U's gift Shrewsbury Town 2-0 win

The U's made 1 change to the starting 11 that beat Crawley 3-1 at the Abbey last weekend. Shrewsbury moved into a solo striker but with 2 sitting just beneath him.

The U's dominated possession in the opening 10 minutes with Lavery having 2 snap shots that didn't test the keeper. The U's were passing the ball very well and looked calm and confident. However, despite Shrewsbury having their worst league start since 1979/80 season they took the lead in the 10th minute after Smith's back pass to Morrison was picked off and Lloyd poked home to give Shrewsbury Town the lead.

Bradshaw got the U's first shot on target 17 minutes in following a Gibbons cross that Kouassi laid off. Minutes later the Shrewsbury man, Scully, elbows Smith in the head and then dramatically goes down after Mpanzu shows him the weight room. It's took 22 minutes for Scully to trick the ref off after he goes down as if he'd been shot. He in fact didn't get touched by James Brophy but the free kick was awarded. Adam Mayor started the game well, direct and able to get multiple crosses in during the opening 25.

No foul given despite Brophy's appeals on the half way line. As the winger was in a heap in the centre circle, Shrewsbury looked to attack with an numerical overload. A clever through ball to Scully was well marshalled by captain Morrison. Brophy proceeded to limp for the next few minutes with a potential ankle injury. 60% possession for the U's after the first 30 minutes with 4 shots compared to Shrewsbury's 40% possession and 1 shot but most importantly 1-0 up.

Bradshaw gave the ball away cheaply in just wide to the penalty box. A deep cross forced Gibbons to head the ball out for a corner. The corner was then converted by Boyle who headed goal bound under no pressure. After defending from the U's saw them 2-0 down in the 36th minute.

More poor defending from Bradshaw as Kabia was able to beat him to the ball and Shrewsbury were able to challenge Eastwood's goal. United haven't created anywhere near enough, barely in the Shrewsbury half. More poor defending, this time from Gibbons who allowed Clucas to get the cross in which luckily didn't amount to anything. That was the last action before Harris unleashed hell on his side.

It was just the 1 change for the U's at half time. Kaikai on for poor performer Bradshaw which saw Mayor move to left back. An attacking left hand side is the tactical change for the U's. The aim was to have Kaikai to attack centrally with the ball and Mayor overlap. Lavery went down in the penalty box after a wrestling move was performed on him. Unfortunately, no penalty was given. Another fantastic attack down the Shrewsbury right hand side saw the ball flashed across the box by loanee Kabia who has been superb all afternoon.

Mpanzu got his foot stuck in the grass and caused an awful jerking motion on his knee. Mpanzu was able to get up after a minute of laying on the ground. Sang goes into the book after a smart tug on Kaikai to stop the counter attack. Smith then repeated the offence to get himself into the book. Scully then gets away with striking Lavery in the face. By the letter of the law it should have been a red and a yellow is very surprising.

The U's looked miles off it in the first hour of football. No individual has performed well, no creative spark in cream and green and very simple errors from all. Lavery's glancing effort went wide of the goal which brought up the fourth officials board for a double change for Harris. Kachunga and McConnell came on for Kouassi and Brophy who have both been far from their best. A 4-2-3-1 saw Lavery the sole striker with Kach in the 10, Kaikai out on the right and Glenn on the left.

So many mistakes from the U's as Kachunga gets in the way of Kaikai's counter attack and then a few minutes later the Gibbons misplaced his pass thinking Smith was inside but rather he tucked in behind the right back. Kachunga continued to throw his arms up in frustration as the U's were making such simple mistakes. 20 minutes left and the U's were still shocking. Bennet replaced Gibbons in a like for like change. Scully also made way for a Shrewsbury midfielder, making it a 4-4-2 for the U's to break down.

The game slowed down, belief dwindled, heads went down and arms went flailing up. If anyone was wondering why can't League Two players be called up to the national team, I will show them this game. McConnell made a great reverse pass to Kachunga but the offside flag was raised as the former Premier League player was a couple yards offside. Lavery was then penalised for another offside offence. From a team that played superbly last week, to a team that hasn't been able to complete passes and stay onside.

More poor defending from the U's as Shrewsbury mounted a great counter attack that was well marshalled by Bennet's sliding right foot. A foul was spotted by the ref despite being miles away from the ball which was by the corner flag. Lavery was tackled on the edge of the box which was rightly not given as a foul but that didn't stop the Northern Ireland international's frustration. Kaikai then bundled in to a Shrewsbury player who went down like he'd have been shot. Not the first time we have seen this by the home players today.

4 minutes of additional time were given and it was seen as a countdown until this horrible performance would be over rather then a desperation time as the U's looked to eat into the deficit. The U's couldn't score and looked toothless throughout the 90 minutes. A 2-0 defeat on the road is embarrassing and frustrating. Up next the U's take on Bromley at the Abbey at 12:30.