Cambridge United remained committed to add another point to their Sky Bet League Two tally as they played out a goalless draw with Walsall at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium…
A lack of clear-cut opportunities meant a stalemate was the fair assessment as the U’s were unable to find the scoresheet for the first time in the league since November, but at the other end dug in well to claim a 15th clean sheet of the campaign to help make it eight games unbeaten.
Three days on from the barnstorming 5-0 victory against Gillingham at CB5, Neil Harris opted with just the solitary change to his starting XI as James Brophy made way for Korey Smith as the midfielder made his first league start since mid-December. A boost to the matchday squad saw Adam Mayor make the bench after almost three months on the sidelines.
With 10 mammoth matchups left to decide their season, the travelling U’s arrived with a spring in their step following a thumping win which cemented their place in the top three and stretched their unbeaten run. On the contrary, it had been a period of change for the Saddlers after parting ways with Mat Sadler a week ago. They had suffered three successive defeats prior to a morale-boosting success at Crewe Alexandra last time out - their second win from 12. Winless in seven on home soil, determination was there to reward the home faithful.
Displaying exuberance in their approach to attack the early stages, it was a front-footed start from United who had settled in well to their 4-2-3-1 setup. Controlling the rhythm and preventing Walsall from finding their feet, a deflected strike from Albert Adomah on the 3rd minute was the only opportunity of a composed introduction.
Seeing plenty of the ball, Ben Knight progressed play and linked up with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu moments later, with a block preventing the former when he pulled the trigger from inside the area.
Capitalising on a misplaced pass in the middle of the park on the 9th minute, Knight again showed flair to embark on a mazy run into the box, where he pulled it back to a pouncing Sullay Kaikai and Louis Appere, who again were denied by stern blocks as the offside flag was raised.
Improving by the minute, the Saddlers looked to threaten on the counter and did just that on 25 when Rico Browne looked to thread a pass which the visitors were unable to clear, allowing Aaron Loupalo-Bi to nip in and fire a snapshot from 20 yards which he rifled over the crossbar.
Progressing into an end-to-end matchup as the evening reached its half hour mark, Cambridge soon turned defence into attack down the right as Knight supplied Kaikai on the edge of the box, whose quick touch and strike was way over the woodwork.
On the 34th minute, Mpanzu was next to go close when Liam Bennett’s deep delivery from out wide fell invitingly to the midfielder from 12 yards, who tried his luck on a clean volley which bounced well for him, but it generated too much height to trouble Myles Roberts.
A flurry of corners for Darren Byfield’s side prior to the break required a good punch from Jake Eastwood as one curled on target as the defence continued to dig in, but at the other end United almost broke deadlock with the last kick of the first half when Kaikai’s excellent whip to the back post was matched by Knight’s close-range downward header, but an important block near the line by Mason Hancock helped deny.
Boasting the majority of the possession and steady in the build-up, but it was ultimately the end product Harris’ men were lacking in what had been a tight contest.
The hosts were first to roll the dice five minutes into the second period as they introduced Alex Pattison and Aden Flint to add some physicality. Although it was a low-key spell, United remained alert to keep things tight.
On the hour mark the U’s received a scare when Charlie Lakin’s inswinging corner was flying towards the top corner but Eastwood did incredibly well to get a finger to direct it onto the crossbar as the visitors cleared their lines.
Changes were imminent, and in quick succession for Cambridge as Ben Purrington, Shayne Lavery, Brophy and Mayor were all drafted on to try and add a clinical edge, with very little falling their way in the final third.
Digging in defensively and having to survive an onslaught, aerial threat Flint fired a header back into the six-yard box where James Gibbons was on hand to clear on the line on 77, before the defender was called into action a couple of minutes later when Aaron Pressley lashed from 15 yards but the attempt was prevented by a pivotal block.
As the matchup reached its latter stages, with four minutes of additional time indicated, there was evidently nothing to separate the sides, who had nullified each other well as they fought to preserve a point apiece.
Up next, the U’s return home for the first of back-to-back encounters at the Cledara Abbey next Saturday (21st March) as they welcome Salford City for the televised lunchtime kick-off – be sure to back the boys.
Walsall: Roberts, Browne, Lopata (Flint, 51’), Burke, Hancock, Jellis (Pattison, 51’), Comley, Lakin (Chang, 74’), Adomah, Loupalo-Bi (Pressley, 66’), Kanu (Richards, 74’)
Subs Not Used: Hornby, Harper
Goalscorers:
Bookings:
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Bennett (Purrington, 66’), Jobe, Watts, Gibbons, Smith, Ball, Knight (Mayor, 73’), Mpanzu (Lavery, 66’), Kaikai (Brophy, 73’), Appere
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Nevitt, Raggett
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Kaikai, Ball
Referee: Simon Mather
