Cambridge United boss Garry Monk happy with how extended training period unfolded ahead of Sky Bet League One trip to Barnsley

Cambridge United head coach Garry Monk was pleased with the work that he and his squad managed to get done on the training pitch during the international break.

After picking up one point from his first three games in charge – during which the U’s shipped 11 goals and scored just one – the last 12 days afforded Monk the luxury of time to get his ideas and tactics across to the players.

And it has had the feeling of a very important period in United’s bid for Sky Bet League One survival, particularly after the sobering 6-0 and 4-0 defeats at the hands of Lincoln City and Reading respectively.

“It’s been a prolonged period to work with them. We’ve done a lot of work and the expectation is that the fruit of that labour will come out in these games – that’s what we want to see,” said Monk, who takes his side to play-off hopefuls Barnsley this afternoon.

“It came at the right time. Because of the results we had, often you want the next game to come to put it right, but I think the break allowed me to work with the players.

“We reset ourselves a little bit – not just on the pitch but mentally. That’s what they needed.

“It’s been a good two weeks, but it’s alright doing it on the training pitch, it’s about bringing it into the games.

“We’re in a good space judging by what I’ve seen in the last two weeks from the lads.

“As much as you don’t want those results to happen, from a coaching point of view it shows you a lot of what you need to think about.

“The Northampton game (1-1 draw) was different. There was enough in there competing wise and stuff like that and then you roll on to the next two games and they show you more of what is needed and what we’ve got to do with the players to get them to compete to a higher standard.

“It wasn’t a positive but it was a positive for me as a coach to see that. We got down to work and tried to understand why those things were happening and put the work in place to stop those things.

“And we’ve also tried to put things in place to make us more of a threat as a team. We’ve worked really hard.”

This afternoon’s opponents Barnsley look a good bet to finish in the top six at the end of the campaign – just as they did 12 months ago.

However, if there is chink of hope for Monk and his side, it could come from the fact that the Tykes have not always been at their best at home. While they have the second best away points return in the division, at Oakwell their record is a more modest 10th overall.

Yet Monk, who will be without injured goalkeeper Jack Stevens, is not reading too much into those statistics.

“I think it’s more of a quirk. I’ve watched most of their games this season and some of those home results, they should have won quite comfortably,” he added.

“There’s been certain situations in games where they’ve missed quite a lot of chances, certain teams have taken their couple of chances and they’ve ended up on the wrong side of the result.

“And like anything, at home there’s a lot of emphasis on you as the home team in situations – that can often play a factor. You play slightly differently at home as you do away because the emphasis is on the home team depending on where you are and what sort of team you are.

“But I wouldn’t read too much into it. They’re an exciting team and they are where they are for a reason.

“It’s going to be tough for us but I expect us to put in a performance that we can come off the pitch and be proud of it.”

United, who will host Wigan Athletic on Monday, head into the Easter weekend three points above the relegation zone.