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Mark Bonner takes positive aspects from Cambridge United’s defeat to Charlton Athletic in League One




Liam O'Neil in action for Cambridge United against Charlton Athletic. Picture: Keith Heppell. (56165805)
Liam O'Neil in action for Cambridge United against Charlton Athletic. Picture: Keith Heppell. (56165805)

Mark Bonner felt there was little to choose between Cambridge United and Charlton Athletic despite the hosts slipping to a 2-0 defeat in League One at the Abbey.

Two deflected second-half goals, one off United midfielder Ben Worman and one off the back of Charlton striker Conor Washington’s head, proved to be the difference.

It was a very balanced first half, but Charlton just offered that little bit more in the penalty area in the second period.

“I thought in the early stages of the second half, it became a basketball game and that doesn’t suit us,” said United head coach Bonner.

“The pitch became too big, too open and I think we blew ourselves up in the first 15 minutes, and we had not a lot left in the tank after that.

“I thought as well that it was always going to be the case that the first goal would be quite key. It should have been us really.

“I thought we started the game brilliantly, I thought we played some really good football in the first half.

“If you look at the statistics on the game, a lot of them are pretty level pegging. It was a fairly even game apart from the attempts on target for them was much higher than us.

“They made better use of the situations they had, and we lost our way a little bit towards the end in the second half. I thought it became a little bit disjointed.

“I didn’t think it was a great second half, if I’m honest. There were some really pleasing parts of that game, certainly the first-half performance.

“We went in at half time probably feeling like we might have wanted to be ahead, but it felt as if it was a game we could come out and win in the second half, but it wasn’t to be.”

United made seven changes from the 2-1 win at Wigan Athletic on Saturday, with just defenders Lloyd Jones and Jubril Okedina, Jack Iredale and Sam Smith keeping their places.

There was also a club debut and first career League start for keeper Will Mannion, who could do nothing about the goals.

“I actually think the boys that played the two games, certainly the centre-halves, did very well again against a good front two,” said Bonner.

“It was a tough game in lots of ways but one that was good to give lots of players a chance to perform and be in the team because I think that’s important as they’ve earned the right for that over the season.

“But the second thing is we ran our biggest total distance of the year on Saturday, that game finished fairly late and we’ve got another one on Saturday.

“I think if we want to give those boys a chance of hitting another good level at the weekend then a few of them needed not to be involved tonight.”

He added: “Will was very good. I think he got man of the match. To be fair, he was good. Apart from a couple of wayward kicks in the second half, I thought his distribution was very good, he took crosses well, he made a couple of good saves, a couple of basic ones but he was there and nice really clean hands.

“It was a very assured performance, I thought he was very good.”

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Cambridge United suffer defeat to Charlton Athletic in League One at the Abbey



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