Reggie Lambe is confident Cambridge United can use Saturday’s 1-1 draw against in-form Cheltenham Town as a platform to build on over the Christmas period.
Along with hopefully seeing a boost in numbers over the next few weeks as the likes of George Maris and Harrison Dunk among others return from illness and injury, Lambe is sure United have it in them to push up League Two.
“If you look at our recent run of games, once we have won we’ve then lost the next game so certainly we would have taken a point before we kicked off at Cheltenham on Saturday. To go up 0-1 obviously gave us something to hold onto which we couldn’t quite do in the end.
“I still think the minimum we should be aiming for is play-offs. I feel we have enough in this team to push on, especially with most of the players coming back into the side fit. With a full strength team, I really think we can push up the League.”
Discussing the U’s recent switch from 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2 diamond, Lambe says the group are adaptable enough to work well in any shape and says the formation is only as ever as important as the hard graft the team are willing to put into every match.
He said: “We have a good understanding in the current formation, but I think any formation we switch to, we can work it out quickly as a team. Ultimately as long as every player is willing to work and we all have each other’s backs, then I think we’re capable of making any formation work for us.
“As long as we’re able to get on the ball and find space, then it really doesn’t matter too much. The formation is probably more important for when we lose possession and the shape we get back into without the ball.
On his own position, Lambe added: “I personally prefer to be at the top of the diamond, but we have players who are specialists in that position and I’m more trusted to play at the side. I still enjoy it at the side though, I get more of the ball which is a good thing and it’s about creating chances from slightly deeper, instead of getting on the turn and playing passes into players on the edge of the box.”
“I just want to be involved in every game. At the end of the day, it’s obviously the manager’s decision and he picks it off of who is fresh and who has played a lot of minutes. You have to respect every opportunity you are given.
The Bermudan is also thrilled to be playing back alongside Samir Carruthers in the United midfield after his return to fitness, with whom Lambe is enjoying the opportunity to strike up an exciting and creative combination in the centre of the park.
“It’s very nice to have Samir back fit and in the team. I think he gets on the ball and you’re able to make positive movements off of him.
We have a good understanding and at Cheltenham he was finding me often in the first half. Once we got back on the ball in the second half, he started to find me in those pockets again as well, and then we changed it slightly when he came off because we looked to play off the strikers a bit more.
“But he’s a great player and someone I enjoy playing with.”
Tickets for Saturday’s meeting with Leyton Orient at the Abbey Stadium are available online here, in-store or by calling 01223 566 500.