Cambridge United boss Neil Harris disappointed with Charlie Kelman’s equalising goal in 2-1 defeat to Leyton Orient

Neil Harris has bemoaned the manner in which is Cambridge United side conceded the equalising goal during this afternoon’s 2-1 defeat to Leyton Orient – a result that has left the U’s five points from League One safety with only two fixtures remaining.

With relegation rivals Bristol Rovers and Burton Albion both losing, victory over play-off hunting Orient would have moved Cambridge to within two points of the dotted line.

And they looked to be on course to do just that when Josh Stokes’ goal sent them into the break 1-0 up.

However, the O’s responded in the second half with goals from the division’s leading marksman Charlie Kelman and Jamie Donley – and it was the former that left Harris particularly frustrated. Danny Andrew lost possession in his own half before Daniel Agyei was given too much room to cross for an unmarked Kelman to head home.

Harris said: “A million per cent it does (feel like a missed opportunity).

“Being ahead for so long, and as much as Orient are a really good side and they’re a really difficult team to press, I never felt like they were going to score a goal against us.

“To concede the equaliser in the manner we did was hugely disappointing. We shot ourselves in the foot, we turned the ball over unopposed and then we don’t get close enough to stop the cross. And then we don’t deal with the cross.

“For a Neil Harris team that’s just criminal, absolutely criminal. It can’t be excused and won’t be excused moving forward, but at the moment we are what we are.

“Then we concede a second goal which is a worldie strike from a lad that is going to go and play in the Premier League – he’s got that quality.

“My disappointment is my goalkeeper hasn’t made a save within 20 yards of his goal, and at the other end we’ve had six sitters within 12 yards of their goal and not scored.

“Ultimately it’s one moment that has cost us. If you concede you give the opposition momentum and you give the away fans momentum, then the second one can end up in the back of your net.”

Cambridge travel to Burton next weekend but will be relegated before kick off if Bristol Rovers win their lunchtime encounter against Reading.