Cambridge United 0-1 Exeter City match reaction: Garry Monk bemoans lack of quality from U’s players during League One defeat at Abbey Stadium

Head coach Garry Monk has conceded that his Cambridge United side lacked ‘any real quality’ during this afternoon’s 1-0 defeat at home to Exeter City.

It is now just a single victory from their last 13 League One outings for the U’s, who remain rooted to the foot of the table and are seven points from safety going into this afternoon’s 3pm kick offs.

A second-half header from Josh Magennis was enough to secure victory for Exeter – themselves having been on a poor run of form heading into the contest.

Monk said: “It’s a bad result for us and it was a poor match overall. It looked like two teams that were struggling for form, points and stuff like that.

“In a match like that the key is the first goal. We had our opportunities to get the first goal – Lofty’s header, Stokesy’s opportunities and Kach has had a couple of opportunities. They’re opportunities to score goals or at least hit the target but we didn’t take them.

“And they get their one real opportunity in the second half – it’s not even really an opportunity, it’s just poor defending from us. It’s a simple situation, we don’t defend the cross and we find ourselves a goal behind.

“We huffed and puffed after that without any real quality and obviously we’ve ended up with a really bad result.”

With 15 matches now remaining, United’s status as a third tier club is looking more precarious with each passing week.

However, Monk has called on everyone to stick together as his team searches for some much needed momentum.

He added: “There is enough time but we are running out of time. I’ve always said that it’s not over until it’s over – football works like that.

“It’s hard in this moment and everyone in that changing room feels really hugely disappointed – all the emotions you’d imagine after a game like that and a result like that.

“But in football you have to move on, dust yourselves down and get ready. The next couple of days will be about reflecting and then when we come back in we have to work. The players have to stick together – that’s hugely important.

“I totally understand the frustration of the fans. I’m as frustrated – and everyone is – as frustrated as they are.

“What’s important for the players is that any 90 minutes, they’re (the fans) behind the team – like they always are.”

United will have home advantage again next Saturday when they host Stockport County at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.