Cambridge United 1-2 Wigan Athletic: Garry Monk bemoans missed opportunities as U’s bow out of the FA Cup

Cambridge United head coach Gary Monk admitted that his players are ‘kicking themselves’ after this afternoon’s 2-1 defeat to Wigan Athletic in the second round of the FA Cup.

It appeared that the U’s were heading through to Monday evening’s third round draw – and a potential date with one of the bigger clubs in the country – when substitute Brandon Njoku fired home from Shayne Lavery’s flick on in the 77th minute.

However, the visiting Latics forced the clash into extra time via Thelo Aasgaard’s 85th-minute equaliser and then with a penalty shootout looming, Jonny Smith’s cross in the 119th minute evaded everyone and crept inside Vicente Reyes’ far post.

And Monk felt that on the balance of play it was a real missed opportunity for his team.

He said: “It’s a right sucker punch. The first half, I don’t think either team was at their levels in terms of the intensity, which is a little bit understandable when you’re playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday.

“But in the second half we grew into the game a lot and were much more like ourselves. We had a really strong 25 minutes where we took the ascendancy and looked the most like scoring.

“Then we scored and looked well in control, but of course we’re disappointed with their two goals and the way we’ve conceded them. We could have done a lot better.

“But all through extra time I thought there was one team trying to win the game so it’s a bitter pill to swallow with that goal that comes at the end.

“You don’t see that ending coming, do you? But we had more than enough opportunities to put the game out of sight and that’s what we should have done because you always leave yourself open to that type of thing happening.

“We’re kind of kicking ourselves for not taking the opportunity. It’s a tough one in that changing room, but we’ve got to dust ourselves down because it’s a big week next week.”

Ahead of Tuesday night’s League One trip to Reading, Monk added that checks will need to be made on the fitness of Sullay Kaikai, Dan Nlundulu and Zeno Ibsen Rossi after all three picked up knocks.