Colchester 0 Town 0 - Report and pictures

Micky Mellon's side looked like they suffered a post FA Cup hangover as they looked uninspired against a team who set a new club record of 19 League games without a win.

Colchester were the better side but failed to seriously test Jayson Leutwiler despite numerous shots early on, a let-off from Chris Porter and a late effort from George Moncur which flew wide.

Town's only real effort of note came from midfielder Abu Ogogo, whose first-half volley hit the post.

Shrewsbury showed one change to the team beaten 3-0 by Manchester United as Dom Smith returned at right centre back for Jermaine Grandison, who was ruled with a hip injury.

Colchester kicked off and threatened several times early on with a shoot-on-sight policy as Salop struggled to regain their recent improved league form.

The U's attacked first when Town struggled to clear a corner and Owen Garvan worked it to Gavin Massey, who dragged a low, weak effort well wide.

Colchester remained on the attack and George Moncur drilled just wide after Nicky Shorey picked out Chris Porter and Nat Knight-Percival put him off.

Colchester (4-4-1-1): Parish; Vincent-Young, Kent, Chambers, Shorey; Wright (Lee HT), Edwards, Garvan, Massey (Oduwa 82); Moncur; Porter (Bonne 66).

Subs not used: Brindley, Harney, Ambrose, Barnes (gk).

Shrewsbury Town (3-4-2-1): Leutwiler; Smith (Cole 34), Whitbread, Knight-Percival; Grimmer, Ogogo, Black, Brown; Whalley (Clark 82), Mangan; Akpa Akpro (Vernon 70).

Subs not used: Vassell, Sadler, Grandin, Halstead (gk).

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northants).

Massey was next to try his luck and he cut inside Grimmer onto his right foot for a rising shot that flew a yard over.

Town first broke in the eighth minute when Ian Black's free kick qwas misjudged by Knight-Percival and after Joe Edwards cleared, it dropped to Zak Whitbread, whose shot was blocked for three Salop corners.

Colchester returned fire to break through Moncur, whose rising effort on the turn sails well over.

The home side launched a penalty appeal ij the 15th minute when Drey Wright fell dramatically over Junior Brown's outstretched leg as he broke in the box but the referee waved play on.

Town were playing without any of their recent invention and energy and their best route seemed to be via set-pieces.

Knight-Percival and Whitbread rose to Whalley's corner and it bounced around before the captain slashed at it and it flew well over.

The Town skipper then had to be back defending as he rescued his side after Moncur broke clear in the box following a neat build-up with Shorey only to delay his shot.

There was a real let off for Town however when after being outnumbered in midfield, Black lost out to Moncur, who put through Chris Porter, only for the striker to drag it wide.

Town were struggling to make any inroads on the leakiest defence in the league and Mellon decided to make a tactical substitution in the 34th minute as Larnell Cole replaced Smith off.

The switch saw Town revert from 3-4-2-1 to 4-2-3-1 with Ogogo and Black as defensive midfielders, then Whalley, Cole and Andy Mangan behind Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.

Kane Vincent-Young breezed past Junior Brown too easily and delivered low but Massey couldn't get to his inviting cross.

Town's first real threat came three minutes before the break, and after Frankie Kent headed away Whalley's cross, Ogogo's effort hit the post as he met it full on the volley.

But the game had turned scrappy and Akpa Akpro was booked for catching Vincent-Young late.

Colchester made a half-time change when they brought on Elliot Lee for Drey Wright.

Town kicked off the restart but it was the hosts who threatened first as they struggled to clear Owen Garvan's corner and Massey adjusted well to volley just wide from the edge of the box.

Brown went down poleaxed after being caught late in the air by Massey, before eventually getting to his feet, stretching his neck, as if to check it was still there.

Mangan, who had had a very quiet game, latched onto a ball over the top but he could only fire a weak, angled shot that bobbled wide.

Colchester returned fire and Lee twisted, turned and teased Whitbread before his low shot was palmed wide by Leutwiler to his right, but the flag went up for offside.

Town finally produced a half chance when Brown spun 180 degrees to escape Massey and cross but Akpa Akpro's looping header was easy for Parish.

Colchester made their second change on 66 when Macauley Bonne replaced Porter, then former U's forward Scott Vernon replaced Akpa Akpro four minutes later as both sides looked for fresh legs and fresh inspiration.

But it was the home side who looked more likely to score and Moncur surged down the left and unleashed a fierce left foot drive which just flew wide of Jayson Leutwiler's right-hand post.

Town finally showed some teeth in the dying minutes when Mangan took Jack Grimmer;'s pass in his stride and burst into the box but Leo Chambers blocked his shot for a fruitless corner.

With eight minutes to go, both sides made their final throw of the dice as Colchester introduced Nathan Oduwa for Massey and Town brought on Jordan Clark for Whalley.

But the game petered out and Town left with a point on a day when they must have thought it was a case of two dropped given the U's desperate record.