Cambridge United head coach Garry Monk felt that his side’s performance during tonight’s 1-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers was worthy of at least a point.
Despite struggling for possession and to carve out chances from open play during the first half at the Memorial Stadium, the U’s still had two good opportunities to break the deadlock from set pieces.
Mamadou Jobe went on to hit the post from close range after the restart and Liam Bennett had a shot cleared off the line in stoppage time, but as it was Chris Martin’s 88th-minute effort secured all three points for the home side.
Monk, who has seen his team’s gap to the Sky Bet League One relegation zone cut to five points, told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: “It (a win or a draw) would have been deserved overall, especially second half.
“It’s a similar pattern that we need to address. In the first half – not that it was bad or anything – but (there was) just a couple of things we weren’t getting to grips with, especially in our defensive actions.
“We still had a couple of glorious chances in that first half from our set plays – there should have been a goal in there.
“In the second half it looked so comfortable from a defensive point of view. We were much better, much more aggressive in the moments we needed to be.
“I couldn’t see them scoring and we were more thinking about doing a little bit better with our attacks, but even then we had the best chances.
“What you need is one of them to go in, but unfortunately tonight – a bit like Blackpool (1-0 defeat on 6 April) in the second half – it wouldn’t quite go in for us. We’ve hit the post, clearances off the line for them and unfortunately the one opportunity they get it goes in and that’s football sometimes.
“We feel a bit aggrieved with the result, but it is what it is. We have to continue, which we will do. You can see the endeavour so I can’t ask for much more from the players.”
United will have another shot at securing their League One status on Saturday when promotion-hunting Derby County visit the Cledara Abbey Stadium.
