Cowley ‘pretty angry’ over leaked injury news as Colchester’s winless run goes on
Sunday 11 October 2026 · By Amy Brocklehurst
Colchester United’s difficult run continued at Rodney Parade on Saturday, and Danny Cowley left south Wales angry as well as disappointed. Substitute Tanatswa Nyakuhwa scored 11 minutes from time to give Newport County a 1–0 win. Afterwards Cowley revealed that news of injuries to two of his senior players had reached the hosts before kick-off.
Cowley told the Press Association that Newport had known about injuries to forward Kylian Kouassi and defender Sean Raggett. “They knew more than we would have liked them to know about us, so that’s something we’ve got to go away and look at and try to work out what happened there,” he said. “They had information on us they shouldn’t have had. They knew we’d picked up some injuries in the week, so we’re pretty angry about that.” He made it clear he did not blame Newport.
On the pitch, it was a close game. Colchester had the first sights of goal through Beryly Lubala, Moses Sesay and Harry Anderson, and Thimothée Lo-Tutala made a commanding save to deny Yahya Bamba when he was through on goal. Sesay hit the outside of the post on 67 minutes, and substitute Bradley Ihionvien forced a sharp save from Jordan Wright soon after coming on.
The decisive moment came late. A mix-up between Rob Hunt and Sesay, described in the club’s report, left the U’s exposed. Matty Jacob picked out Nyakuhwa at the back post, and he had time to steer the ball past Lo-Tutala.
Cowley summed it up simply. “In a very close game, where there was very little in it, we made a mistake that led to their goal,” he said. “And we didn’t have quite enough quality in the final action to be able to get on the right side of the game.”
The numbers are a worry. Colchester are now six league games without a win, according to the Yellow Advertiser, and Sky Sports put the run at eight in all competitions. They have dropped to 19th on ten points, three above the relegation zone. Sky Sports also said the pressure was increasing on Cowley, who manages the team with his brother Nicky. The club’s own report concluded that “Danny, Nicky, and the squad will be looking to put the disappointment behind them”.
There is one consolation in the table. The U’s have played only nine games, after their home game with Port Vale on 3 October was postponed because of Vale’s international call-ups. The club has confirmed it will now be played on Tuesday 15 December (19:45). Colchester used the free weekend for an EFL Trophy tie with Luton, drew 1–1 and lost 4–3 on penalties.
Colchester return to the JobServe Community Stadium to face Exeter on Saturday 17 October. They then travel to Chesterfield on Tuesday 20 October and Northampton on 24 October (12:30), before hosting Walsall on 31 October.
Cowley needs a win soon. The Exeter game looks like a good chance to get one.
The JobServe Community Stadium — still widely called Colchester Community Stadium — sits just off Junction 28 of the A12 at United Way, CO4 5UP. Opened in 2008 to replace cramped Layer Road, it holds 10,105 all-seated spectators. Four covered, single-tier stands wrap a pitch of about 101 by 64 metres. Views are generally unobstructed and the stands are steep enough to keep you close to the action.
Visiting supporters are allocated the North Stand, behind the goal at the northern end. For bigger followings the whole end can take around 2,000; for smaller crowds you may instead be placed in the northern blocks of the East Stand. Seating is often unallocated. Turnstiles for the away end sit behind the North Stand and are easy to reach from the main car park and coach drop-off. The stadium is cashless, so bring a card.
Opposite you is the South Stand, home of Colchester’s loudest support and groups such as the Blue and White Army. Along the west touchline is the main West Stand: tunnel, dugouts, press, club offices, ticket office, shop and 24 executive boxes. The East Stand, facing it, is the family side. Goals sit in front of the North and South stands, so from the away end you look straight down the pitch towards the home singers.
Arrival by car is straightforward from the A12, but matchday parking on site is limited and usually needs booking. Street parking nearby is restricted. Colchester North station is the nearest rail stop; from there it is a taxi or a long walk rather than a short hop. Coaches generally use the dedicated drop-off by the away turnstiles. Allow extra time if you are travelling on a Saturday afternoon when the dual carriageway can clog.
There is little pub choice immediately outside the ground, so many away fans drink on the concourse once inside. Food is typical modern-stadium fare — pies, rolls, burgers and chips — and alcohol is usually sold in the away end unless the fixture is high-risk. Concourses are roomy by lower-league standards and taller supporters often comment on decent leg room. A FanZone operates in front of the West Stand before kick-off, but that is aimed at home supporters.
Tickets almost always come through your own club rather than the Colchester box office. Prices sit in the mid-£20s for adults on a typical League Two visit, with concessions and under-18 rates below that. Check your club’s allocation notes: some games open extra East Stand blocks. A digital programme is often included with the ticket for league matches.
The stadium is tidy, council-owned and purpose-built rather than historic. What it lacks in old-ground character it makes up for in clear sightlines and simple wayfinding. Get in early if you want a seat on the halfway side of the North Stand rather than tight behind the goal. Leave a little extra time after the whistle: one road serves most of the car parks and the A12 slip can back up quickly.
In short: North Stand behind the goal, card only, book parking if you can, and expect a compact, well-kept ground with four similar stands and no hidden pillars. It is an easy away day if you plan the last mile.