Martin Ling was delighted with the "quality" goals scored in the second half of Saturday's FA Cup win against Conference North side Ilkeston Town, but he also praised the defence for preserving a 1-0 lead that looked fragile at times.
Chris Holroyd gave the U's a dream start with his fifth minute goal, but the hard-working Robins came into the game as it went on and Jai Reason's fantastic strike in the 65th minute was well-timed to settle some nerves.
"We got the early goal but let's be fair - for an hour it was an even game," admitted the U's boss.
"I said to the players at half-time that I thought we were standing off them a bit and we needed to put our foot down, and when we did that we scored three quality goals.
"It was nice to see because once we did put our foot to the pedal the answers were certainly there. Jai's goal released a bit of pressure, although the back four were coping with them, although they had that long shot that hit the bar.
"The back four have looked solid and that was back-to-back clean sheets today, which can get overlooked in a four-nil victory. But for me they were doing a proper job for the hour to allow us to then go on and express ourselves once we'd got that second goal.
"They were outstanding and when we needed them in that first hour they were there for us."
Courtney Pitt made it 3-0 with a superb free kick over the wall in the 72nd minute, and was immediately replaced by Jon Challinor for his first appearance of the season. He set up Chris Holroyd for a shot that he missed from close-range, but then teed up fellow sub Adam Marriott four minutes from time and the teenager made no mistake with a classy first goal on his home debut.
"It's a squad game, and something that has to be said about the squad today is that there were six youth team players in that squad of eighteen," said a delighted Ling.
"We were talking about this emphasis at the start of the season about how we're going to build the club, and today there were six players who have come through that youth system, which is pleasing.
"Jon Challinor (above) got his first chance today and did well, and the more players who are playing well the better for me as a manager. It gives me a good selection headache."
The draw for the second round takes place tomorrow (Sunday) live on ITV1 at 3.35pm, and Ling was asked if he would prefer a home draw against a smaller club or one of the bigger clubs for an immediate payday.
"There are two ways of looking at it," he responded. "Is it better to get a nice home draw and a chance of getting to the third round and one of the really big boys, or one of the four big teams in League One that we could draw in the next round?
"You can't ever say any game would be easy, so whatever comes it gives us a chance to have a decent cup run and put some smiles on supporters' faces."
United are at home again next weekend to third-placed Kettering Town, and Ling challenged his men to extend their winning run: "They won away today at Hartlepool so it will be a tough game.
"I went to watch them on Tuesday with Paul Carden and they're a decent outfit and it will be a good test for us, but we've won three on the trot now. I know two of those were cup games but we've been looking for some consistency and we can make it four games with a good result next Saturday."
Our league match at Oxford United on Saturday 28th November will now be rearranged as that is the date for the second round of the FA Cup.
Cambridge United's number in tomorrow's draw is 10, and some of the names to look out for are ex-Premiership clubs Leeds United (ball no.9), Southampton (15), Norwich City (19) and Charlton Athletic/Northwich (35).
[Match report] [Fixture list]
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