Kavanagh disgusted at United drubbing
CARLISLE boss Graham Kavanagh admitted he was “shell-shocked” and “disgusted” after his side’s hammering at newly-promoted Cambridge.
Robbie Simpson struck twice in the first-half and debutant Jayden Stockley scored a late double following Issa Diallo’s 25-yard opener.
The visitors had begun slightly the better of the two sides, but Kavanagh could not believe how badly his side, without a win this season, capitulated once Diallo gave Cambridge the lead.
“I’m shell-shocked.We started well in the first 15 minutes and had chances to score,” said Kavanagh. “I thought when we conceded it would be interesting to see the character we have, but after that it was a complete shambles.
“It’s difficult to take because every time they went forward they looked like they were going to score.
“We’ve got to compete better, it was absolutely awful. I’m disgusted and I feel terrible for the fans about that embarrassing performance.
“Some people have to realise what level they are playing at and roll their sleeves up.
“Some of them I look at and wonder how much do they care?”
Carlisle more than held their own at the start with neither side threatening the opposition’s goal, but they fell behind to Diallo’s well-hit low drive into the right-hand corner.
It was 3-0 by half-time as Simpson sent a looping header from a Diallo cross over Mark Gillespie in the Carlisle net, before sidefooting in a volley from strike-partner Tom Elliott’s cross.
Elliott rounded Gillespie only to miss the target, but the goalkeeper’s next ill-judged venture saw Bournemouth loanee Stockley head in Greg Taylor’s left-wing cross.
Stockley then headed home Bobby-Joe Taylor’s free-kick to complete the rout. Cambridge gave debuts to defenders Matteo Lanzoni and Michael Nelson, and the positive performances at both ends of the pitch left boss Richard Money feeling pleased.
“We were much better in both boxes which is crucial if you want to win games,” said Money.
“You keep the workethic and you keep striving to get better and hopefully you will be fine which I think we will be.
“This was a really good performance from everyone in the group.
“We are really trying to approach the games with a drive and purpose.We tried to rein it in a little bit but still allow our forward players the chance to score.
“The good thing is our four strikers are scoring and they seem to be in pretty good form. Now, you just want to keep getting better.”