Karl Robinson pleased with Salford’s overall display in win at Colchester

Posted Saturday, October 26, 2024 by PA

Karl Robinson was pleased with his Salford side’s overall display as they won 2-1 at Colchester to claim a first away victory of the season.

Kylian Kouassi bagged the Ammies’ 76th-minute winner with a low, deflected effort after Tyrese Fornah had picked him out.

Salford had taken a 61st-minute lead when Kelly N’Mai finished superbly first time from Kouassi’s header after Luke Garbutt’s long free-kick into the box.

That was cancelled out nine minutes later when substitute Harry Anderson lashed in from close range at the second attempt following Lyle Taylor’s back-heel in the six-yard box.

Salford head coach Robinson said: “It’s a nice feeling to come away with our first away win of the season.

“I think anyone watching would think we were very passive in the first half but we had complete control of the game.

“We took some big risks today with the team shape, which we don’t often do.

“We were quite meticulous in how we set the team up but I feel that today needed something different and I can assure you the conversations we’ve had on Thursday and Friday have been very in-depth and very long and a lot of arguments and debate, to try to find the perfect balance of freshness, fluidity which at times we had but at other times, we looked a little bit rusty.

“I put that down to fatigue with three games in a week and I’m really, really pleased with our output.

“Now it’s full steam ahead to Fleetwood on Tuesday.”

Colchester are now without a win in six league games, leaving boss Danny Cowley frustrated.

Cowley said: “We’re in a tough moment.

“It was a very tight, competitive game with very little in it and we gave very few chances away but the two goals we conceded are really soft.

“The first goal comes when we’re overloaded at the back post and Rob Hunt has obviously picked up an ankle injury in the lead-up to the goal.

“We did well to get back in it and Harry gets his first goal of the season.

“We then have the momentum and the energy and then the second goal is such a poor goal.

“Everyone will be saying it’s a deflected goal but it’s the moments leading up to it is what we look at.

“It goes up to Ben Goodliffe and he’s just got to come underneath it and let it go through to Matt Macey but nobody talks or communicates and as a consequence, the ball goes up in the air, worked down our right-hand side, gets cut back and we just don’t get up to the ball quick enough and the shot is deflected in.”