Small steps target for Cambridge United boss Shaun Derry
U’s take it game by game
Shaun Derry is keen to see Cambridge United continue making small steps with big gains when they play host to Grimsby tomorrow.
The have turned things around to be one of the form teams in Sky Bet League Two, with three wins and a draw from their last four matches, and five matches unbeaten in all competitions.
But the Mariners are six places and four points above the U’s in the table.
“We always try and look forward,” said United manager Derry. “Even a few weeks ago we were always taking the positives from the negatives and that’s something that we will always look to do.
“For now, we’ve been on a good run, four wins and a draw out of the last five games is impressive.
“But we have to look forward for this weekend. I think what we’ve really stipulated is that we just take one game as it comes. They are clichés but I’m not too sure you can look beyond that.
“We’ve seen for the two months that we’ve been playing this season, things can change very, very quickly in football.
“You can have full quota of squad one day and be decimated the next day. Small steps, big gains that’s what we’ve had, but the next step is on Saturday against an opponent whose in-form.
“They’re a team that have had stability, with a manager who has been at the helm for a while now.
“By being promoted last year out of the Conference, it’s a feelgood factor at Grimsby so we know that we will have to be on top of our game.”
It has taken a while for United’s strikers to find their scoring boots so far this season, but the positive for Derry has been that the goals have come from other areas.
Luke Berry and Piero Mingoia have four goals apiece, with Medy Elito and Leon Legge chipping in with two each.
And while the manager is keen to for the forwards to get on the mark, he is pleased that the responsibility is being shared throughout the team.
“I think it is important,” said Derry. “We work extremely hard on every aspect of the game. I don’t think we can ever pinpoint two or three players and say they’re going to be the story of our season because as soon as that happens you’re taking your eye off the ball.
“We’ve looked like we can score from set plays. We’ve looked like we can score from certain quarters of the pitch where perhaps last year we didn’t see that.
“We’ve got midfielders now [that can score], Luke Berry in particular – we know what a goalscorer Luke is.
“Of course we want our centre forwards to hit the ground running, but we’ve had to be patient a number of times this year, and that patience is definitely what I’m talking about because I back the players.”
