Cambridge United slump to 15th defeat of Sky Bet League One campaign at home to Bristol Rovers

Cambridge United have dropped to just one place outside of the Sky Bet League One relegation after losing 2-1 at home to Bristol Rovers this afternoon.

The U’s started the contest brightly and were also the better of the two sides in the second half, but two pieces of questionable defending within the space of eight first-half minutes ultimately proved to be their undoing.

Stamping their authority from the off has not been United’s forte in recent months, but on this occasion they were sharp out of the traps.

And that brightness was rewarded by the game’s opening goal with just five minutes on the clock. Harvey Knibbs showed good pace to get free down the right and his flighted cross was met by an onrushing Sam Smith, who cushioned his header back across Rovers goalkeeper James Belshaw and inside the far post.

Buoyed by breaking their first-half goal drought in the league at the Abbey that dated back to September 3, United continued to press on and in the eighth minute Shilow Tracey’s left-footed effort from inside the box was turned behind by James Connolly for a corner, from which Smith’s near-post header was tipped over by Belshaw.

Rovers’ Connolly and Ryan Loft were cautioned shortly after for cynical challenges on Smith and James Brophy respectively - an indication that Joey Barton’s men were struggling to contain their hosts.

However, they were presented with an opportunity to get back into the contest in the 21st minute and duly took it. As was the case on numerous occasions at Sheffield Wednesday on Monday, one pass forward got the better of United’s backline as Aaron Collins sent strike partner Josh Coburn galloping clear and while Will Mannion did well to save the initial effort, the forward on loan from Middlesbrough turned in the rebound for his ninth goal of the campaign.

The goal seemed to rattle United, who up until that point had been the game’s dominant force. Passes started to go astray, the press became less cohesive and the gaps in midfield and defence were glaring.

Only the top three teams in the division have scored more goals than Rovers this season and so it was little surprise when United’s shortcomings were exposed again in the 29th minute as Rovers got themselves in front. Left-back Steve Seddon, who had signed for United 24 hours earlier on loan from Oxford United, was dragged out of position and the away side took full advantage with a sweeping move down the right that ended with Luca Hoole sending in a low cross that was turned in at the back post by Scott Sinclair.

Tracey shot wide from just outside the area with United’s only effort of note, while a first half that had promised so much ended on a sour note when debutant Seddon had to be stretchered from the field of play after a collision with his own goalkeeper Mannion.

Neither side posed much of a threat during the opening stages of the second half, with United the first side to go close in the 62nd minute. Substitute Liam Bennett - on in the place of the stricken Seddon - broke into the Shrewsbury half before feeding Brophy out wide. The left winger’s cut back was perfect for Smith, but his goalbound effort was turned over by Belwshaw’s fingertips, despite a goal kick being awarded.

United continued to probe thereafter and enjoyed the lion’s share of the possession, but getting a clear sight of Belshaw’s well-protected goal proved to be beyond them.

Smith had a half chance but could not latch on to substitute Joe Ironside’s knock down, while a succession of dangerous Ben Worman set-pieces went without the necessary connection as United slumped to a 15th defeat of the season, which is a joint division-high tally.

Cambridge United: Mannion, Williams, Taylor, Okedina, Seddon (L Bennett 45’), Digby, Worman, Tracey (Lankester 70’), Knibbs (Ironside 70’), Brophy, Smith

Bristol Rovers: Belshaw, Thomas, Connolly, Hoole, Gibbons, Coutts, Finley, Sinclair (Gordon 80’), Loft (Marquis 65’), Collins (Evans 80’), Coburn

Referee: Thomas Parsons. Attendance: 5,703