POST-MATCH: SHAUN DERRY
Cambridge United Manager Shaun Derry says he’s pleased his side clinched a point following a tricky tussle with Mansfield Town which ended in a 1-1 draw at the Abbey Stadium.
Ryan Donaldson levelled for the U’s with a left footed strike ten minutes before the break after Adam Chapman had given the Stags the lead, and a good spell ahead of half-time almost saw Cambridge claw themselves into the lead, however the game finished even.
Whilst the U’s boss specified his eagerness to continue the U’s current unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two, Derry admitted there are some games where teams must settle for a point and move on to the next task.
He said: “We have to respect we were up against an opponent who are high up in the league who had a good game plan, and be pleased with a point from a tough game.
“I always say let’s be on the front foot, but there are certain games at stages in the season where you have just got to take the point and move on to the next game. We experienced one of those games today.
“Our key message before the game was don’t give the points away and I never felt that we did that.”
He continued: “We responded well to what was a poor goal from our perspective to concede, and managed to impose ourselves especially in the last 25 minutes of the first half. We possibly could have nicked another goal before half time.
“The current run in the League is good and I’m impressed but I won’t be fully satisfied because I want us to continue it. I certainly didn’t want to be talking about how we had given our points away to Mansfield because the best teams don’t, which was far from the case today.”
Meanwhile commenting on the outstanding support from the Amber Army, Derry added: “The momentum the crowd can give you is phenomenal and I want to thank each and every one of them for coming out and supporting us at a time when money is sparse.
“The numbers that turn out at the Abbey Stadium and travel away are fantastic.”