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Saints have been beaten 2-1 at Colchester.
Goals in either half from Anthony Wordsworth and Steven Gillespie sealed the result at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and put in a dent in Saints’ excellent recent record as they have lost to league leaders Leeds and high flying Colchester in the space of three games.
The game was in danger of being abandoned towards the end as freezing fog severely affected visibility before Lambert tucked home a late penalty which proved to be just a consolation.
Alan Pardew changed the Saints formation to 4-5-1 and made two switches in personnel for the game at Colchester.
Wayne Thomas and Radhi Jaidi were in the team, the former at right back and the latter at centre half.
Chris Perry and David Connolly were the men who made way and were both on the bench.
Lloyd James moved into the centre of a five man midfield while Adam Lallana recovered from a dead leg in time to take his place in the side.
Away from the football, there is sad news as regular contributor to the match day discussion threads, Ray Gregory - known as Ray The Turk - passed away on Friday. His comments will be missed by all.
Key incidents:
• 90: Full time. Colchester 2 Saints 1.
• 90: Saints goal. Dean Hammond is taken out by Ben Williams and Saints are awarded a penalty which Lambert tucks away in the dense freezing fog. Five minutes of stoppage time remain. 2-1.
• 75: Colchester goal. Moments after Ben Williams makes a great save from Lambert’s free kick Colchester double their lead with Steven Gillespie finishing first time after being played in behind the Saints defence by Phil Ifil. 2-0.
• 72: Saints put the pressure on Colchester and have a goal disallowed when Lallana is flagged offside before Waigo taps home.
• 62: With the second half having degenerated into a war Saints make a second change with Papa Waigo on for Antonio.
• 45: Half time change for Saints as David Connolly replaces Morgan Schneiderlin and Saints go 4-4-2.
• 45: Half time. Colchester 1 Saints 0.
• 23: Colchester goal. Kevin Lisbie runs at the Saints defence and splits them with a pass to Anthony Wordsworth in behind and he lifts his shot across Bartosz Bialkowski and into the far corner. 1-0.
• 18: Quiet start to the game. Saints have come the closest but only half chances put wide from Rickie Lambert and Michail Antonio.
• 00: The match kicks off at 3pm.
Saints:
Bialkowski, Thomas, Jaidi, Trotman (Gobern 79), Harding; Antonio (Waigo 62), Hammond, Schneiderlin (Connolly 45), James, Lallana; Lambert.
Subs: Davis, Perry, Wotton, Holmes.
Colchester United:
Williams, Okuonghae, Reid, Tierney, White, Ifil, O'Toole, Izzet (Fox 78), Wordsworth, Lisbie (Heath 90), Gillespie (Thomas 80).
Subs: Cousins, Hackney, Batth, Platt.
Referee: Mr. Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire)
Attendance: 8,514
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