PAT Baldwin marked his return to the side with a man-of-the-match display in a rather drab goalless stalemate against mid-table Coventry City on Saturday.

By Carl Marston

PAT Baldwin marked his return to the side with a man-of-the-match display in a rather drab goalless stalemate against mid-table Coventry City on Saturday.

Colchester United centre-half Baldwin was handed his first start for two months, following a spell on the sidelines through ill health.

“It's been a frustrating last couple of months for me,” admitted Baldwin, who had started not a game since the 1-1 home draw against Leicester City on January 13.

“I was out of action due to circumstances that were out of my hands. But I'm back now, and I'm feeling very fit. I live for professional football, so it's a great feeling to be back to full fitness.

“It was a scrappy game. Coventry came here to stop us playing, so it was a good point. We looked pretty solid defensively, and on the balance of play a draw was the fair result.

“We're going through a sticky patch at the moment, but this performance is a platform for us to build on for our last nine games,” added Baldwin.

The U's remain in 10th spot in the Championship, despite just two wins in 12 games since the turn of the year.

This week they face two tough away fixtures at Sheffield Wednesday (tomorrow) and Southampton (live on Sky TV on Friday).