Cambridge United picked up a point on the road in Sky Bet League Two as they shared a goalless draw with strong-starters Salford City at the Peninsula Stadium…
The U’s showed defensive resolve throughout the afternoon and were good value for their clean sheet, with a share of the spoils the fair outcome despite pushing forwards in an improved second half.
Head Coach Neil Harris freshened up his squad by naming eight changes from the side that overcame a youthful Brighton & Hove Albion three days earlier. Mamadou Jobe, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Adam Mayor kept their places, whereas Dom Ball was not part of the travelling squad owing to injury.
On a bright and dry afternoon in Manchester, the U’s – donning the black and amber home strip – were looking to play at a decent tempo. Opting for a three-at-the-back setup for the first time this season, Liam Bennett and Mayor were deployed as the flying wing-backs.
It took 12 minutes for both outfits to threat, with Sullay Kaikai first to test his luck with an effort from distance before Daniel Udoh flicked down a header to strike partner Kelly N’Mai at the other end, whose half-volley from 20 yards rolled wide of Jake Eastwood’s right post.
As calm and composed as you like, Michael Morrison embarked on an eye-catching dribble to advance play and breeze some opponents, before releasing the lively Kaikai in an initial one-on-one position. The attacker raced into the penalty area and pulled the trigger with the angle tightening, but a great defensive recovery from Luke Garbutt forced a corner.
A golden chance went begging for the hosts – a point shy of the league leaders heading into the clash – on the 21st minute when Haji Mnoga squeezed a through ball to N’Mai inside the box, who hoped to capitalise on United’s lack of compactness but ultimately dragged his shot wide from close distance.
Stagnating where chances were concerned, an equal affair continued with the possession split. Whilst there was a clear plan for Cambridge to get the ball forwards and into dangerous positions, they were yet to find that pass to unlock an Ammies defence who had recorded just one clean sheet on home soil so far this campaign.
Arguably the more content of the two heading into the break, it had been a professional away performance thus far, with the change of shape adding further stubbornness and steel to the U’s defence. The task now was to find the quality and ruthlessness in the final third.
A minute into the second period, Jobe staked a real claim on his first league start since early September when Udoh was released in the area, but despite having acres of space advantage the centre-back was rapid and brave to deny the shot with a crucial tackle.
With 49 minutes on the clock, the gloves of 18-year-old goalkeeper Matthew Young were tested when a deep free-kick was whipped high into the box by James Brophy, with Kylian Kouassi doing well to read the spin and get a headed connection on target from far out.
On the stroke of the hour, Cambridge almost bagged the opener when some recycled play from Kouassi saw the lone forward hold the ball up and dig to Brophy, who from an angle cut into the centre of the area and unleashed a sweet left-footed strike which was inches away from nestling into the top corner.
It took Brophy just five minutes before he probed again. Kickstarted by good pressure from Kouassi, the number seven roamed into space from the right and picked out a speculative shot which Young caught.
Growing by the minute, the energetic Mpanzu did ever so well to connect with a defensive clearance, watching it fall from the sky and then connecting a thunderous drive which clattered the post.
Changes beckoned for the Ammies, who needed to find a foothold after being under the cosh for an extended period. Included in their triple substitution was former Liverpool and AC Milan striker Fabio Borini.
Yet still the U’s continued to persist, pouring forwards with menace to showcase the desire that they were the hungriest for maximum points. Nonetheless, to solidify things with the clock ticking down James Gibbons and Louis Appere were introduced to the field.
Deep into the four minutes injury time, the ball was exactly where United wanted it as they applied some pressure in the final third, who had done enough to cancel out the three-match losing streak away from home but couldn’t quite conjure up a victory.
Up next, the U’s return to CB5 next weekend (15th November) when they pit their wits against Barnet – be sure to back the boys.
Salford City: Young, Turton, Oluwo, Garbutt, Mnoga (Borini, 71’), Grant (Austerfield, 71’), Butcher (Stockton, 89’), Cesay (Longelo, 70’), Harris, Udoh, N’Mai
Subs Not Used: Howard, Cooper, Butt
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Garbutt, Udoh, N’Mai, Borini
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Jobe, Morrison, Watts, Bennett (Gibbons, 85’), Smith, Mpanzu, Mayor, Brophy, Kaikai (Appere, 85’), Kouassi
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Purrington, Kachunga, Knight, Hoddle
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Bennett, Mayor
Referee: Ollie Yates
Attendance: 2764 (480 away fans)
