A goal by Clive Platt and some superb goalkeeping by Dean Gerken today secured the U's a point at home in the Boxing Day clash against Southampton.

Colchester United managed to come back from a goal down at the break to Jhon (yes, I've spelt it right) Viafara's 19th minute goal through Clive Platt just a couple of minutes after the break but sadly couldn't find an all-important second. Indeed, it was the U's hanging on for most of the second half with only two world class saves from Dean Gerken preventing George Burley's men from escaping Layer Road with all the points.

Geraint Williams made three changes from the side that had lost at QPR on Saturday afternoon. Karl Duguid and Kevin Lisbie were promoted from the bench instead of Bela Balogh and Teddy Sheringham respectively while, some months after signing for the U's, Luke Guttridge made his full debut for the club in place of Kem Izzet who was out with a dislocated thumb. With little other midfield cover, there was a Christmas surprise for youngster Antony Wordsworth who earned himself a place on the bench along Balogh, Sheringham, Cousins and Jamie Guy.

Southampton, managed by former U's boss George Burley, were without Polish striker Marek Saganowski through a groin strain but could still keep former Spurs front man Gregorz Rasiak on the bench with Bradley Wright-Phillips and Stern John chosen in attack.

Two points adrift going in to the fixture, the U's really need to start picking up some wins at home but the game started off slightly sluggishly with Wright-Phillips having the first change of the game some minutes after play kicked-off - the former Mancester City striker finding his shot blocked after good work by Viafara.

At the Layer Road end, Guttridge was warming in to his first competitive start for the U's since the U's were knocked out of the League Cup at Shrewsbury. He won the ball in midfield and picked out Lisbie's run in to the box only to see the ex-Charlton mad screw his shot across goal and wide. There was an assistant's flag up, but it was difficult to tell whether it was for an offside or whether he was just indicating a goal-kick.

The pace of Wright-Phillips was causing the U's back line some problems and it was no real surprise when he left them for dead to chase on to a through ball from midfield. Gerken initially came for the ball on the edge of the box before just stopping dead a few yards away - possible concerned that he wouldn't get their first and would give away a penalty. Thankfully, BW-P helped the U's shot-stopped by kicking the ball right out of play.

On nineteen minutes the U's did concede though it has to be said there was an element of luck to the goal for Viafara. A quick Southampton break looked to be over as Granville intercepted a crossfield ball from Surman towards Viafara over on the Saints right. However, Granville's clearance was right at the feet of Stern John who advanced towards the goal and placed a shot wide of the Gerken's goal from the edge of the penalty area. It looked to be going wide at least until Viafara, who had continued his run, got to the ball first to fire in to an empty net.

The U's now needed to get two to record their first home win since beating West Brom in the middle of October but Clive Platt's lose ball back to his defender's almost left the Essex side needing three - Wright-Phillips firing wide from twenty yards.

However, from that point the U's did show a lot more belief thanks, in part, to the precise passing of Guttridge. When the U's kept the ball on the deck they look a decent side capable of mixing it with the best, but an over-reliance on the long ball thanks to U's Assistant Manager's Micky Adams limited coaching ability means that the home side gives the ball away far too easily.

Yeates endured a frustrating afternoon when he was afforded little time and space to work his magic but on those occasions he must be quicker with his delivery. His job is to get crosses in to the box and for me, these must as soon as possible. First time is perfect, but if you want to take the fullback on occasionally, that's great too, but once you've beaten him, get the ball in as the defenders are facing their goal. If you keep delaying the cross, by faking to use the left or the right, and then back again, then you give the defenders too much time to get back into position, and then set themselves for the cross. This is perhaps the reason why one of the Irishman's best crosses of the afternoon was allowed to go across the box without any U's player attacking it - simply because they did not know when he was going to the send ball in.

Jackson found the advertising hoardings above Kelvin Davies' goal while McLeod effort from 25 yards was drilled over the top by a couple of inches though the Saints shot-stopper always knew it wasn't going in. Former Norwich midfield Youssef Safri tested Gerken from forty yards to which the young keeper was more than able while in injury time, The Saints somehow managed to prevent the U's from opening the scoring in a six yard box scramble which saw the goalkeeper congratulaing young defender Andrew Davies.

United got their equaliser just two minutes after the re-start thanks to Clive Platt. A cross was drifted in from the right-hand side by Yeates to McLeod who did well to head the ball back intowards the near post. Platt just managed to get a toe on to the ball ahead of the defender and with his second touch, slid the ball under the body of Davis for his 7th of the season.

Could the U's go and put one over the boss who walked away from them thirteen years ago almost to the very day? Well, in truth it was always the visitors who looked the more likely side to go on and win the game thought you could not fault the home side's effort or determination.

Gerken, in particular, was in inspired form. A quick break from the Saints saw fullback Wayne Thomas cross towards Wright-Phillips on the edge of the box. His early shot forced Gerken to dive full-length to turn the ball away for a corner.

Saints fans, and players were adimant that they deserved a penalty after substitute Rasiak had come on for Wright-Phillips. Surman, who had a good game for the visitors, floated in a ball towards the Polish striker and in-between Baldwin and Virgo. The three seemed to collide just as the Saints frontman went to shoot and then there were loud appeals of handball from those who had made their way up from the South Coast. From my position there was just no way I could see whether a hand was used, and its certainly no good asking Adam Virgo who appeared to be concussed in the incident and despite playing on for a while after treatment, was eventually replaced by Hungarian international Bela Balogh.

Geraint Williams made his first change with just under twenty minutes to go as Jamie Guy replaced Kevin Lisbie who has been suffering from a virus in recent weeks. After a tough 50/50 challenge in midfield, Karl Duguid required attention but instead of going down, he tried to stay on his feet which meant Southampton played on and exploited the weakness on the U's right-hand side but thankfully Safri fired over Gerken's bar.

Guy's attempted over-head kick was easily held by Davis as the U's tried to find that vital goal which also saw Platt's header from McLeod's cross loop over the crossbar. The U's were grateful to Dean Gerken with time running out though as he twice saved them with vital, and world-class saves. Rasiak's header, from a pin-point Thomas cross, looked destined for the back of the net until somehow Gerken tipped the ball over the bar for a corner.

Rasiak then volleyed wide from Hamill's near post cross before Southampton's fans behind the goal thought they'd won it. I've no idea who hit the initial shot towards goal from the edge of the box suffice to say that it took a deflection that sent the ball towards the other corner of the net. Somehow, Gerken managed to race across his goal and scoop the ball away despite it looking as though it was behind. Southampton did have the ball in the net seconds later from Davies' cross and Rasiak's close-range header but the linesman's flag was up for offside.

In injury time there was almost late drama as Johnnie Jackson's downward header forced Davis to tip the ball behind for a corner. The first effort was cleared at the near post and, with the ball-boy dallying to return it to the impatient Yeates, referee Singh's whistle meant that the Irishman couldn't get the ball in again. Another point, and not really what was wanted but on the balance of play, it could have been worse. Thankfully, Gerken showed us that their are decent young goalkeepers in England.

Shot of the Match: McLeod's first half effort was sadly just to high.

Save of the Match: I'll go for Gerken's last key save of the game. The ball was already past him before he somehow scooped it away. Terrific stuff.

Moan of the Match: None really - I even thought the referee had a decent game, but I did think the ball bot could and should have reacted quicker in those final seconds of the game.

Man of the Match: Three players stood out for me. Guttridge who, though tiring towards the end, has shown that he is a good passer of the ball with an intelligent brain on him. I'm not sure whether he and Izzet will work together but it will be interesting to see. Baldwin was another who I thought had a good game at the back and made few mistakes but my MOTM goes to U's goalkeeper Dean Gerken. Match awards are usually handed out to hat-trick heros - well, he made a trio of excellent saves this afternoon to keep the U's in the game.

Colchester: Gerken, Duguid, Baldwin, Virgo (Balogh 79), Granville, Yeates, Guttridge, Jackson, McLeod, Platt, Lisbie (Guy 66). Subs Not Used: Cousins, Sheringham, Wordsworth.

Booked: Guttridge.

Photo: Action Images

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