Cambridge United head coach Garry Monk reflects on ‘poor goals to concede’ during Sky Bet League One defeat at Bristol Rovers

Garry Monk has bemoaned the way his winless Cambridge United side defended during Saturday’s 2-0 Sky Bet League One defeat at Bristol Rovers.

The U’s, who have picked up just a single point from the first 12 on offer, were beaten by a goal in either half scored by Rovers frontman Promise Omochere.

The striker’s first goal – which deflected in after 30 minutes – came after United’s Korey Smith had given away possession midway inside his own half, while the second soon after the restart was dispatched after Omochere had won a physical battle with visiting defender Connor O’Riordan.

It has taken United’s goals against tally for the campaign to nine – only Blackpool have conceded more (11) during the opening four rounds of fixtures.

Monk, who has overseen just two wins from 15 games in charge of Cambridge, said: “The overall feeling is that for all of the good play we’re having, it’s the goals that we’re conceding.

“They’re poor goals to concede when you look across the games since the start of the season. We’ve conceded pretty much across the board poor goals which are really avoidable.

“If we can get them out of our game we’ll be in great positions to take points. Even in the game today, it wasn’t like they were cutting us open or peppering our goal.

“We had some good spells with the ball but it’s those really avoidable goals that are letting us down at the moment.

“If we can eradicate them from our game we’ll be a super competitive team and be in positions to take points.

“But you can’t keep putting yourselves on the back foot and giving yourself a mountain to climb.”

United return to action tomorrow night with an EFL Trophy clash away at lower-league Bromley.