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Your support makes all the difference.When compared to some of the Championship's other stadiums, Colchester United's Layer Road ground falls embarrassingly short. To describe it as modest is probably the best compliment you could pay to this dilapidated, rundown home of the division's newcomers. Still, its honest character reflects that of the group of players, led by the astute Geraint Williams.
His side continue to reel off victories, the latest - and by far, the most impressive - came over Dave Jones's League leaders, Cardiff City, on Saturday. The Essex side are now ninth in the division having recorded their sixth straight win at home. The substitute Jamie Guy set off the fireworks after he put the home side into the lead on 84 minutes. Jamie Cureton slotted home a late penalty to assure Colchester the points.
Earlier, Cardiff had come from behind to equalise, through Michael Chopra's 11th goal of the season and had looked likely to push on but instead collapsed dramatically. Colchester revelled in the space afforded to themand spurred on by the raucous support, they took the spoils.
"You look around the ground here and for the big players that have been in the Premier League it is not a great place to play," said Cureton. "You can probably fit the ground in a lot of Premiership player's gardens to be honest. The changing rooms are as small as you like and sides probably can't fit all their players in there, let alone staff.
"There is a little bit of hot water in the visitors' changing room but it probably runs out after a few showers because ours isn't great."
The decisive goal arrived when Guy bundled his way through the Cardiff defence, shrugging Darren Purse off the ball before finishing low past the stranded goalkeeper Neil Alexander.
Cardiff then conceded a penalty, Stephen McPhail the culprit after he took down Ritchie Jones with a challenge that, at its best, was clumsy. McPhail was dismissed and Cureton tucked the penalty home. Cue jubilation from the home supporters.
Goals: McLeod (49) 1-0; Chopra (66) 1-1; Guy (84) 2-1, Cureton pen (90) 3-1.
Colchester United (4-4-2): Davison; Halford, Baldwin, Brown, Elokobi; Duguid, Izzet, Jackson, McLeod (Jones, 76); Iwelumo (Guy, 76), Cureton. Substitutes not used: Gerken (gk), White, Richards.
Cardiff City (4-4-2): Alexander; Chambers, Purse, Loovens (Johnson, 75), McNaughton; Parry (Kamara, 85), Scimeca, Ledley (Flood, 61), McPhail; Campbell, Chopra. Substitutes not used: Howard (gk), Glombard.
Referee: J Moss (West Yorkshire).
Booked: Colchester Izzet, Jones.
Sent Off: Cardiff McPhail.
Man of the match: Cureton.
Attendance: 5,393.
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