Norwich City 1 - 7 Colchester Utd : Canaries Gunned down

So much hope was present from the canarie long suffering supporters before kick off, this would quickley turn into disappear within the first 22 minutes of the first home game of the season.

At 2pm on Saturday no one could have seen what would happen to Gunnys masterplan?! Who would the canraries had come through pre season un beaten, our back four looked like solid rock, we were odds on with Bet Fair to return to championship within one season, where did it all go wrong? Good question.

The game started with high spirts from the home and away supporters both having full respect for the football legand Sir Bobby Robson, with chants of  "There is only one Bobby Robson".

Colchester kicked off the new season at carrow road heading towards the river end. The early exchanges was more like a pinball machine the football flying in the wind, when finally the ball did end up on the ground City did use with promise having a couple of early enterprise moves down both wings but no one could match the U's back four.

On 10 minutes the masterplan would all go wrong starting with a long deep ball that bounced in front of Otsemobor who looked every bit the sunday footballer by never making up his mind what to do, with a panic in his eyes he passed a high ball back to our Aussie/Greek keeper, with this Lisbie chased the ball only to be treated to Theo jumping into no man land and missing the ball, only for it to float over the Aussie's head and for once loan player Lisbie to tap in the empty net. This looked like a production of comedy of errors!! City 0 - 1 Utd

Then what followed was one worst 23 minutes of football played or not played by the canaries I have ever witnessed.

The Colchester fans were still singing and enjoying the first goal when on 13 minutes they would have another case to go carzy. Fox played a neat pass inside the midfield to Lisbie's feet who took a zig and zag run at Doc, he never got near Lisbie who cut inside just on the inside of our box with a weak shot on his left foot which just trickled towards Theo, but again the ball looked like a hot spud as he falied to hold instead just tapping it out to the in coming lurch Clive Platt who just had to hit it again into the empty net. The City fans just looked on shocked at the events that were presented in front of them! City 0 - 2 Utd

City looked like they had gone into deep shock and with that the U's took complete charge then on 18 minutes Fox took the in swinging corner which the terminator Lisbie got up above all the city players to head across the box to the unmarked Platt who smashed home from 5 yards at the right hand post! City players looked broken! City 0 - 3 Utd

Platt with the ball at his feet tried a neat turn 10 yards from goal, only for Doc to jump into the tackle and put him to the floor like he been training in karate. The man in black pointed for a certain free kick just centre of city box, David Fox looked with ease to step up and float into the left hand corner of the goal, the City wall could only look at it sail over their heads into the net! It was the titanic for City, they were sinking! City 0 - 4 Utd

Norwich were looking now for half time like injuryed animals just running about dazed and confused what was happening around them. Lambert's team was working hard as a team, never leaving a second ball or tackle.

8 minutes from half time the U's again good work through the centre created a corner, Fox again provided a in swinging corner again City stood rooted to the spot and watched as Lisbie again was the early bird his header flew in the top right hand corner. Lisbie 2nd, Colchester's 5th goal this should have read on score board "Game Over"!! City 0 - 5 Utd

The crowd were begining to not just leave their seats for half time drinks and food, but leaving to go home in total shock and upset at what they had seen, City crumble with such ease and dont think they were roughed up, they never were just out played.

Half Time : Norwich City 0 - 5 Colchester Utd

The break was quick or seemed not to be long enough, knowing really the game was over and more damage could be done.

Norwich would go on to play the worst football in the next 45 minutes I have ever witnessed in all my 23 years plus of being a football fan. They looked to have no shape, the back four looked slow and in a coma, it looked like strangers in the night..

Shock horror we have only had to wait for 70 minutes a high ball flicked on by Holt on the edge of the U's box found sub Cody McDonald who bundled his way through before putting under Williams from 5 yards... Yes City had scored their first league goal of the season, but still the fans cheer! City 1 - 5 Utd

If you are a city fan and still reading this City would let in two more goals in the last ten minutes, the sixth a fantastic volley from 20 yards cracked in from the sub David Perkins, Platt knocks it down before Perkins just rocket it with his right foot. Then in the final moments the U's made it look easy as Vernon just had a simple tap in from 2 yards. City 1 - 7 Utd

So back to the draw board and a full investigation under way at conley! Gunn, needs to find his managment trigger and quick, because this season its business time. Gunn could only go on after the game and apologise to the fans.

• Norwich City - Theoklitos; Otsemobor, Doherty, Nelson, Drury; Whaley, Gill (Adeyemi, 58 min), Tudur Jones, Hoolahan; Holt, Martin (McDonald, 58 min). Subs (not used): Alnwick, Spillane, Lappin, Cureton, Maric.
  
  
• Colchester United - Williams, Beevers, Okuonghae, Baldwin, Tierney, Vincent (Izzet, 70 min), Fox, Hammond, Hackney (Perkins, 66 min), Lisbie (Vernon, 62 min), Platt. Subs (not used) Cousins, Maybury, Holt, Thomas.
  
   
• Referee - Rob Shoebridge
  
   
• Attendance - 25,217
  
   
• Goals - City: McDonald (71 min). Colchester: Lisbie (10, 38 min), Platt (13, 19 min), Fox (22 min), Perkins (76 min), Vernon (90 min).
  
   
• Bookings - City: Doherty (62 min). Colchester: Tierney (59 min), Fox (65 min).