In the battle of the playoff hopefuls, Luton struck the fatal blow that put them in with a chance of automatic places and Cambridge falling further into midtable. Before this game the U’s had won six of their last away games and drawn two others to make it eight unbeaten going into Saturdays game. Last week the U’s had a troubling defeat to Mansfield and Derry was looking to bounce back, however it didn’t go to plan for the Cambridge manager.
The opening exchanges were quiet and chances were few and far between, Cambridge weren’t showing too much attacking intent early doors, which was completely understandable after letting in three goals at home last week. Norris was forced into action once, making a routine save from a Jonathan Smith effort. Up the other end Cambridge grew into the half and put together some nice passing play, however only really having efforts from distance. The best of those fell to Newton who’s effort flashed wide.
Despite the Cambridge growing into the game, the attacking intent lead to opportunities on the break for Luton and the Hatters had some great pace going forward to trouble Cambridge. A blistering counter attack lead to Marriott playing the ball to the danger man Vassell who used his pace to be first to the ball and get it home past Norris (33rd min). Cambridge were now on the back foot and hanging on going into half time, Marriott had a great chance to double the lead just before half-time but mishit his effort and Norris made an easy save to keep Cambridge in the game going into the second period.
Luton started stronger in the second half with Smith having a chance from long distance, however it drifted wide and didn’t trouble Norris in the end. Cambridge began pressing for a goal to try and get back into this, Newton had a cracking chance which he scooped over the bar which he probably should of done better with, then Berry got himself in a great position and fired wide. A couple of weeks ago on the form Cambridge and Berry had, you’d of have expected a goal there. Dunne had an effort from range that didn’t trouble the keeper but time was ticking away for the U’s.
In the 82nd minute, captain Leon Legge gave away a penalty that effectively killed Cambridge’s chances of a come back. Cook was unfazed from the spot and put the ball home comfortably, from this point out it only seemed likely that one team would score and it wasn’t Cambridge. Luton had a chance to make it 3 late on but Norris made a good save to save some of Cambridge’s blushes.
In the end it was a 2-0 win for the Hatters and back to back defeats for the U’s, something they haven’t experienced in the league for a long time. With their transfer dealings done, the squad strengthened, this defeat will be a concern for Cambridge. Usual danger man Uche Ikpeazu seemed quiet and Berry isn’t in the form he was before the Christmas period. Derry seemed to have found his plan A and was getting results but now he needs to work out his plan B. Cambridge struggled early in the season and a lot of these fixtures will be against those teams, if Cambridge have a similar run of form their playoff hopes are going to disappear very quickly. Cambridge drop to 11th in the table, however they’re only three points off the playoffs with all the play for. They entertain high flying Plymouth at the weekend in what is another test for Derry and the boys, lets hope we can bounce back and get a big three points.
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Published by Matthew Robinson