‘Fantastic’ U’s earn Derry’s approval
SHAUN Derry was pleased to see his side’s hard work pay off after Cambride secured only their second win in seven games in all competitions.
Goals from Greg Taylor, Uche Ikpeazu and Luke Berry helped Cambridge secure victory and Derry was quick to praise the attitude of his troops.
“I’ve been saying since the start of the season, the team is full of character – even when things haven’t been going well and when results have gone against us,” said Derry.
“This is for the players. I think for the players it’s a fantastic achievement.
“Their goal didn’t help and that wasn’t in the plan, that’s for sure.
“I’m disappointed in the way we conceded the goal, you always are.
“You can always pick the bones out of every goal you concede but instantly the response was exactly what I wanted it to be.
“And it came from the pitch which is even more important because at times responses have been driven from the sides.”
Head coach Dermot Drummy singled out Ikpeazu as the main threat as Crawley Town lost their first home league game since August.
James Collins gave Crawley the lead with his eighth in all competitions but defensive errors, and Mark Connolly being subbed off with a suspected windpipe injury, led to a defeat.
Drummy said: “There was the threat from the big guy up front (Ikpeazu) and I don’t think we dealt with him very well.
“He got the second goal, I don’t know whether or not that’s contentious, but I don’t think physically we had anything in us to get us back into the game.
“I don’t think it’s down to luck. I think at times this season we’ve played really well and the back four was resolute.
“That’s got a bit rocky now with the experience now gone out of the back four but you’ve got to be able to clear a ball.
“That’s not bad luck, that’s bad play.” Crawley took the lead when Enzio Boldewijn’s header from Chris Arthur’s cross was finished off with a half-volley from top scorer Collins.
Cambridge replied within ten minutes with Leon Legge setting up Taylor for his first goal at the club and Ikpeazu capitalising on a defensive mistake to lob Glen Morris before half-time.
Berry sealed the three points with a superb curling free-kick in front of the travelling fans while Crawley failed to register another shot on target until injury-time.