Cambridge United v Rotherham United: Garry Monk ‘desperate’ to give U’s fans ‘something to cheer about’ after defeat to Lincoln City stretched winless run to 16 matches

Head coach Garry Monk has spoken of desperation to give Cambridge United supporters ‘something to cheer about’.

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Lincoln City stretched United’s winless run of form across this season and the end of the previous campaign to 16 matches, with Monk having overseen only two victories from his 21 matches at the helm.

The next opportunity to stop the rot comes tomorrow (Tuesday) evening when Rotherham United are the visitors to the Cledara Abbey Stadium.

The Millers have so far struggled to live up to their pre-season billing as League One promotion challengers following their relegation from the Championship last term. Steve Evans’ team have won just once this term, while four of their seven outings have ended in draws.

And up against another outfit searching for some consistent form, Monk is hopeful that his side can finally give the fans something to celebrate.

“We’re desperate to give them (the fans) something to cheer about. We’ve given good moments but in the last couple of games we’ve not performed as well as we could have,” he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

“It’s crucial we have them (the fans) – them behind the team and supporting for the 90 minutes is the most crucial thing, that we’re in it together.

“We’re determined to stick together and fight – and we need our fans to do that. After games of course we’ll take whatever criticism comes if we’ve not performed or not got the right result, but I think they can see the effort is there and the attitude is right.

“They’ve been great and they support the team all the way through. Quite rightly if we’ve not performed the criticism comes.

“Tuesday will be a huge moment for us if the crowd can get right behind the team. We know what the Abbey is like when it gets going and yes we’ll have to play our part and give them something to get behind, but I’d also ask them to get behind the team regardless from the very beginning and make the atmosphere that we know it can be.”

The defeat to Lincoln intensified speculation surrounding Monk’s future at the club.

Yet, speaking in the aftermath of that loss, the 45-year-old insisted that he is not fretting about his position and is instead fully focused on altering the team’s fortunes.

“I don’t think about that, that’s not my job. My job is to work as hard as I can,” said Monk, who earlier today revealed that attacking midfielder Dan Barton is set to miss up to 10 weeks with a knee injury.

“I want to do the best I possibly can and that means me working as hard as I possibly can.

“I can only control what I can control. We do really good work, we just need that break and that game that goes for us.

“I’ve never been one to run away from something and the fight will be there for sure.”