Cambridge United slump to Sky Bet League One home defeat at the hands of two-goal James Collins and Derby County
A double from James Collins proved to be Cambridge United's undoing as Derby County ran out 2-0 winners in this afternoon's Sky Bet League One encounter at the Abbey Stadium.
Collins – a regular scorer of goals throughout his career – found the back of the net towards the end of either half to give the Rams and their large travelling faithful a deserved three points against a United side that found themselves kept at arm's length for large parts of the contest.
With his direct approach from wide on the right Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was often Derby’s outlet – and he was involved in the first moment of danger as early as the second minute. United goalkeeper Dimi Mitov raced off his line in time to halt Lewis Dobbin, but the ball broke kindly for Mendez-Laing and he flashed a dangerous delivery across the face of goal that ultimately came to nothing.
The former Cardiff City man drove at long-serving left-back Harrison Dunk seven minutes later and saw a dangerous cross cleared by Lloyd Jones, while in the 13th minute his square pass picked up Jason Knight on the edge of the United box but he snatched at the shot and the ball drifted harmlessly wide.
Thirty-six capped Republic of Ireland international Conor Hourihane was also causing problems with his set-piece delivery, one of which Curtis Davies headed over from with 15 minutes on the clock.
From United’s point of view the turnover up until this point had been too quick. The ball rarely stuck on the occasions it went forward, with Derby’s midfield trio picking up the seconds and setting their side on the attack with relative ease.
There was the odd moment to get the home faithful excited, though, particularly when Derby goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith punched Adam May’s left-wing corner in the 34th minute to Jack Lankester, who sent his rebound effort flashing wide of the target.
Up the other end Hourihane stung Mitov’s palms with a sweetly-struck effort from a narrow angle in the 38th minute, the Bulgarian grasping the ball at the second attempt.
However, he was helpless to prevent his side from falling behind on the stroke of half-time. It was a moment Zeno Ibsen-Rossi will want to forget pretty quickly as he completely missed his kick, allowing the industrious Collins to pounce and slot the ball beyond an isolated Mitov from inside the area.
The better chances continued to fall Derby’s way early in the second half. In the 60th minute Hourihane volleyed Tom Barkhuizen’s back-post cross into the side netting and then Collins showed good footwork to fashion an opening from 16 yards out but his left-footed effort was always rising.
Mark Bonner – appearing on the touchline for the first time since he rejected Rotherham United’s advances earlier in the week – turned to Harvey Knibbs, Fejiri Okenabirhie and James Brophy from the bench as a signal of attacking intent.
The risk, of course, is that it leaves gaps to be exploited and Derby did just that with seven minutes remaining. Collins got free in the left channel and progressed towards the box, where he exchanged passes with Max Bird before firing inside Mitov’s near post.
After that it was all about game management from Derby, who you would expect to be upwardly mobile in the weeks and months to come following the recent appointment of Paul Warne.
They move up to eighth after picking up their first victory on the road this term, while for United they slip to 10th ahead of Tuesday evening's trip down the A14 to Ipswich Town.
Cambridge United: Mitov, Williams, Rossi, Jones, Dunk (Brophy 76’), Digby, May, Tracey (Okenabirhie 76’), Lankester (Knibbs 68’), Smith, Ironside
Derby County: Wildsmith, Chester, Davies, Cashin, Mendez-Laing, Hourihane, Barkhuizen (Forsyth 77’), Bird, Knight, Dobbin (Osula 61’), Collins (Sibley 84’)
