An away point for The Bluebirds at the Championship's bottom side which they could view as two lost after an early thunderous Paul Parry strike and opening dominance but had to accept it was the right result following a back-to-the-wall job with the home side missing several chances and a rugged final 25 minutes after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was controversially shown a straight red card for a challenge on Col U's keeper for a 50/50 ball, that decision infuriating City boss Dave Jones.
I didn't go as I am nursing my wife back to health after a major op and saving to get the family to Wembley but, mostly, as City are in mid-table obscurity, Colchester is a crap journey and their ground and away facilities are the worst in any division, let alone the Championship! It's a trip I was happy to miss for once.
Once again, squad rotation was the order of the day with Darcy Blake (for the injured McNaughton), Ledley, Hasselbaink and Ramsey starting.
Paul Parry's opener inside 10 minutes seemed to send City on their way as they were overwhelming the Essex team but, in similar style to the home victory over Hull in midweek, they inexplicably took their foot off the gas and Col U started creating problems.
The game then evened out but with City surviving a few lucky escapes until Hasslebaink got his red card and a probable 3 match ban leaving him out of action until the semi-final. Cardiff were in real trouble from that point onwards depsite Jones changing personnel and tactics.
John Jackson, also scorer in Col U's 4-1 pasting at Ninian Park, slammed an equaliser and City were mighty lucky not to have lost as the home side failed to convert late chances although Thommo also saw one cleared off the line for The Bluebirds according to one radio pundit yet PhilB from http://www.cardiffcity.com/ messageboard has retorted that, "Thommo had trouble getting the ball to the keeper 15yds out, the man looks so disinterested and unfit i`d back Fowler (on crutches) to beat him over 10-30yds".
If City were to have a fnal shot at the play-offs, it was a must win fixture but the point, taking them to 49, leaves them probably just one win from safety and they can then save their best (hopefully) for the F.A. Cup.
More reports later.
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