Clarke: It’s time to take away form home
AFTER seeing Bristol Rovers record a landmark fourth away win on the bounce, boss Darrell Clarke called for patience as his team try and replicate that form at the Memorial Stadium.
Despite going behind to Barr Corr’s 33rdminute header, Ellis Harrison levelled things up midway through the second half. And Matt Taylor came off the bench to hit the winner that sees the Gas match the same run of form produced in 1989/90 – a season in which they won the League One title.
Though no-one has now won more games in League Two on the road, Rovers’ Achilles heel has come at home with just one win in seven attempts and Clarke knows that must chage.
“We have six wins out of eight away from home and I’d ask the supporters to stick with us while we keep trying to get our home form going,” he said.
“I know it is difficult for them, but we will be working hard to turn that around. I can’t ask any more of the players because they are giving me everything.
“They really are a special group.
“Cambridge are one of the biggest sides I have seen so far and they have some very experienced players.
“They are having a right go at it this year so to come to their place and win is magnificent.”
Cambridge deservedly edged ahead when Corr met Harrison Dunk’s fine left-wing cross and headed past helpless goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.
Ryan Donaldson and Corr had further opportunities to extend Cambridge’s lead, but they were a shadow of their first-half selves after the break and Rovers took full advantage.
Harrison headed against the crossbar shortly after the restart, but was not to be denied on 66 minutes, following up after substitute Matt Taylor saw his low effort parried away by Chris Dunn.
And Taylor nicked the winner when he capitalised on Cambridge defender Greg Taylor’s short pass and skipped round Dunn before tapping in.
“In all my three years here I’ve not had to be too critical of our players, but I’m not going to hide behind anything,” said Cambridge boss Richard Money.
“I thought in the first half, when you look right across the pitch, there wasn’t a poor performer. I thought we were safe, I thought we passed the ball well and I thought we looked dangerous.
“Throughout the second half we looked totally the opposite.We looked vulnerable, we couldn’t pass it and didn’t create anything.
“You have to ask serious questions as to why that’s happened because it wasn’t good enough.”