Exeter City 1-0 Cambridge United: Garry Monk cannot ask more from his players after winless run extends to 18 matches after defeat at St James Park

Despite seeing the winless run split across two seasons stretch to 18 games, head coach Garry Monk felt that he could not have asked for more from his Cambridge United players following their 1-0 defeat away at Exeter City on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan Woods’ 23rd-minute goal proved to be the difference between the two sides at St James Park – sealing a result that has left the U’s rooted to the foot of the League One table with just one point to their name from a possible 27.

However, while fully aware that results need to improve swiftly, Monk believes that his injury-hit squad are giving everything in their bid to turn things around.

He said: “Take the whole thing in terms of results, I totally get it and I understand. But if you were looking from the outside in and seeing those results, you’d expect to see a team that’s in disarray, disorganised, a lack of energy, a lack of anything and getting beaten off the park.

“But I don’t feel like we’re getting beaten off the park at all. We’re well in games, we’re putting a huge amount of effort into games and people are showing energy.

“Yes we lack quality in certain moments or decision making in certain moments, but if you took the results you’d not expect the team to be performing how we’re performing.

“That’s the only way you can get out of the situation and get points – maintaining the attitude, the energy and the endeavour that we do have. If we can have just one or two more quality moments and decisions that go for us, who knows where we’d be? We’d be in a position to take points from games.

“I know what’s coming in terms of the noise, I totally understand that. But it’s hard when you stand here and you can’t really ask for more from the players. The minimum requirement is to run and show effort and endeavour and attitude – fighting for that shirt and to get wins and points. I can’t really look at many games this season where I can pin that on the players and say we didn’t do this or that.”

Monk was also disappointed that the referee did not intervene to rule out what turned out to be the winning goal.

He was adamant that goalkeeper Vicente Reyes had been fouled in the build up, but play was allowed to continue and Woods eventually drilled a powerful effort beyond the reach of United’s Chilean goalkeeper.

Monk added: “It’s glaringly obvious for everyone to see – it’s just bemusing. We got told at the start of the season that blocks and shirt pulling in the box was going to be really clamped down on and you cannot get a more obvious pulling on the shirt and we don’t get it.

“Those moments seem to be happening a lot – that should have been given to us.”

Due to international call-ups, United now have almost a fortnight on the training pitch before they return to action on 19 October when Wigan Athletic will be the visitors to the Cledara Abbey Stadium.