IT WAS a long time coming but City’s third win on the bounce was worth the wait.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER stayed to the very end at Valley Parade yesterday and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Brad Halliday has been an integral part of City’s watertight defence and was once again a willing contributor going forward with his crosses from the right wing.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

It had to be Andy Cook, didn’t it? Just when it seemed City were about to hit another brick wall at home up he popped with the header that sent Valley Parade wild.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

City found it hard work to break through Colchester’s stubborn resistance and took nearly an hour to have a shot on target.

TACTICS

Jamie Walker recovered from the whack on the calf he suffered at Gillingham so Mark Hughes was able to name the same side for the third game running.

The subs, too, were unchanged although Matt Derbyshire, Tolaji Bola and Thierry Nevers all did pre-match fitness sessions on the pitch as they continue their recovery after injury.

REFEREE: Tom Reeves (Birmingham)

BOOKINGS: Walker, Halliday, Ridehalgh (City); Read (Colchester) ATTENDANCE: 20,383

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 3 Colchester 4

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 13 Colchester 5

CORNERS: City 5 Colchester 5

FOULS: City 12 Colchester 12

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: Lewis 7, Halliday 8, Platt 7, Stubbs 7, Ridehalgh 7, Clayton 6 (Chapman 85min), Gilliead 6 (East 62min, 7), Smallwood 6 (Osadebe 62min, 7), Walker 6, Costelloe 6 (Banks 68min, 7), Cook 7. Subs (not used): Crichlow, Kelly, Doyle.

COLCHESTER: O’Hara 6, Tchamadeu 7, Greenidge 7, Kelleher 7, Hall 7, Wood 6, Chilvers 6 (Fevrier 90min), Read 7 (Newby 90min), Ashley 6, Jay 7 (Akinde 89min), Hopper 6 (Tovide 82min). Subs (not used): Miranda, Terry, Smith.