Harris' hardworking U's win away at Crawley

The U's named an unchanged XI with the only addition coming on the bench with Nlundulu. Crawley made 3 changed following their 3-1 loss to Blackpool last time out with Armando, Feely and Ibrahim coming into the side. A game that had it all, 2 red cards 2 goals and 2 sides in the relegation zone. Harris' side took home all 3 points once again making it 2 wins from 2 since the appointment of Neil Harris.

The game started in an expectedly scrappy fashion. The U's applied pressure early with Watts having a shot from the edge of the box that whistled wide. Crawley struggled to drive through the heart of Cambridge United however as they did, Digby slid in and was punished with a yellow card in the 10th minute. Stokes with a direct run down the right hand side put a fantastic lofted ball towards the back post. Loft won his header but wasn't able to test Wollacott. 28 minutes in and Harris was the first to make a tactical change swapping Kachunga and Brophy. In the 29th minute Bishop went down holding his left ankle however was able to continue. Stokes had a mazy run once and won a corner in the 32nd minute. From the corner Morrison contests Wollacott and the ball falls 2 yards away from goal. Kachunga and Doyle both aimed to get there first and after a combination of both the ball ended up in the back of the net. Kachunga wheeled away in celebration to the glee of all 1000 Cambridge fans in attendance. Loft's header in the 36th minute from a James Brophy corner was all but in until a Crawley defender cleared it off the goal line. Crawley slowly got into the game and during the 2 additional minutes they were able to keep the ball well. Despite having 66% possession the home side weren't able to get one of their 7 shots on target. As things stood Cambridge United were 23rd in the league and only 6 points off of survival.

The second half started with the Amber Army stood behind Bishop's net. Loft received a yellow card for an accumulation of fouls in the 46th minute. Only 2 minutes later Armando goes into the book following a late challenge on Gibbons. A penalty appeal from the travelling side after Stokes goes down to after the defender grabbed Stokes' shirt in the 52nd minute. The referee determined that it wasn't enough to give a penalty. Both sides showed their physical abilities early into the second half resulting in the referee having to have stern words with multiple players from either side. Loft's halfway shot attempt goes 2 yards wide of the post in the 59th minute. Following an off the ball tussle saw Hepburn-Murphy see a straight red card following a face grab on Kachunga on the hour mark. The former U had no appeal to the referee's decision. 4 minutes after the sending off Digby fires home at the near post following a James Brophy cross. Only 1 minute after the goal James Gibbons sees red after following through on a Crawley man. Bishop goes down once again to help the defence reset into position. Following the Gibbons red card Stokes is replaced by Okedina. Harris made a double change in the 76th minute with Loft and Kachunga coming off for Nlundulu and Stevenson. Nlundulu comes on for the first time since January 4th. Nlundulu made an instant impact winning the ball back twice in the attacking third. In the 92nd minute James Brophy makes way for Longelo to conclude Harris' changes.

A fantastic Cambridge United win once again. A 2nd away win of the season for the U's and a second win under Neil Harris. The U's only saw 31% of the ball but it was enough to see out relegation rival Crawley Town. The home side created 17 shots but could only manage to get 1 on target, making life a lot easier for Bishop in goal. The U's now sit 22nd and 6 points adrift off safety. James Brophy was our man of the match today, brilliant crossing and energy through the 92 minutes he played. His assist for Digby's goal was inch perfect and his set pieces in the first half were immaculate.