Colchester United season-ticket holder Si Collinson's views on the U's

THE dreaded own goal.

It's something in football that can being cheers and laughter from one set of fans and despair and groans from the other.

I was at the England game last week when Kosovo's defender scored a cracker in his own net and all the jokes that went with it.

Fast forward to the weekend in deepest, darkest Gloucestershire and boom - the other side of it hits when the U's are beaten due to an unfortunate own goal by skipper Luke Prosser.

Part and parcel of football life but funny how it can have such opposite effect on a game.

I'm writing this before our trip to Swindon Town but the other problem Colchester have is a lack of goals and how they have suddenly dried up.

We have the attacking prowess going forward - that can't really be debated as even on the bench there are strong options that get used to try and have an impact.

A lot of criticism has, in my mind unfairly, been levelled at the management.

But the set-up in terms of formation and player selection has been positive and as I have alluded to, substitutions have seemingly be made in matches to add to this threat.

For me, that's as much as management can do on game day, other than shouting from the touchline.

So what's going on with the players when they cross that white line and the game starts?

We've been having chances but at times they have also been lacking.

It appears at times we are trying to walk the ball into the net or looking for the perfect goal.

I think we need to start hitting the half chances and even if they don't go in, hopefully they help to create chaos in the opposition's box allowing more opportunities for a spilled ball or six-yard tap-in.

But as always, football is so easy on paper or when you are watching - that all changes when it's you in the firing line.

Let's be honest - how often have you sat there and moaned "I could have scored that".

I know I do and I only have one leg.

The support on the road has always been good with the same old faces braving all weathers and long days out, mainly thanks to the great travel arrangements that CUSA organise.

To be fair to the lads in S1 they are making a massive effort to get the home day crowds behind the lads, with their banners and flags etc.

The support is there and together we need to keep this up and really get the noise up to, excuse the phase, suck the ball in to the net.