Cambridge boss Garry Monk hailed his side’s “huge effort and motivation” after responding to last week’s derby mauling with a battling 1-1 draw against high-flying Barnsley.
Monk’s men were thrashed 6-1 by rivals Peterborough in their previous outing but showed an immediate desire to make amends against the Tykes as they took the lead after just four minutes through Dan Nlundulu.
Barnsley levelled through Stephen Humphrys in the 17th minute and were well on top in the closing stages, but Cambridge dug deep as the visitors were kept at bay by home goalkeeper Jack Stevens and resolute defending.
Monk said: “Overall it’s a good point for us, a good response. We spoke about the defeat last week, made sure we stopped that straight away.
“We’ve achieved a lot of the things we set out to do, obviously three points would have been nicer than one but I can’t really complain in terms of the effort that the players gave today.
“It wasn’t just about last week. Of course that was a big part of the motivation but for a number of reasons, needing results, needing points, a lot of self-motivation in there and of course including last week’s result.
“We wanted to try and put in a performance full of effort and endeavour, physicality and everything that was needed. I think we got that.
“You could see by the way the players were at the end. I always say you should come crawling off the pitch having given everything you’ve got, and I think we gave everything we’ve got today.
“Credit to the lads, it was huge effort and motivation. Of course we want the three but one point against a very good side is a good point in the end.”
Darrell Clarke felt his Barnsley side should have left the Abbey Stadium with the three points, but spoke highly of his team’s reaction to going behind early on.
“It’s a frustrated changing room, which is a good sign,” Clarke said. “The performance was worthy of a win but you’ve got to finish your chances.
“We’ve got to work on that and improve areas of the game at putting the ball in the back of the net when we get those opportunities, get the final ball right, get the final cross right. Today wasn’t our day.
“The performance was good, just missing a goal or two. They scored a deflection, we responded well with a great goal and then the second half I thought we were pretty dominant and just couldn’t put the ball in the net.
“It was a great drive and run (by Humphrys) to hit the ball with that much power after running about 50 or 60 yards was a great finish.
“I’ve been pleased with a lot about the performance today, but obviously frustrated and disappointed we didn’t take the three points.”
Ange Postecoglou insisted his controversial cupped ear celebration to Tottenham fans in a 1-0 loss at Chelsea had been misinterpreted on another bad night for the Australian.Spurs slipped to a 16th defeat in the Premier League this season thanks to a 50th-minute header by Enzo Fernandez, but it only told half the story of a typically frenzied London derby.VAR was required to rule out a fine strike...
Chelsea climbed back into the Premier League’s top four as Enzo Fernandez’s header early in the second half earned a 1-0 derby win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.Enzo Maresca’s side were under pressure after limping into the international break playing football that had ceased to excite home fans, but they largely had the better of a disappointing Spurs team that failed to tak...
David Moyes believes James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid a red card for his reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister as Everton were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal, which Moyes claimed should have been ruled out for offside, gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were...
Jack Grealish dedicated his goal to his late brother after scoring in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Leicester on Wednesday.The England international hit his first Premier League goal for 16 months, on his first start in the competition since last December, as City moved back into fourth with a comfortable success at the Etihad Stadium.It came on the 25th anniversary of...
David Moyes bemoaned an “offside” goal that gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Everton – but admitted James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid an early red card on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were left unhappy with decisions from referee Sam Barr...
Eddie Howe hailed Sandro Tonali’s shooting power after seeing him cap a fine display with a stunning winner to edge Newcastle into the race for Champions League qualification.The 24-year-old Italy international brought an incident-packed encounter to a fitting conclusion with a 74th-minute piledriver which beat goalkeeper Mark Flekken from an improbable angle to hand the Magpies a precious 2...
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes Marcus Rashford is “progressively getting better” in all aspects of his game following his first Premier League goal for the club.The on-loan Manchester United forward set Villa on course for a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow European hopefuls Brighton with a 51st-minute finish at the Amex Stadium.Rashford’s milestone strike came three days ...
Southampton boss Ivan Juric vowed to keep fighting as relegation moved sharply into focus after Crystal Palace denied them only a third Premier League win of the season.Substitute Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time header, to secure a 1-1 draw for the Eagles, means Saints will be down at the weekend if they lose at Tottenham and Wolves beat Ipswich.If relegation is confirmed on Sunday, Southampt...
Derby boss John Eustace insists his side are reaping the rewards for the hard work they have put in since he was appointed as manager after the Rams earned a 2-0 win over Preston to climb out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone.Derby came out firing after a lacklustre opening period and Craig Forsyth coolly slotted the hosts in front with his fourth goal of the season.The Rams doubled thei...
Notts County manager Stuart Maynard hailed a “massive” three points as his side comfortably saw off MK Dons at Meadow Lane to maintain their promotion challenge.Two stunning strikes from David McGoldrick and Will Jarvis from the edge of the box, either side of Nick Tsaroulla’s close-range effort, earned County a convincing 3-0 win.“I think every three points is massive now,...
- 1 Hot WAG flaunts 'astonishing' washboard abs in bikini
- 2 Danny Rohl hails Sheffield Wednesday resilience in draw at Cardiff
- 3 Alfie May double sends Birmingham step closer to Championship
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Ryan Lowe and Conor Hourihane felt team deserved more as Wigan and Barnsley draw
- 6 Mat Sadler hails Taylor Allen set-piece skills after Walsall snatch draw
- 7 Chris Davies says Alfie May’s goal drought never concerned him
- 8 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 9 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis
- 10 Chelsea prepare €70m for Barcelona defender