Cambridge United boss Mark Bonner left to rue batch of missed chances during Sky Bet League One draw with Morecambe

Cambridge United head coach Mark Bonner was left frustrated by his side’s failure to convert their chances during tonight’s 1-1 draw at home against Morecambe.

The U’s had 24 attempts – eight on target – at the Abbey Stadium, but all they had to show for it was Jack Lankester’s 14th-minute opener.

The visitors pegged United back just before the break and held out during the second half to secure a share of the spoils, and in doing so ensured Bonner’s men could only cut the gap to Sky Bet League One safety to four points.

“It was remarkable that we weren’t winning at half-time to be honest,” said the boss. “We’ve got to start capitalising when we’re on top of games. In the first half an hour of the game we were brilliant, really creative and had enough chances to add a second (goal).

“Then we gift wrapped them a goal right on half-time when the game is dead. It’s a give away in the middle of the pitch that they break on and then a deflection – it’s just horrible really. And then they nearly get a second off our set play.

“Let’s just say politely that we were kicking ourselves at half-time that we weren’t ahead in the game because we absolutely should have been. That made it difficult and that probably threw us a little bit in the second half.

“In the first 15 or 20 minutes of the second half I thought we were really scruffy and didn’t have too much control or too much quality in what we did.

“Then as it went on we had some more good moments. I thought we gave up on some of our attacks too early, shooting when there was an extra pass in the move and we lacked a little bit of dynamic play around the box at times.

“Then there is a few moments where we’re just not in a position to score tap-ins when we’ve put brilliant deliveries into the box.

“We certainly pushed the game and tried to get something from it but it’s a better point for them than it is us.”

It is an all too familiar feeling of late for Bonner, who has seen his side struggle to score goals for large parts of the campaign.

They have found the back of the net on just 27 occasions this, which is a joint division low with bottom-of-the-table Forest Green Rovers.

He added: “Go back to the debacle at Shrewsbury (on January 21, a 5-1 defeat), since then we’ve only missed the target in terms of performance a couple of times.

“Lincoln, Ipswich – games we could win. First half against Cheltenham, we could win that game. We should win at Fleetwood, (but) we don’t score and don’t take our chances there. This one here tonight is a game we should win and there is too many of those. Even at the weekend against Portsmouth, it’s a game we should win or definitely take something from.

“In that batch of games alone we are quite a few points down on where we should be and where I think our level of performances have deserved.

“When we are in the position we are, playing well and dominating doesn’t give you confidence unless you convert and take those moments.

“We’ve set up well, played with a real good intent but we’re lacking confidence at the top end of the pitch and it’s not converting into the goals that the football deserves at the moment.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash against another of their fellow strugglers – MK Dons – Bonner is calling on his players to continue believing that their fortunes in front of goal will turn.

“Keep training, keep working, keep trying to keep the players believing in that,” he said.

“You have to believe that if you create that many chances, you’ll score a few of them.

“Other than say our prayers, the best thing we can do is keep practising and using the time on the training ground to try to improve and give the players some belief and some confidence.

“And see if we can turn a point tonight into three on Saturday. At any point that it happens, hopefully that will breathe a bit of oxygen and life into us.

“The players are trying really hard. They’re working their socks off, they’re delivering so much of what we’re asking them to but we haven’t quite ticked the final box in the top end of the pitch - the level of performance has been good.”