Cambridge United stretched their impressive winning streak in Sky Bet League One to three matches as they overcame Burton Albion 1-0 late in the afternoon at the Cledara Abbet Stadium…
Buoyed by momentum, the U’s remained in control during the opening stages and were resolute defensively when the Brewers started to ask questions. Just when a share of the spoils looked the likely outcome, they delivered late on when substitute Jordan Cousins fired home to claim three league wins in a row for the first time since January 2022.
The hosts headed into the encounter with real momentum off the back of professional victories and clean sheets against Wigan Athletic and Stevenage, with the aim now to further climb up the league. In their way, a Brewers side who were the only winless side left in the Football League and without a manager following the dismissal of Mark Robinson in the week.
Sticking to the majority of his guns following a well-deserved victory away at Stevenage, Garry Monk opted to name just the one change as Danny Andrew came back in for James Gibbons.
Within the opening stages, United looked to impose themselves with plenty of drive into the final third.
Following a stoppage in play after a nasty clash from Mason Bennett resulted in Liam Bennett receiving lengthy treatment for a head injury, the U’s started to probe when a long boot from Vicente Reyes fell to Elias Kachunga. He did well to flick over Ryan Sweeney and pull the trigger with a half-volley but it was blocked.
The imposing start continued on the 18th minute when Bennett did well to skim his man and, from a tricky and tight angle 20 yards out on the right, he struck across goal where Max Crocombe was at full stretch to tip away for a corner.
An array of shots inside the area on 24 forced the Staffordshire side to dig in deep, with Dan Nlundulu’s close-range attempt deflecting back to Korey Smith, whose venomous strike smashed the back of Terence Vancooten.
Despite the promise of an open, free-flowing half, Burton remained cautious and ensured a stop-start period half an hour in, with their card tally raised to three already.
Interim Head Coach Tom Hounsell would have been satisfied with the way his men grew into the match. Their opening opportunity of the afternoon fell to Alex Bannon on 34 when the defender picked out an ambitious 25-yard piledriver, which was heading towards the bottom corner, but Reyes continued his run without conceding by scurrying to paw behind.
That proved to be it for the action in the first half, with the U’s bettering the possession and conjuring up some neat moves but ultimately were in the midst of a fair deadlock.
With neither side making a change following the break, the brief rest looked to have worked in United’s favour as they almost gained the lead on the 46th minute. Brandon Njoku showed a plethora of pace down the left before pulling back for Kachunga, who couldn’t get that connection from inside the six-yard box.
Looking to switch things up, the Brewers made a double change on 56, with the U’s following suit a few minutes later when Sullay Kaikai and Emmanuel Longelo – who both combined for the late goal at Stevenage – came on to replace Njoku and James Brophy.
A constant threat to the opposite rearguard throughout the afternoon, one of Andrew’s deep throw-ins fell to Jubril Okedina this time, who with his back to goal did well to turn and fire a low snapshot which Crocombe got down to stop.
Turning into a tense affair, Burton started to throw more at Monk’s men, who were forced to get plenty of blocks in as substitute Jack Cooper-Love started to dictate the play in the final third.
With 75 minutes on the clock, there was still little to indicate that a winner was around the corner, with the preservation of a point at the forefront of both.
Nonetheless, Burton were the ones enjoying more of the freedom in the area where it matters. Following a switch, Cooper-Love teed up Ben Whitfield with space in the box, whose powerful attempt was bravely blocked by Okedina.
Just when a stalemate looked likely, United sparked pandemonium on the 83rd minute by smashing home in front of the Newmarket Road End. An Andrew free-kick from the right fell towards Crocombe, but his inability to claim forced pinball, which fell to a lurking Cousins who arrowed into the roof of the net.
Holding out strong, the last kick of the game fell to Cooper-Love from ten yards out who fired past the post to signal the whistle and cue vast celebrations all around CB5 as the U’s found a different element in their game to grind out a third win and clean sheet on the bounce.
Attention now turns towards the Emirates FA Cup First Round next weekend (2nd November) as the U’s look to overcome non-league outfit Woking on their first meeting at the Laithwate Community Stadium since 2014.
Cambridge United: Reyes, Okedina, Morrison, Andrew, Bennett, Smith, Digby, (Cousins, 79’) Brophy (Longelo, 60’), Kachunga, Njoku (Kaikai, 60’), Nlundulu (Gibbons, 79’)
Subs Not Used: Stevens, Watts, Ibsen Rossi
Goalscorers: Cousins (83’)
Bookings: Bennett, Andrew
Burton Albion: Crocombe, Vancooten, Sweeney, Bannon (Webster, 81), Armer, Watt, Chauke, Bodin (Cooper-Love, 56’), Kalinasukas (Akoto, 70’), Bennett (Whitfield, 56’), Orsi
Subs Not Used: Isted, Sraha
Goalscorers: Bennett, Watt, Bodin
Bookings:
Referee: Declan Bourne
Attendance: 6706 (251 away fans)
