U's Boss on Newport victory
Cambridge United manager praised his players for a solid opening day performance against Newport County, in which the U’s claimed a 3-0 win to begin their campaign on the right track.
A brace from Barry Corr, a third from Robbie Simpson and a superb penalty save by Sam Beasant ensured the U’s got off to the best possible start for the new campaign, in front of a packed crowd at the Abbey Stadium.
United boss Richard Money was delighted to have seen his side get up and running by clinching the victory, particularly given the fixture was played on home soil.
He said: “It is always important to win the first game when you are at home and we said in the week that it is only an advantage to be playing at home, if you come away with the three points.
“Simply the result was the be all and end all today.
“The score line perhaps flattered us a little bit, but I certainly felt that we scored three really good goals. Overall it was a real first day backed by a fantastic crowd who I’m sure will have all enjoyed it.
Money added: “We’ve filled the supporters with some excitement and anticipation throughout the summer and of course there is always a danger that it might fall flat on the first day, but thankfully it didn’t and I hope that the anticipation and expectation has risen even further.”
Assessing the performance of the men in Amber and Black, Money admitted that the first 45 minutes highlighted areas upon which his side can improve and explained the importance of registering first in the fixture.
“We are still finding out about the system we want to play ourselves, it is something that we looked at over the last two weeks in pre-season and it has gone pretty well. There are still things we need to work on, which I felt were more evident in the first half.
“We scored a goal through Barry and then kept them at arm’s length, where they had four or five shots but from distance. Apart from John-Lewis has going through, Newport never really broke through us.”
“The first goal is always important especially on the first day of the season.”
He continued: “In the second half I thought we played well as we were a constant threat whilst also looking pretty safe at the back so I felt that was pleasing.
“If you look at the way the game has gone, we have had a perfectly good goal chalked off, we have gone in front and then doubled that, we save a penalty and then score the third, and all those things in accumulation means we have shown good character right the way through the 90 minutes.”
The U’s will now travel to South Yorkshire on Tuesday night for the Capital One Cup Round One clash against Rotherham United at the New York Stadium.
Tickets for this fixture and the next two away matches against Carlisle United (Saturday 15th August) and AFC Wimbledon (Tuesday 18th August) are available online by clicking here, whilst the next League match on home soil will take place on Saturday 22nd August against Crawley Town with tickets similarly available online.