Despite losing the game, Stutes manager Alan Lewer spoke exclusively to cambridgeunited.com and remained upbeat about his side's performance having nothing but praise in the way they equipped themselves to a typical derby day atmosphere.
"I'm proud of my players - I thought they worked hard, as both teams did and fair play to Cambridge, you've come away with the points and at the end of the day that's what it is all about. We could have thought it was our day when you hit the woodwork as probably you did when our goal was chalked off. But Paul has hit it back in well and it's won a match that I thought deserved to finish as a draw.
"Martin has brought in some experience here and for our youngsters to match them and to still play some decent football is great. We moved the ball around well and our play actually deadened the crowd in the first half. Second half we just couldn't hold out against your pressure but I can't knock any of my lads for how they tried."
As is usual in these encounters not being one for the purists, Alan reflected more on the referee decisions that played such a big part in the result.
"I thought as a game it was a bit scrappy. In fact we were all trying to get the ball replaced because it had gone out of shape after spending a lot of the first half going over the stands and coming back on. But it was a typical derby containing something for everyone, including a missed penalty, which I thought was harsh but we obviously took it as you would if the situation was reversed. I'd like to see our disallowed headed goal again - he's given it for offside but maybe not until I've seen the DVD can I be certain."
Bemoaning a little bit of naivety in the way his side failed to hang on to their lead the former United number two at least could still see some positives to take back over the A14.
"We went one-nil up and should have been able to see the game out from that position. We are a young side, which has only just been put together; we pass it better than we ever have done. We will be half-decent when they grow up a little bit and learn how to kill games off - It's getting them through that period.
"We managed that against Tamworth and Gateshead but today in front of 3000 or so roaring their team on, especially when we are defending the Newmarket Road End, that's a different proposition for them. But we will take the plus points from the game and become a stronger side from it."
Interview by David Gray
Cambridge United: YOUR CITY - YOUR CLUB
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