Wrexham v Cambridge United: Garry Monk expecting one of season’s ‘toughest tests’ against League One’s best home team
Cambridge United head coach Garry Monk has conceded that tomorrow’s trip to Wrexham is one of the ‘toughest tests’ that his side will face in League One this season.
After the previous campaign’s promotion, the Hollywood-backed Red Dragons have settled well into life in the third tier of English football. Phil Parkinson’s men are currently second in the table, level on points with surprise leaders Wycombe Wanderers.
And they have been particularly impressive at the Racecourse Ground, where they are yet to taste defeat this term and have won nine of their 10 outings. Parkinson’s charges have also proven to be a tough team to break down having conceded just four goals in that run.
The size of the task ahead is not lost on Monk, although his main focus remains on what he and his players can control.
“It’s one of the toughest tests away from home for us,” he said. “They’re flying high with a strong squad but we know – like I always say to the players – when we are at our best levels or somewhere close to it, we can compete with any team.
“Hopefully Saturday will be a case of that and it’s going to need to be. We’re going to need to be right on our game, be at a high level, have things go for us at certain moments and then try to capitalise on any good opportunities that we have.
“They’ve come up into the league and if I’m honest it’s not really been a surprise with the squad they’ve assembled. They’ve got one of the strongest squads in the league.
“But we can talk about all the positives for them, we’re more focused on ourselves and trying to get us best prepared for the game.”
While Wrexham can boast the best home record in the division, in contrast Cambridge head to Wales with League One’s poorest away statistics. Monk’s men have collected just four points on their travels, a joint division low alongside Shrewsbury Town.
However, Monk believes that the standard of performances away from home have warranted a greater points return.
He added: “The danger is that people just look at the results. I think of some of the away games we’ve had this season, even recently at Northampton (1-1). If anyone should have won that game, it should have been us with the opportunities we had.
“We’ve been a little bit unfortunate with some of the away games. I even think back to Exeter away (1-0 defeat) and the way we finished the second half and went about it. Again, it’s just that bit of fortune not going our way, something not going for you.
“We’ve definitely turned that around at home and away from home we’ve been competitive but haven’t quite got across the line.
“It’s a matter of keeping our levels as high as possible and when those moments do come along, can we be more ruthless or clinical with them? Or show that bit more composure because that’s the key – we’ve been creating opportunities away as we have done at home, it’s a case of taking them.”
After missing United’s last three games in all competitions with a knee injury, attacker Sullay Kaikai is set to return to the United squad.
Taylor Richards, meanwhile, has had a full week of training but is unlikely to feature as the Queens Park Rangers loanee continues to have his comeback from injury closely monitored.
