Cambridge United v Barnsley: Head coach Garry Monk demands ‘real response’ from players after thrashing at Peterborough United

Cambridge United head coach Garry Monk has called on his players to provide a ‘real response’ to last weekend’s derby humiliation when they play host to Barnsley at the Cledara Abbey Stadium on Saturday.

The U’s made the short journey to London Road in good form having racked up five straight wins in all competitions without a conceding goal.

However, all of that defensive solidity evaporated as a rampant Posh side scored four goals without reply during a 19-minute period in the first half before eventually going on to win the contest 6-1.

And Monk has urged his squad to use all of the disappointment and hurt from that result as motivation to put things right against a Barnsley side that currently sit fourth in League One.

“It was a horrible result for us last week. When those sort of things happen, the nature of what we do is you have to regroup quickly,” said Monk.

“You’ve got to focus on what is ahead, but not forget what has happened. We boxed it off at the start of the week in terms of what that was for us and what it means for us. We’ve been gearing it to a real response in this game (against Barnsley) – that’s the only action we’ve got left after a result like that.

“It was disappointing – of course it was – after a really good period of results and performances. We’ve tried to isolate in that sense but understand there needs to be a response.

“We’re hurting from an individual point of view, but also our supporters are as well. This week has been focused towards that and trying to mould that into what comes out on Saturday. That’s the way football works.”

After such a demoralising result, some managers would be tempted to ring the changes in terms of the starting line-up.

Injuries and international call-ups have limited Monk’s ability to do that to a degree, yet he has still insisted that wholesale alterations are not required.

He added: “All of those situations are different and it depends what type of group you’ve got. With this group I’ve got no qualms and even in that period when we weren’t getting the right results, there was players playing the following week.

“I don’t think the level of performances have ever dipped to where it’s been horrific. The result was horrific last week, but ultimately it’s horrific performances that change your mind as a manager when it’s way below each individual performance level.

“There’s always a balancing act and things go through your head – and you even think like that after wins. I had that during the three-game week when we won all three. What do you do in that second game? Do you make changes for freshness or do it in the third game? I learned a lot from that game.

“There’s always things when you’re thinking about changes, it’s not just necessarily when you lose a game. And even if you lose a game from a scoreline that’s quite bad, it depends on what type of group you’ve got. They’re a good group and no-one will ever turn in a performance that we deem not good enough through a lack of effort or not wanting to do it. It will be quality or individual mistakes and circumstances in those moments.

“We’ve got a really good and really motivated group that understand it. There’s no need for that type of situation here (where you make wholesale changes). At other teams I’ve had, it’s just been simply not good enough and you have to make changes. There’s loads of elements that go into it (team selection) and sometimes it’s not just about losing, it’s about winning as well.”

Barnsley head to Cambridge in fine fettle having gone unbeaten in their last four league outings to move into the play-off positions – and it is no surprise to Monk to see the Tykes riding high.

“They’re strong physically and solid in their defensive unit. They’ve got athleticism, some quality and good legs in the forward areas as well,” he said.

“I expect them to be where they are (in the league). You’ve seen over recent seasons at this level, they’re generally a strong team and always fighting for those promotion places. It’s no different this season and I expect to see them doing what they’re doing.

“But I fancy us when we’re at our best and we have to be at our best. We can’t be that 95 per cent team, we have to be at 100 per cent and everything is going for us at the right level consistently.

“We know that – even more so after the result last week. But I expect to see that and the players are preparing that way – they understand it. We’ll have to be at our very, very best in this game but we’re at home and we’ve been good at home in recent weeks.

“There’s loads of motivation for us, regardless of who we’re playing against. We’ve had tough games at home and we’ve come through that.”