Cambridge United boss Mark Bonner admits Peterborough United are ‘miles ahead’ of his side after derby day hammering

Cambridge United head coach Mark Bonner admitted that his side have work to do and Peterborough United are ‘miles ahead’ of them after the U’s were hammered 5-0 away at their local rivals.

The game was all but over after a disastrous six minute spell in the first 45 minutes, which started with a brace from Ephron Clark-Harris who popped up twice at the back post to put the hosts into dreamland.

A third was wrapped up by a deflected effort from Poku – who ran the U’s defence ragged all game – as Posh went into half-time with their tails up.

The hosts killed any hope of a revival from Bonner’s men nine minutes into the second half, when Kwame Poku tapped home and Liam Bennett then glanced the ball into his own net late on in the match.

“They had too much for us so that hurts. You want to come here and put on a performance and make a bit of history. We started really well, we had good control of the game with and without the ball,” said Bonner.

“They showed the quality that you need in those moments and situations to make something happen, but you’d never say after 30 minutes that the game was going to end up like that. They are where they are for a reason. It hurts me more than anyone to say it but they’re miles ahead of us. They’re a really good side and the best we’ve played.

“In the first 30 minutes it was a really good game. I thought we started brilliantly with a good press and intensity but you can’t really talk so much about that when the game unravels in seven minutes. The game was done at half-time really.”

The U’s head coach was asked what he said to his side at half-time and his response was: “There’s not much you can say, the game's gone if you’re being brutal.

“You’ve got to be really good in the start and score the next goal and we did start the game well. We were on top, they break off of our corner and they’re brilliant at it. We leave ourselves man for man in defending that corner which is dangerous but we were chasing the next goal.

“But the first goal comes when Poku comes in on his left which he does well and turns one into the back post. You know that’s going to be there but we haven’t got our organisation right. Then we give them a corner of our own kick off. It’s those bits that just make the game unravel in front of your eyes. It’s really poor play looking at those details.

“For the second goal, speed beyond us hurts us. I’m not sure if it’s offside at the back post for a tap in but it’s certainly close. The third one is a horrible deflection, the fourth one comes off the back of us starting well and the fifth one sums the afternoon up.

“At 4-0 it’s very difficult for it to be a game that you’re going to control. It becomes harder.

“If you try evaluating the last 20-25 minutes it’s pointless. It’s juts not a game that it would have been. The game was won in that first seven minute spell.”

Bonner made three changes to his side at The Weston Homes Stadium, one of which being Sullay Kaikai who was not in the matchday squad.

“He got a call for an emergency. He had to be out of here about two minutes before we handed the team sheet in so he had to rush off. We had to make a change that left us light on the bench but we hope everything is alright for him. He had to get off,” said the U’s head coach.

“We’ll take getting slaughtered as that’s what will happen and we’ll get on with it.

“We’d rather have a game. We have to stew on it for two weeks. It’s our 10th game in 35 days and it looked like it at times. We need the break and I hope it will be good for us. We’ll use it as best as we can and come back ready.

“We’ve got some work to do for sure.”