Cambridge United fell to a sixth straight league loss despite an improved performance on recent games.

The news before kick off wasn't good with the team sheets showing Danny Potter, Brian Saah and Paul Carden all out injured. Simon Russell made his first start for the club with Antonio Murray on the bench and Laurie Walker also making his first competitive appearance.

The U's couldn't have started any worse and found themselves a goal down inside eight minutes as Aiden Palmer tried to shepherd the ball out for a goalkick, only to lose the ball to winger Barry Cogan, who cut back across goal and fired past Walker at his near post.

However it was United who had the best of the remainder of the half, and only good goalkeeping and poor decision making meant the score was still 1-0 at half time. Jai Reason was denied a penalty appeal and then Danny Crow was set free by Reason on the left before seeing his shot clawed wide by an excellent Simon Raynor save, before Crow again had the chance to equalise.

Electing to pull the ball back to the onrushing Sam Ives, he only found the goalkeeper's hands when shooting was probably the best option. Half time arrived with Reason and Russell central to every U's attack, with Ives and Gleeson also impressing.

The second half again saw United have most of the ball, but crucially Rayner was largely untested. The keeper nearly lost the flight of a Willmott delivery before desperately claiming the ball before it went straight in, and United won a large number of corners but were unable to come close to forcing an equaliser.

It could be argued that Crawley came closest to scoring the next goal, as former U Charles Ademeno charge down Walker's kick out but not finding the target, and next Karl Broadhurst header over when unchallenged.

United worked hard for the ball and enjoyed no shortage of possession, but time ran down and they were unable to break through. The result is a sixth straight league loss for Martin Ling's side, and Tuesday's FA Trophy Replay at Salisbury now takes on even greater importance.

Man of the match- Simon Russell. Making his first start for The U's, the midfielder was central to all the attacking moves of the first half and never decreased the amount of ground he covered.

Matt Ramsay.

14.30 Welcome to the Broadfield Stadium for this afternoon's league fixture between Crawley Town and Cambridge United. The teams have been announced and The U's are without a number of key personnel with Danny Potter, Brian Saah and Paul Carden all out injured.

Team news: Crawley: Simon Rayner; Simon Rusk, Sam Rents, Karl Broadhurst, Adam Quinn (c); Eddie Hutchinson, Thomas Pinault, Barry Cogan, Ben Smith; Michael Malcolm, Charles Ademeno.

Subs: Danny Forrest, Lewis Killeen, Nick Jordan, Max Lake-Edwards, Ben King.

Cambridge United: Walker; Gleeson (c), Palmer, Coulson, Partridge; Reason, Ives, Russell, Willmott; Crow, Phillips.

Subs: Beesley, Murray, McAuley, Coakley, Marriott.

14.40 Forced into changes, Martin Ling hands Laurie Walker a United debut in goal, Simon Russell starts for the first time and David Partridge makes his league debut. If Antonio Murray comes off the bench to play, not only will he be making his debut but it will also mark the first time a father and son have both represented Cambridge United. (But not at the same time)

14.50 The United fans are more penned in than recent seasons after being allocated an area behind the goal of about a third of the width of the pitch. The players are back in the dressing rooms after their warm-up.

15.00 The teams are out, Crawley in their red and white home kit, while United are in their amber sash strip. Crawley win the toss and elect to kick towards the away fans in the first half. We're underway at The Broadfield.

15.00 The teams are out, Crawley in their red and white home kit, while United are in their amber sash strip. Crawley win the toss and elect to kick towards the away fans in the first half. We're underway at The Broadfield.

15.02 Aiden Palmer goes down clutching his head within the first ninety seconds of play and requires treatment from Greg Reid. It's much warmer than it has been at recent away fixtures, with the press box sporting many less layers than in recent weeks.

15.03 The first goalmouth action of the afternoon sees Charles Ademeno cut inside of Josh Coulson from the right hand side and scuff an effort wide of the near post.

16.06 The U's get the ball forward for the first time as Dan Gleeson claims a corner after challenging for a header from a freekick, but referee Mike Bull gives a goalkick.

GOAL: 15.08 Crawley 1-0 CUFC. Barry Cogan steals the ball off Aiden Palmer when the ball should have easily been shepherded out of play, and the winger cuts inside and fires into Laurie Walker's near corner. Not the start The U's had in mind and it's a very poor goal to concede.

15.11 Danny Crow concedes a freekick and the ball somehow ends of just wide of the far post after Charles Ademeno peeled off at the back post, the ball taking a touch for a corner. Walker claims the delivery.

15.13 Danny Crow is barged over for a freekick which he takes quickly, but his through ball finds Lee Phillips offside, and he dragged his shot wide anyway.

15.14 Robbie Willmott finds some space on the left after a knock-down by Phillips, he comes inside a number of players before over hitting his delivery for a goalkick.

15.17 Robbie Willmott makes good progress on the left and pulls the ball back for Lee Phillips ten yards out, but his effort is well charged down by Adam Quinn. Phillips insists it was a handball but the referee is unmoved.

15.21 Charles Ademeno is clattered by David Partridge, who can have no complaints when a yellow yard is waved in his direction.

15.22 Willmott sets Sam Ives on a run on the left and he's joined by Aiden Palmer, before the leftback over runs the ball and Barry Cogan plays the ball off him for a goalkick.

15.24 Jai Reason makes a fine run forward before being upended inside the area. The referee puts his whistle to his lips before realising that it's inside the area, so he doesn't give it... The second ball sets Crow free on the right and he is felled inside the box as well, but the flag was already up for offside.

15.27 David Partridge concedes a corner as Laurie Walker can't pick up his backpass. From the setpiece, Charles Ademeno heads a free header over the bar from Thomas Pinault's pass.

15.29 A good spell for The U's sees Simon Russell overlap on the right and a deliver a cross that just evades Phillips and is eventually cleared for a throw.

15.32 Dan Gleeson plays a blind pass straight to an opposing player, and Ademeno's run is only ended by an interception from the terrier-like Russell.

15.33 The increasingly impressive Russell is at the centre of every United attack, and he runs down the right again but us unable to find either striker.

15.35 Makeshift winger Phillips wins The U's their first corner of the afternoon, and Simon Rayner drops Willmott's cross, only for the ball to drop kindly for him.

15.36 The best move of the match sees Jai Reason run into space from a fine ball from Sam Ives, and Reason slips the ball through for Danny Crow on the left edge of the box, only for Rayner to make an excellent one handed save. He punches the corner behind for another one before catching the next delivery.

15.38 A through ball finds both Crow and Ives through on goal, and with the choice of shooting or passing Crow opts to pull the ball back or his team mate, but his pass is poor and Rayner makes an easy claim. With two options, Crow chose neither. Golden chance for The U's.

15.40 The game is being played in the Crawley half, with the hosts content to drop back and use their pace on the break.

15.44 Aiden Palmer once again loses the ball in a very dangerous position, and Thomas Pinault cuts inside and fires a left footed effort on goal, Walker atones for Palmer's effort by getting down to make a save. One minute has been added on.

15.45 Robbie Willmott finds space on the left and drills a cross in on goal which is cleared, before Simon Russell blazes an effort well over. That's half time. The U's are playing much better than they have in recent games but trail by a goal.

HALF TIME, Crawley Town 1-0 Cambridge United.

16.01 No changes at half time and the action is back underway.

16.03 The U's win a corner thanks to Aiden Palmer on the left wing, the area their fans are congregated behind. The ball is a good one and they win another on the opposite flank.

16.04 Robbie Willmott nearly gets lucky as his in-swinging freekick deceives Rayner, who claims the ball just before it goes all the way in.

16.06 Palmer marauds forward and wins a freekick for a clear handball by Karl Broadhurst, who is booked. Willmott's freekick goes to Rayner's hands at the near post.

16.08 United are winning a succession of freekicks, Crow and Palmer the latest victims, much to the annoyance of the Crawley faithful and Steve Evans.