Joe Dunne impressed by Cambridge flying out of blocks against Crawley

Posted Saturday, March 31, 2018 by PA

Joe Dunne praised his Cambridge players for their intent from the start after they secured a 3-1 victory against Crawley.

The U’s ran out comfortable winners, with the result looking in little doubt following goals in the first 22 minutes from Jabo Ibehre and George Maris.

Crawley threatened a response through Josh Payne’s penalty, but Maris played in Jevani Brown to seal the result just before the hour.

“We talked about energy and a real intensity, we’ve been talking about it for a long time. We started the game really intensely,” Dunne said after the game.

“We didn’t quite expect them to play the formation that they did in the first half but that’s another compliment to us, but we had a game plan for how they play because they’re an expansive team.

“Our start was excellent, the 15 or 20 minutes where we pressed and harried, it set the tone of the game and then scoring the two goals we took control of it.

“Both wide men were active, we had players active in the game which was important and then when we had to play some good stuff we were composed.”

On the impressive Maris, who played in a deeper role than usual, Dunne added: “There was a moment against Chesterfield where we dropped him in a touch and played him behind the ball, but that’s what he can bring.

“He can get on the ball and make forward passes, players can take runs off that and so on. The key thing is he’s adding goals now to his game. Goals and assists from a midfield player is exciting.”

Crawley boss Harry Kewell bemoaned another poor start by his side, which followed three early goals conceded in his side’s 5-3 defeat to Cheltenham last week.

“You look at the two goals and you’re wondering how is it possible,” he said. “I think they had one other chance. You can’t give teams two-goal leads, it’s as simple as this. It’s just an uphill battle that way.

“We’re good enough to get into the game at any moment and when we do, we’ve got to be able to step on that peddle that little bit more and finish teams off.

“We had an idea of where we wanted to be. We have achieved that goal by beating the record from last year, surviving. I think people forget we were second favourites to go down.

“This team has done amazing. This team is playing football. They’re not lumping the ball, hitting long balls into the channel and hoping. Some of the football we play is phenomenal.”