Garry Monk felt relegation-threatened Cambridge displayed real quality as they picked up their first victory of 2025 by winning 3-2 against Mansfield.
The U’s were winless in eight in all competitions, collecting only two points since beating Shrewsbury in the first weekend of December, but raced into a three-goal lead soon after half-time.
Mansfield pulled two back but Monk’s side saw the game out despite playing nine minutes with 10 men, with Zeno Ibsen Rossi injured and Cambridge having used all their subs.
“We got what we deserved today,” Monk said afterwards. “It’s nice to be able to say that. But it’s an important three points, that’s the most important thing.”
Michael Morrison put Cambridge ahead after 48 seconds and Josh Stokes quickly fired home a second from the penalty spot.
Ryan Loft made it 3-0 soon after half-time, but the hosts were made to sweat for their first win since December 7 after goals from substitutes George Maris and Lee Gregory.
“I thought we were excellent for the large majority of that game and then, understandably when you haven’t won lots of games, you get to the last 15 minutes of games and it becomes emotional. That bit of protective mentality comes in,” Monk added.
“When we went down to 10 men I thought we were excellent in terms of defending our box, the spirit, desire, bodies on the line, some real quality throughout the majority of that game.
“Overall I thought we gave everything again to the game. They’re out on their feet. That’s how it has to be for us to get a result.
“Especially when we went down to 10, I thought the crowd sensed that they needed to get up and give the players a boost and cajole them into trying to get across the line.
“From terraces to the pitch I thought everyone played their part today and that’s crucial for every game we play. That’s the only way we can get what we need. Everyone played their part today.”
A dejected Nigel Clough expressed his great disappointment with Mansfield’s display, saying: “I just want to forget about it.”
He added: “It’s a waste of two hours when we’ve prepared for it all week and then we’re 2-0 down after seven minutes makes it almost impossible to win the game. We didn’t find any way to trouble them at all.
“In the second half at least we showed a little of something. We got a couple of goals back and if something drops in the last minute you might get a very undeserved, unlikely draw.
“Our training on Tuesday and Wednesday was absolutely magnificent, so it’s a little bit of a shock to us all when we play like that in the first half.
“It’s nice for George (Maris) to come back and score against his old club, then we get the penalty and we’ve got eight minutes or whatever. It would have been undeserved if we had done. We’ve got to play with a bit more intelligence than we did.”
