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A first half defensive error allowed Lee Trundle to score the only goal in a frustrating afternoon for United at the Abbey Stadium.
Herve Renard made four changes to the side beaten at Watford in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night, recalling Andy Duncan and Luke Guttridge in place of youngsters Dan Gleeson and Darren Quinton, and restoring Daniel Chillingworth and Danny Webb to the side in place of the injured Shane Tudor and John Turner. Included among the substitutes was former Peterborough United reserve Rory Hutton who signed non-contract terms on Friday afternoon following a trial spell. The 20-year-old left back has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-17, 18 and 19 level. Swansea also made four changes from the team that lost 3-0 at QPR in their midweek Carling Cup game, calling up captain Roberto Martinez, Brad Maylett, Paul Connor and Izzy Iriekpen for Kevin Austin (suspended), Adrian Forbes, Leon Britton and Kevin Nugent.
The U’s started very brightly and Ashley Nicholls underlined the attacking intent by getting forward in the opening minute but firing across goal and wide from outside the area. Lee Trundle tried a shot on the turn that rolled though to John Ruddy in the fifth minute but the opening stages were dominated by the U’s as Jermaine Easter joined Webb and Chillingworth in a dangerous front three and the Swansea defence was pulled all over the place. In the seventh minute Guttridge and Walker linked well and Guttridge burst into the area but was bundled off the ball before deciding whether to shoot or cross. Two minutes later the home crowd found their voices as Guttridge sent Easter scampering away down the flank, taking the ball on his chest and chipping it over a defender, but his cross curled away from goal and just evaded the supporting Nicholls. Easter used his pace to beat Ricketts a few minutes later and although the defender tried holding him back he crossed for Guttridge, but the midfielder’s first time shot flew wide from 30 yards. The front men continued to create space and chances and Chillingworth had a shot blocked while Guttridge scooped the ball over from eight yards at a difficult angle, but despite all the pressure the goal proved elusive and Swansea started to find a toehold into the game.
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Cambridge |
| Ruddy |
| Angus |
| Duncan |
| Tann |
| El Khloti |
| Guttridge |
| Nicholls |
| Walker |
| Chillingworth |
| Easter |
| Webb |
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SWANSEA |
| Gueret |
| Iriekpen |
| Monk |
| Ricketts |
| Tate |
| Martinez |
| Maylett |
| O’Leary |
| Connor |
| Robinson |
| Trundle |
|
REFEREE |
| K Friend |
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ATTENDANCE |
| 2,949 |
On 18 minutes Walker conceded a free kick 25 yards from goal on the left with a foul on winger Robinson, who curled the ball over United’s two man wall and wide, but four minutes later United handed the visitors the lead with a defensive error. A Guttridge free kick came to nothing, a quick punt forward saw Angus and Duncan going for the same ball on the edge of the area, and it fell neatly for Trundle whose 15 yard volley dipped over the stranded Ruddy and into the net. United regrouped and came agonisingly close to equalising just two minutes later when the ball pinballed around the Swansea area. Danny Webb’s great effort smacked off the inside of the post and out again, Guttridge and Nicholls both swiped at the loose ball as Swansea’s defence tried to clear it, and then Walker found room for the shot just outside the area but drilled it wide of the post. Trundle threatened again on the half hour when the ball bounced off Walker and ran for Trundle but his first time shot went wide, and as Swansea set up to defend their lead and frustrate United there were a series of crunching challenges and free kicks to United.
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Goals |
Maylett followed in on Ruddy and left the keeper in a heap for a moment, then former U’s loanee Iriekpen clattered Webb but Guttridge’s free kick was easy for Gueret, and in the 37th minute Mr Friend finally lost his patience and booked O’Leary for fouling Easter, but Guttridge’s subsequent free kick was easy again for the Swans. Walker saw an effort sail wide on 42 and in the 45th minute, after an earlier warning for a high challenge on Ricketts, Nicholls followed O’Leary into the book for holding back the same man. Then in stoppage time Iriekpen peeled away from his marker at a corner but headed over the bar, and there was some pushing and shoving afterwards as he and Webb clashed and exchanged words before the whistle blew for half-time. The tetchy nature of the game continued after the break with some crunching challenges from Swansea and more free kicks to United, and in the 50th minute Connor, another former U’s loanee, conceded a free kick in a promising position for his challenge on Tann.
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| Cambridge |
| None |
| Swansea |
| Trundle 22 |
| Card Count |
| Booked |
| Cambridge |
| Nicholls 45 |
| Tann 89 |
| Walker 90 |
| Swansea |
| O’Leary 37 |
| Sent Off |
| Cambridge |
| None |
| Swansea |
| None |
| Match Pictures |
The danger was half-cleared but the ball eventually returned to the Swansea area to be met by Webb, whose header drew a save from Gueret. United were still struggling to make any pressure pay and there was more frustration on 52 when Walker tried to play a 1-2 with Guttridge, but the U’s captain tried to beat his man rather than pick out Walker’s run and Iriekpen made a good challenge to win possession. Herve Renard decided to shake things up after an hour and sent on teenagers Dan Gleeson and Darren Quinton for Angus and Webb, which saw Gleeson go to right back and Tann move into the centre of defence, and Quinton take up station on the left of midfield and Chillingworth pushing up front from a more withdrawn role on the left. The move almost paid off immediately when Chillingworth was pulled down by Iriekpen just outside the area at the expense of a free kick, and when Guttridge’s shot on the turn was blocked and fell for Chilli he fired just wide of the post. Moments later, on 63, Guttridge’s corner bounced around the Swansea area and Tann and Quinton both saw shots blocked or hacked away before Chillingworth met a low cross back into the area, and his shot went between Iriekpen’s legs and had to be smothered at the second attempt by Gueret. United had clearly raised their game and the better spell continued as Quinton worked his way into the area but his touch took the ball slightly too far, and although he tried a deft chip with his weaker left-foot Gueret was able to collect the ball. United went close again on 67 when Walker played a good ball over the full-back and into the path of Elkholti, whose low shot was blocked by the ‘keeper but ran for Guttridge, and his first time shot whistled inches wide of the far post. Swansea boss Kenny Jackett decided changes were necessary and made a double substitution to replace both wide men in the 70th minute, bringing on Leon Britton and Adrian Forbes for Robinson and Maylett. Time-wasting was clearly to the fore as both men dawdled off with the home crowded venting its frustration, but Mr Friend did no more than have a word with Maylett as he wandered past. The visitors continued to frustrate and waste time at every goal kick and set piece and Renard made his final change on 76, handing a surprise debut to yesterday’s non-contract signing Rory Hutton in place of Elkholti. The Cambridge-born Irish under-19 international slotted in neatly and showed some good touches in the closing stages, linking well with fellow youngster Quinton and looking especially impressive bringing the ball forward. Jermaine Easter continued to use his pace to trouble the Swans defence and on 77 Gueret dropped the ball under pressure from the pacy striker but managed to smother it at the second attempt, and soon afterwards Easter caused a flutter in the defence as he chased down a loose ball but the ball was forced back to Gueret. Jackett made his final change on 83, bringing on Gary Fiskin for O’Leary, and again they dawdled over the change with the clear intention of running down the clock. Hutton made a good run and cross towards Chillingworth with five minutes remaining but Gueret came to make a good save, and seconds later he was quickly off his line to make a vital block from Easter after the striker raced into the area and rounded Iriekpen. With time running out, Swansea slowed the pace even more, lingering over every set piece, breaking up play and frustrating the U’s players and fans alike. There was more booing with two minutes left after Hutton made another good break from defence and supplied Easter, but although play moved quickly to Guttridge and then Chillingworth, there was no support for the striker as he looked for options and the move broke down. After all that good pressure from United there was a scare at the other end when Trundle was allowed to advance and Ruddy seemed to lose sight of the ball in the air, fumbling it and forcing Duncan to nod behind for a corner. Four minutes of time was added and Walker’s frustration appeared to boil over when he and Trundle clashed and both were called to Mr Friend for a warning. Chillingworth was then clattered as he chased a ball down the line from Quinton, and Walker was booked for fouling Fiskin before United mounted one last charge. The willing Nicholls broke away and found Hutton on the overlap, playing a one-two with him before finding Quinton whose cross was too deep for auxiliary forward Duncan, but the ball was played back for Guttridge who retained possession and Walker crossed the ball in again, but it dropped at a difficult angle for Quinton and the youngster’s first time shot lacked power, being clutched gratefully by Gueret.
SOURCE: CAMBRIDGE UNITED OFFICIAL WEBSITE
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