U's lose at Scunthorpe to suffer worst ever start to a league season

4:59pm Saturday 22nd September 2012 in Sport By Jonathan Waldron

A controversial penalty from Leon Clarke condemned struggling Colchester United to a 1-0 defeat at Scunthorpe United this afternoon and their worst-ever start to a league season.

Clarke struck home from the spot with 14 minutes to go to give Iron all three points at Glanford Park and extend the U's run without a win to eight league matches this season.

It is the U's worst-ever start to a league season, in terms of games without a win.

Mark Cousins was called into action early on when he palmed Jimmy Ryan's lofted effort over.

But the U's had their own chances and Anthony Wordsworth and Gavin Massey both registered efforts on goal, before Matt Heath headed a Michael Rose free-kick wide from a good position.

Clinton Morrison was denied from point-blank range by keeper Sam Slocombe and then Heath's effort was scrambled away, while Marcus Bean's long-range drive was tipped over by the Iron goalkeeper.

But after Cousins had twice denied Mark Duffy, the U's fell from behind when Clarke scored from the spot.

And although Colchester pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, there was no way back for John Ward's side.

For a full match report, pictures and reaction to Colchester's defeat to Scunthorpe, see Monday's Gazette.

Comments(27)

Fatboyr10 says...
5:15pm Sat 22 Sep 12

Time for a change"?.?

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DedhamU says...
5:17pm Sat 22 Sep 12

Controversial penalty or not this has gone far enough .... John sorry mate it's time to go.... confidence must now be rock bottom and the only way to lift it is for a change to happen .... results arent changing so thanks for all you've done in the past but please do the honourable thing!

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dsmith81 says...
5:18pm Sat 22 Sep 12

O DEAR MR WARD PLEASE PLEASE GO CAUSE YOU ARE TAKENING THIS CLUB TO LEAGUE 2 AND WITH A LOVELY STADUIM AND TRAINING GROUND WE HAVE US THE FANS DO NOT WANT THAT SO MR WARD OR COWLING GET IT SORTED CAUSE I WONT BE SPENDING MY MONEY TO WATCH CRAP FOOTBALL. COME ON ALL YOU FANS GET COMMENTING CAUSE THE PLAYERS NEED OUR SUPPORT TO GET WARD OUT AND GET ALAN CURBISHLEY IN TO SORT THIS CLUB OUT AND PUT IT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THATS UP UP UP.

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United Blue says...
5:19pm Sat 22 Sep 12

No more talking or writing about it Good bye Ward

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myhouse3 says...
5:26pm Sat 22 Sep 12

If i had that sort of money i would gladly pay you off what a rubbish side to put out changes were made but so late. think you know whats coming Ward . please dont tell its time he needs its abuntantly clear his out of time.Almost the worst manager in our history hope your proud of your fantastic record here at colchester united just walk now if you have any decency left mr ward.

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We're not singing anymore!!! says...
5:46pm Sat 22 Sep 12

John Ward has ambition.

Arsenal went a whole year without getting beaten.

I think John Ward's ambition is trying to go a whole year without a win.

All I want for Christmas is..................
(answers on a postcard or on here)

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itsawedge says...
5:58pm Sat 22 Sep 12

FFS, How can you blame JW for the last 2 games, a clear hand ball and today a penalty when the player treads on the ball.

Now's the time to get behind the manager and players.

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Mr Honest says...
6:01pm Sat 22 Sep 12

Shut up u complete ****. Get behind the Manager? You must be on drugs.

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We're not singing anymore!!! says...
6:05pm Sat 22 Sep 12

itsawedge wrote:
FFS, How can you blame JW for the last 2 games, a clear hand ball and today a penalty when the player treads on the ball.

Now's the time to get behind the manager and players.
When are people going to stop defending JW and get real.

One win in how many games now ?
No goals in away games this season
5 Goals scored at home by, 3 by defenders.

What excuses next ???? Wrong kind of grass we're playing on ? Maybe there were leaves on the pitch.

So taking away the penalty, a 0-0 draw would have been a good result ?

Some people have very low standards!!!!!!

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xcollymanx says...
6:17pm Sat 22 Sep 12

This has gone on for long enough now and I am amazed Ward has not gone already. I live near Southampton and travel to see the U's as much as I can and at the moment I am so dis-illusioned with Ward and his awful tactics and unimaginative football. Time for him to go. Phil Brown in!

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The Dylan says...
6:27pm Sat 22 Sep 12

JW may well be a liability, but please stop deluding yourselves that he is the main problem. It's about time someone had a stern word with the players themselves. JW is not the one making schoolboy errors and lumbering about like he has two left feet on the pitch. Doesn't matter who the manager is - you can't polish a turd.

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Feisty CBC says...
6:33pm Sat 22 Sep 12

The end is nigh......

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We're not singing anymore!!! says...
6:35pm Sat 22 Sep 12

The Dylan wrote:
JW may well be a liability, but please stop deluding yourselves that he is the main problem. It's about time someone had a stern word with the players themselves. JW is not the one making schoolboy errors and lumbering about like he has two left feet on the pitch. Doesn't matter who the manager is - you can't polish a turd.
The person who usually has a stern word with the players is the Manager!!!!!!

Lets hope RC sacks the Turd

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angryman!!! says...
7:02pm Sat 22 Sep 12

Exactly the problem, like you say the players need a strong word but ward is more than happy enough to tell anyone that will listen that he is more likely to cuddle a player than shout.
I don't agree to stooping to name calling, John ward is a good bloke, just not not a good manager! He clearly thinks he can turn it around, it's the chairmans job to sort it out, come in cowling, Williams want as poor and you got rid of him

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shaun_daw says...
7:30pm Sat 22 Sep 12

come on cowling ward out now absolutly clueless and rubbish time for fresh man at the helm do it now cowling or more fans will not turn up

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crazy comments says...
7:53pm Sat 22 Sep 12

itsawedge wrote:
FFS, How can you blame JW for the last 2 games, a clear hand ball and today a penalty when the player treads on the ball. Now's the time to get behind the manager and players.
I have watched that replay from Tuesdays game over and over again. Cousins fumbles the ball and it hits the top part of the guys arm from the rebound and went in. Sorry But the ref got it right. I started this season on a fresh footing with Ward after chatting with him at the open day. However little has changed from the previous two seasons and all these excuses have no bearing on the results this season.

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crazy comments says...
8:07pm Sat 22 Sep 12

The Dylan wrote:
JW may well be a liability, but please stop deluding yourselves that he is the main problem. It's about time someone had a stern word with the players themselves. JW is not the one making schoolboy errors and lumbering about like he has two left feet on the pitch. Doesn't matter who the manager is - you can't polish a turd.
Well if a manager picks players like Heath and Duguid like he he did today then he deserves all whats coming.

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angryman!!! says...
8:17pm Sat 22 Sep 12

If people want ward out the best thing to do is email cowling. If he's still there next week sing after the game, although I don't think people should be singing it during the game

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Bampotonian says...
8:42pm Sat 22 Sep 12

Surely no more procrastinating now Mr Cowling – time to save the season while there's still a chance ...

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Field Marshal Sprocket says...
9:28pm Sat 22 Sep 12

Disgusting

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angryman!!! says...
10:35pm Sat 22 Sep 12

So far this season, away the fans have had long travels to Preston, tranmere, Scunthorpe then one of the nearest teams to call a derby at brentford with a return of one point, at home we got an ok draw against sheff u, a draw against a team that was put together a week before we played them, scrapped a point against that huge team that's Crawley and beat by Doncaster. Oh and whipped in the cup in first round.
This alone would be bad, but on top of the last couple of years enough is enough, this is wards 3rd season, and before that he was number 2. Since he's been at the club we have moved backwards, not all his fault but still he's had his chance, and he has got move/be moved and make way. Last season I thought we may aswel stick with him as who else will we get, now I think it doesn't really matter as coukdnt get much worse. Give joe dunne a chance? Anything but with the attendances plumiting like they are something needs to happen

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wellnow says...
8:40am Sun 23 Sep 12

"itsawedge"how bigger wedge was it to write that piece of blatant nonsense.get behind the team maybe.but not a man that has created a shambles out of some highly gifted footballing talent.hush man lets have no more tomfoolery.

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lollardknight says...
10:47am Sun 23 Sep 12

This all comes back to the chairman's decision when Lambert left us, he should have got a bigger name manager in instead of **** footing around with the rubbish we have had. Aidy and John are nice people but sorry they are not good football managers, John should be moved over to coach at the new training ground and colchester need a bigger name been there done man who can use the fairly good bunch of players we have and turn them around. The thing that bugs me is we have let a lot of good players go over the last two / three seasons and replaced them with worse ones, sorry for me the buck stops with the chairman - poor managers equal poor teams equal rubbish entertainment equals no fans turning up!! and its only going to get worse, hows Parky doing at Bradford???

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CUFC till i die says...
11:06am Sun 23 Sep 12

Have been going to see Col U for over 40 years now and this is the lowest point ever. The buck does stop with the boss, no point standing on the technical area clapping your hands. The players aren't going to be bothered if the boss isn't! We need a new manager in who will get the best out of these players, some of which aren't that bad and want to play football. The only way Cowlin is going to take notice is if the crowds drop even further and I don't like to say it but lets boycott the next home game and then some questions may be asked. Being a life long fan I don't like to say this about my beloved club but actions have to be taken.....

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sicknote1 says...
2:24pm Sun 23 Sep 12

Ward, please, please, please go - NOW .

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Ozzie says...
4:17pm Sun 23 Sep 12

Roger Brown under Jonathan Crisp did the honourable thing when he knew he had taken Col U as far as he could. Why not you, Mr Ward? Please, you need to consider handing in your resignation tomorrow morning! For the good of Colchester United, GO NOW!!!!

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Ozzie says...
4:17pm Sun 23 Sep 12

Roger Brown under Jonathan Crisp did the honourable thing when he knew he had taken Col U as far as he could. Why not you, Mr Ward? Please, you need to consider handing in your resignation tomorrow morning! For the good of Colchester United, GO NOW!!!!

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