Cambridge United 1-2 Bristol Rovers: Five of the key talking points from the Sky Bet League One encounter at the Abbey Stadium

Sports editor Liam Apicella takes a look back at some of the biggest talking points from Saturday’s Sky Bet League One clash at the Abbey Stadium between Cambridge United and Bristol Rovers, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the visitors.

1. Yet more injuries

Surely at some Mark Bonner must have walked under too many ladders or had a black cat cross his path?! The list of injured player reached double figures during the Christmas period, two of which are left-backs Harrison Dunk and Brandon Haunstrup.

The boss moved to the fill that particular void on Friday with the signing of Steve Seddon on loan from Oxford United and within 45 minutes of his debut the defender was being stretchered off with a suspected fractured cheekbone following a collision with Will Mannion. How is your luck?!

It is another of those in-game contact injuries as well, just like the ones suffered by the likes Dimi Mitov, Lloyd Jones and Dunk.

2. Bennett is a bright spark

The stricken Seddon was replaced by Liam Bennett, who once again made a big impression in Cambridge colours.

Within 24 hours of being called back from his loan spell at Walsall, the young full-back was hoisted straight into the thick of it at Hillsborough last week. And while he conceded (a harsh-looking) penalty, it was nevertheless a decent showing in the circumstances.

The 21-year-old built on that off the bench against Rovers, looking comfortable on the left hand side and linking up well with James Brophy before switching to the right and being equally as effective.

With Seddon potentially sidelined for some time, Bennett could now be due a regular run in the side, and few would complain about that prospect.

3. Big gaps

Both Sheffield Wednesday and Rovers have two of the best sets of attackers in the division, yet too often they were given the time and space to pick their passes and get on the front foot.

The away side's equaliser on Saturday was a case in point. The gap between United's midfield and defence was too big, allowing Aaron Collins the opportunity to drop in between to thread a pass through into acres of grass for an unopposed Josh Coburn to score.

It was a similar story for the second goal as well. Granted there may have been an offside in the build up, yet as Bonner pointed out in his post-match interview, his side should not have allowed that to develop.

4. Smith showing signs

Bonner suggested after the game that he is unlikely to be in the market for new forwards this month, and his belief in the likes of Sam Smith is the reason for that. His feeling is that if the right number of chances are created, Smith – just as he did last season – and his fellow front players will score the necessary goals to keep United in the division.

And in recent weeks the 24-year-old has started to find the back of the net again after 16 games without a goal.

His header – and what a finish it was – made it three goals in his last seven outings and you would have to say that during that time he has converted every decent opening he has been presented with, perhaps bar one against Plymouth Argyle. It is hard to think of many occasions when Smith has fluffed his lines in recent weeks.

5. Set-piece specialist

Ben Worman has done well since getting his chance and one of the most eye-catching features of the young midfielder's game is his dead-ball delivery.

His early inswinging corner which saw Smith draw a smart save from James Belshaw set the tone for an afternoon in which he sent numerous balls into the box that caused a bit of panic within the Rovers ranks.

The only disappointment was none of his team-mates were able to capitalise on the quality being produced.