Jimmy Quinn has called for togetherness as his squad was further affected by injuries in Tuesday's defeat at Rushden.

The home side took an early lead and maintained it for the rest of the half, although Michael Morrison had a header cleared off the line and Andy Duncan and Jon Brady were both denied before half-time.

After the break Dean Holdsworth almost equalised with a superb free kick that was saved at full-stretch by Scott Tynan, but he left the field with a hamstring problem midway through the half and the home side extended their lead with a free header 15 minutes from time, then scored again five minutes later, rendering Morrison's 93rd minute goal meaningless to all but the young defender himself.

"It was disappointing because we conceded a goal so early," admitted Jimmy Quinn, "but then we did well for the best part of an hour. Even after half-time it was all us for 10-15 minutes, but then we conceded a soft second goal from a corner and ended up getting beaten."

Three players came off with injuries during the match and Quinn must wait to see how bad they are, although new right back Dean Hooper will definitely miss Saturday's match at home to Woking.

"Dean Hooper came off with a bad ankle, Dean Holdsworth felt his hamstring, and Jordan Collins came off with a sore calf and Achilles.

"We'll have to assess them and see how they are for the weekend, but Dean Hooper will miss out anyway because that was his fifth booking of the season," revealed the manager.

"The injury situation at the club has been horrific. Tommy Jaszczun is having an operation on his foot today, Danny Brown will be out for another week or two, David Bridges is probably another week away, and now we've picked up these knocks last night," he added.

"It's been a catalogue of injuries since I got to the club and it's been very difficult, but we have to keep battling away and if I can get two or three players in this week then I'm sure that when we get a win we'll go on a run and get ourselves into a safer position."

Quinn also reiterated his concerns about the continual pressure on 18-year-old left back Collins and is trying to bring in a more experienced left-sided player before Saturday's match at home to Woking.

"Jordan has done very, very well but you have to protect the kids and you could see in his play last night that he was struggling a little bit. He's going to be a good player but he's learning the game and we need some experience in there at the moment."

Collins was beaten for the home side's 7th minute opening goal last night, which set the tone for a performance that bore no resemblance to the one at Stevenage three days earlier.

"The fans were frustrated last night but everyone was frustrated and it's been difficult," said Quinn. "I played Andy Duncan in midfield to win a few tackles because we haven't won a tackle in there. He did very well but people were questioning that, but it's a case of using what bodies are available.

"I put Stephen Smith on at left-back when Jordan had to come off, because Matt Bloomer had already had to go on at right-back for Dean Hooper and there was only Steve Smith and Josh Simpson on the bench. Smithy has a bit of a left foot so I put him on at left-back because I had no one else to put there.

"I appreciate the frustration of the fans but we have to stick together and try to give ourselves the best possible chance to turn the corner," he added. "We've had a horrific injury list this season but I'm trying to get two or three players in by the weekend, which will hopefully make us a better team.

"If the lads weren't trying and I'd lost them, then I'd be the first to go to the chairman and admit it and say that something else needed to be done, but they're all giving effort, they're desperate to do well and they feel the disappointment, and we have to stick together."

Do you agree with the manager? Talk about it on the message board!

Your help is needed! If you could contribute articles for the website, whether on a regular or occasional basis, please drop a line to Andrea on web@cambridge-united.co.uk

[Match report] [Fixture List] [League Table]

You are respectfully reminded that any article, as with all content on this website, unless otherwise stated, is subject to copyright © and the Official Cambridge United Website must be acknowledged as the original source including all quotes.

AT070124