Mark Bonner delighted by battling point for Cambridge United against Colchester United in Sky Bet League Two
Mark Bonner described Cambridge United’s draw at Colchester United as a “brilliant point” in a performance that was about the attitude of the squad.
Harvey Knibbs grabbed the U’s opener in the 13th minute, but Calvin Harriott’s shot deflected off Greg Taylor into the net in the 37th minute to earn Colchester a point.
Both sides went for it in the second half, but neither could find a winner despite some late chances.
A draw was a fair result, which will not do justice to the conditions which were extremely difficult given first the snow and then the rain that had deluged the pitch at the Jobserve Community Stadium.
“We had a go, we went for it a little but I think both teams can be happy with a point,” said U’s head coach Bonner.
“All things considered I cannot tell you how wet that pitch was and how difficult it was to play on from the lads point of view.
“They are disappointed that we haven’t found a way to win the game but at the same time we shouldn’t turn our nose up at a point when the conditions are as they are today.
“It was really hard to keep your feet. You see a few errors that you just wouldn’t normally see, horrendous at times, and you just have to laugh them off.
“It was going to be a game full of little mistakes but as the game went on, it got a bit better in that sense.
“This was a day for attitude, you could easily come here get beat, not turn up, and turn your nose up at it, but we haven’t got that group of players.
“We’ve got a group of players that just say, it is what it is, let’s get something from it.
“I think it’s a brilliant point.
“We called it at Grimsby that it was one of those days, and we went there on a really tough day to get three points. We got three points coming from behind in the fog and then we got a point on that.
“It might be that for a couple of months where we have to find ways of getting results in really tough and tricky conditions. We have done.
“It’s not a classic in some respects, but it doesn’t matter, we’ve got to take something from it.”
Knibbs’ goal was the cherry on the cake for his performances of late, and also his first league goal of the season - he also scored in the EFL Trophy against Burton.
He has had to watch as Paul Mullin and Joe Ironside have been more frequently among the goals, but Bonner knows the importance that all of the strikers will have in the second half of the season.
“It was a really good finish, quick reaction off the keeper - he is good at those ones,” said Booner.
“He’ll be glad to have scored a goal but that’s why we played him because we know that is going to come for him.
“He worked really hard, set a good press and gave us a good threat behind them - him and Mullin made some good runs today.
“We’ve got three strikers that we’re going to need to play plenty of in the next few games and it was important Knibbsy has his real run in the team for a while and we wanted to keep that going to keep him fresh, fit and robust, and amongst the goals.
“If we can have three strikers in the second half of the season all scoring goals, that will serve us really well.
“I was really pleased with his performance. Joe will be frustrated that he hasn’t played so much of a part, but his game will come in the week ahead and we’ve got to make sure we use that group of strikers really well over the busy schedule we’ve got.”
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Harvey Knibbs on target as Cambridge United earn a point at Colchester United in Sky Bet League Two
Harvey Knibbs praises vital point for Cambridge United in draw at Colchester United
