Cambridge United registered their first victory and clean sheet of the 2024/25 Sky Bet League One season with a thoroughly-deserved 2-0 success against Wigan Athletic at a bumper Cledara Abbey Stadium…
A front-footed, industrious start was rewarded within the opening minutes when a well-worked move was deflected home from Elias Kachunga. The rub of the green continued when Korey Smith’s long-range shot forced an own goal and extended a lead that they showed no signs of surrendering on an extremely positive afternoon for the U’s, who were now up and running.
Fresh from a two-week break, Garry Monk opted to name the solitary change to the side that were edged out 1-0 by Exeter City in their last outing as James Brophy came in for James Gibbons. Elsewhere, defenders Kell Watts and Zeno Ibsen Rossi returned to the matchday squad after recovering from injury.
Despite heading into the encounter off the back of seven successive clean sheets, it was the visiting defence who looked shaky in the early stages against the refreshed and refocused U’s. Within the opening seconds, Dan Nlundulu dispossessed Calvin Ramsay on the outskirts of the box, but he couldn’t pull the trigger as the final touch evaded him.
Four minutes in, United took the lead for the first time in the league this campaign after punishing a mistake. James Carragher was robbed by Ryan Loft down the left, who in turn teed up Kachunga – his clever flick fed Nlundulu, whose strike from 12 yards took a wicked and crucial divertion into the net from Kachunga.
Well in the ascendency – and creating a raucous atmosphere - the hosts were agonisingly close to doubling their lead on the 15th minute. Danny Andrew’s deep cross from the left was headed across the face of goal from Michael Morrison to Jubril Okedina, whose header from a matter of yards was straight at Tickle.
Remaining front-footed and latching on the momentum, United were alive and kicking and made it two just six minutes later. Andrew and Brophy combined out wide, with the former squaring to an unmarked Smith from 20 yards, whose drilled attempt clattered the post but trickled in off Sam Tickle’s back.
On the half an hour mark, the Latics attempted to fight back. First, Ramsay embarked on an adventurous run into the final third, but the curler was wide of Vicente Reyes’ left stick. Shortly after, the Chilean international was at full stretch to paw wide a sweet speculative effort from Scott Smith.
All in all, the U’s pressing had been excellent. They had taken the game to Shaun Maloney’s men and showcased more energy, which was evident four minutes into additional time when a sloppy pass from Jason Kerr gifted Kachunga on the edge of the box – the attacker hit it first time which was matched by Tickle.
Nonetheless, it had topped off an extremely positive first half where everything the hosts had been working on had clicked.
Wigan rolled the dice with a triple change at the break, which in turn saw them pose an instant threat with their speed down the right. Nonetheless, the men in amber were still accumulating the attempts as Smith’s ambitious shot on 49 was on target but Tickle jumped to catch the high effort.
Continuing to defend well to a man, just after the hour mark the departing Loft received a round of applause for a strong shift, with Brandon Njoku on to protect the lead.
The points were almost sealed on 68 when Kachunga’s pinpoint cross was met by the head of Okedina, who was denied a goal on his 100th start by the crossbar.
With both sides plugging away until the conclusion, there was still every chance of a third goal. Five minutes on, Thelo Aasgaard showed good drive and quick feet to tee himself up in the area, with his deflected strike deflecting just past the post and out for a corner.
Looking to preserve the long-awaited clean sheet, the U’s introduced Gibbons and Sullay Kaikai to the field with ten minutes to play, but the only half-chance of note came on the 87th minute when Silko Thomas’ delivery into the six-yard box was evaded by the lunging feet of two Tics and into the graceful arms of Reyes.
Ultimately, it was United’s day, who had now gained that much-needed momentum to propel them up a place in the table and get the ball rolling.
Up next, Monk’s men make the short journey to the Lamex Stadium in midweek (22nd October) to pit their wits against Alex Revell’s Stevenage.
Cambridge United: Reyes, Okedina, Morrison, Andrew, Brophy (Gibbons, 79’), Digby, Smith, Bennett, Kachunga (Cousins, 88’), Loft (Njoku, 62’), Nlundulu (Kaikai, 79’)
Subs Not Used: Watts, Ibsen Rossi, Longelo
Goalscorers: Kachunga (4’), OG (22’)
Bookings: Andrew, Bennett, Kachunga, Reyes, Smith
Wigan Athletic: Tickle, Ramsay (Miller, 45’), Kerr, Aimson, Carragher (Stones, 45’), S. Smith, M. Smith (Francois, 62’), Olakigbe (Rankine, 45’), Weir (Aasgaard, 19’), Thomas, Taylor
Subs Not Used: Watson, Sibbick
Bookings: S. Smith, Miller
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo
Attendance: 7,000 (657 away fans)
Man of the Match: Dan Nlundulu
