[ 26 Dec 24 ] Colchester United v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Since their last Boxing Day win in 2018, the Gills are winless in the 3 games (2 draws) played on that day since. The Gills have lost 4 of the last 6 Boxing Day games but, over the same period, are unbeaten in the last 6 on the road drawing the last 3 following 3 wins.
- The Gills have won 9 of the 43 (20.9%) away matches played on Boxing Day. For games played at Level 4, that figure is 4 wins out of 8 (50.0%) however 3 of those wins came in the 6 seasons between 1958/9 and 1963/4 inclusive.
- Since the 1999/00 season, the Gills have met Colchester in the league in 8 seasons with this game being the 4th on Boxing Day (0-1 at home in 2022, 2-1 away in 2014, 0-5 away in 2005 and 2-1 at home in 1999). 2 further Gills wins came on 28/12/2015 and 1/1/2024.
- The Gills narrowly edge the wins over Colchester by 32 wins to 31 and 27 of the league and cup meetings have been drawn. The away side have won the last 4 with a clean sheet and also in 6 of the last 8 where the Gills have won 4 and lost 3.
- Colchester's last home win against the Gills came back in September 2015 and the Gills have won the 4 visits in league and cup since - all with a clean sheet. They have won 5 and lost 1 of their last 7 visits.
- Colchester are unbeaten in 7 in the league (2 wins) and unbeaten in 3 at home (1 win) although they have managed 1 win and 2 defeats in their last 6 home games.
- Colchester's first 22 league games produced just 3 clean sheets. Since then, they have kept 5 clean sheets in a row - 3 of the last 4 all being 0-0 draws.
- Colchester have drawn 11 of their last 17 league matches, the most in League 2. The Gills would have to go back across their last 40 league matches to match the 11 draws.

[Thur 26th Dec 2024] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Colchester United v Gillingham FC
Opposition Manager: Danny Cowley. Matchday Team: Matt Macey, Ellis Iandolo, Aaron Donnelly, [c] Tom Flanagan, Mandela Egbo, Arthur Read (Teddy Bishop), Jamie McDonnell, Owura Edwards (John-Kymani Gordon), Jack Payne, Oscar Thorn (Harry Anderson), Lyle Taylor (Tom Hopper)
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (17th)
Referee: Farai Hallam
Attendance: 5,934 ()

(15:01) Kick Off [ 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 ]
(15.06) GOAL! Colchester United 1-0 Gillingham: Taylor
(15.08) Taylor finds Thorn who taps home but it is ruled out for offside.
(15.25) Colchester drive a cross from left to right through the centre of the 6-yard box which is just slightly too far ahead for any attacking player to deflect into the net.
(15.27) Wimbledon come forward quickly. Taylor is allowed to continue, after Ehmer fails to deal with a simple interception, and simple ball just needs converting but somehow it is hashed and the Gills are fortunate to clear.
(15.39) Taylor crosses towards the far post and it touches the bar before going for a goal kick.
(15.46) 1 minute will be added to the half.
(15.47) Half time 1-0 [46:04]

(16.03) The second half kicks off.
(16.04) A simple ball into the box allows Payne to get ahead of all Gills defenders and tap the bal goalward but he somehow puts it just wide,
(16.06) Colchester smash the ball into the net for the third time just as the referee blows for a Gills free kick.
(16.23) The Gills have a free kick from range which Dack delivers straight into the arms of the 'keeper.
(16.34) McKenzie drives in a powerful shot from inside the D which the 'keeper palms over at full stretch.
(16.42) GOAL! Colchester United 2-0 Gillingham: Gordon
(16.47) Jayden Clarke gets tripped and goes over in the box but receives a yellow card for simulation.
(16.48) There will be 7 additional minutes at the end of the match.
(16.49) A cross from Hopper is cut out by Ogie to prevent a simple tap in at an empty Gills net.
(16.52) With the goal at his mercy, Payne makes the space but shoots narrowly wide, perhaps grazing the outside of the post.
(16.54) Hutton, in a great position, fires high over the bar.
(16.55) FULL TIME [97:04]

Gills' League Position After Game: 13th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c24nl4r49yyt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYCMm7Xw3iA