Cambridge United head coach Garry Monk says he has ‘always been a fighter’ as pressure grows on job after Bristol Rovers defeat

Head coach Garry Monk has insisted that he will continue to fight to turnaround Cambridge United’s alarming run of form.

The U’s suffered a fifth straight League One defeat this afternoon at the hands of fellow strugglers Bristol Rovers – a result that saw Monk’s men fall eight points from safety.

However, Monk has no intention of throwing in the towel.

“I’ve been a fighter my whole life. There’s no lying down for me, I’m just not that character,” said Monk, who has overseen six league victories since his appointment in March 2024.

“But I’m also really mindful – I don’t want to put the club in harm or feel like I’m doing anything detrimental towards the club. I feel like I work hard and do the right things.

“I’ve got no complaints with the players. It would be different if you saw a team that’s flat and giving up. You see a lot of teams like that in these situations but I don’t feel that’s the case.

“I’ll always work as hard as I can for the club. Those decisions (his future) are always out of my hands – they’re not something I really think about.

“I’m a fighter. I don’t really like talking about myself, but I’ve got that in abundance. I’ll continue to work as hard as I can and push the players, give the experience and the belief that I can in them and trust that it can turn around.

“We’ve done it before but of course it needs to happen – it needed to happen yesterday! Those things I don’t really think about to be honest, I just try to do my best for the club and I want the club to do well. That’s my only thought process.”

As for the 1-0 loss to Rovers, Monk felt that his side were made to pay for a lack of composure at both ends of the pitch.

After falling behind to a Luke Thomas header midway through the first half, United saw a number of good openings go begging.

“I’ve got no complaints at the players in terms of application and determination and effort and endeavour, but we’ve come up short in the critical areas of the game,” added Monk.

“The good play that we do have and the good pressure that we have – especially in the last two games – it’s that final bit of quality and composure that has let us down.

“There’s not really been teams that have come here and put sustained pressure on us, it’s just been moments. Maybe it’s a breakaway or a situation where you’ve got to defend and we’ve come up short in those situations as well.

“Today was never going to be a classic. The squad is going again with a fourth game in 10 days and energy is never going to be at its highest, but we’ve had good periods of momentum and sustained periods of play in their half but we haven’t capitalised.”