Joe Dunne begins permanent spell as Cambridge boss in style

Posted Sunday, May 06, 2018 by PA

Joe Dunne lauded his Cambridge team’s attacking performance after they hammered Port Vale.

The U’s cruised to a 5-0 victory to end the campaign in the top half of the League Two table.

David Amoo and Harrison Dunk put Cambridge ahead before the break, with Brad Halliday, Barry Corr and Billy Waters completing the rout.

It was a stylish start to Joe Dunne’s permanent career in charge of Cambridge, having signed a three-year contract during the week after a successful interim spell.

“We wanted to come here and have some energy about us,” said Dunne. “Obviously the conditions made it difficult, however I thought we were very professional and very clinical.

“Once we got the first we got into wonderful positions through some great football and movement and on another day we could have scored a few more goals, if you wanted to be picky. The thing is that we’re creating and that’s important.

“You want to take that momentum and energy into the off-season. We spoke at half-time about getting the energy rocking, they’ve come here today to see it so try and go out in style.

“Today we were ruthless. We were clinical at the moments we needed to be and that’s hurt Port Vale because there wasn’t a lot in the game initially.

“With the type of players we’ve got we should score more goals. It’s been hard to score goals this season.

“As much as we want to score as many goals as we can we have to make sure that we get the balance right. We’ve got the players to attack so we attack.”

Port Vale boss Neil Aspin is eager to rebuild over the summer.

“Of course there’s a lack of quality but there’s a lack of fight,” Aspin said after the game.

“That’s the one thing you cannot tolerate, you can’t stand for that. I’ve always said as long as people put in 100 per cent effort and commitment then sometimes you might play against people who are better than you, but there’s no excuse for that performance.

“It will be changed. We’ll start again.

“What we need now is players who can play at this level consistently. We need to have a stronger team so that when we’re giving younger lads a chance then they can come on when we’re on top and show what they can do.

“It’s a massive job ahead. I know it’s going to be difficult but the first job was to avoid relegation, which we’ve done.

“Now we’ve got to make sure we put out a better team so when we come here next season we’re able to put on a better display and give the fans a team that they can take some pride in.

“For me it’s a low point in a low season.”