rd minute.

Midfielder Jackson will no doubt lay claim to the goal as it was his 25-yard free-kick that struck the unwitting Armstrong as the ball wrong-footed Paddy Kenny in the Blades goal to make it 2-1.

But just a minute later Colchester's defence allowed their concentration to slip and the scores were level once more.

Australia international Carney was on target for the second time in a week when he slammed his left-footed drive home after good work from Stephen Quinn on the left to set up a frantic final period.

Carney, who also scored in the 1-1 midweek draw with Watford, soon made way for United's 13-goal top scorer James Beattie, who has missed the last seven games through injury, and he almost made an immediate impact in the 74th minute.

The former Everton striker was denied only by a courageous block from Us captain Duguid and Lee Martin's effort sailed narrowly over following the resulting corner.

Both sides had late chances as Shelton and Jackson both missed the target but the game ended in a deserved draw.