Cambridge United 1-0 Burton Albion: Substitute Jordan Cousins scores late to secure U’s third straight League One victory over winless Brewers

When all is said and done football is about winning – and Cambridge United did just that for the third League One game in a row this afternoon.

Truth be told their home encounter against winless Burton Albion at the Cledara Abbey Stadium was a turgid affair – one that appeared to be petering out towards a goal-less draw until substitute Jordan Cousins smashed the ball in from close range in the closing stages to seal a 1-0 victory.

The result made it a nine-point week for the U’s, who prior to last weekend’s 2-0 triumph over Wigan Athletic were without a win from their previous 18 games in all competitions.

The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock during the first half was in the 19th minute when Cambridge wing-back Liam Bennett, who moments earlier had a penalty appeal waved away, forced Max Crocombe into a diving save with his effort from the right hand side of the box.

As the second half wore on United’s exertions over the past few days appeared to be catching up with them. They looked tired, started to drop deeper and it allowed Burton to enjoy their best period of the game.

However, with six minutes of normal time remaining the hosts hit their bottom-of-the-table visitors with a sucker punch. Danny Andrew drilled in a low free-kick from the right that proved to be too hot to handle for Crocombe and Cousins, who had only entered the action as a substitute four minutes earlier, was on hand to hammer the ball in from close range.

And after seeing out the time that remained to seal three straight league wins for the first time since January 2022, United are now up to 21st and just one point from safety.

Focus switches to the FA Cup and the EFL Trophy in their next two outings before the small matter of the Cambridgeshire derby at Peterborough United on 9 November.

Cambridge United: Reyes, Okedina, Morrison, Andrew, Bennett, Brophy (Longelo 61’), Digby (Cousins 80’), Smith, Kachunga, Njoku (Kaikai 61’), Nlundulu (Gibbons 80’)

Burton Albion: Crocombe, Bannon (Webster 82’), Sweeney, Vancooten, Bodin (Cooper-Love 57’), Watt, Chauke, Armer, Kalinauskas (Akoto 71’), Bennett (Whitfield 57’), Orsi

Attendance: 6,706 (251)