Garry Monk left wondering when Cambridge’s luck will change

Frustrated Garry Monk wants to see Cambridge’s luck change after their 2-1 defeat at Mansfield.

Lee Gregory’s brace was enough to give Mansfield victory and leave struggling United still seeking a first league victory of the season.

Gregory opened the scoring on 39 minutes with a composed finish, before Emmanuel Longelo levelled five minutes after half-time.

The visitors saw a penalty shout waved away after Shayne Lavery went down following a challenge by Deji Oshilaja on 65 minutes.

Mansfield found the winner three minutes later when Gregory curled home a beauty from just inside the box.

“It just seems a lot of stuff and moments are going against us,” said Monk. “We had one cleared off the line and two blatant penalties go against us.

“They were critical moments where you need some help. How the two penalty decisions have gone against us I just don’t know, they were blatant.

“It baffles me how they haven’t been given. We need those moments, they change games.

“It is a double-whammy because we have lost Shayne and now we have also lost the player to injury.

“I really felt sorry for everyone today, out of all the results we have had, that is the one where we deserved something the most.

“We did more than enough in the game to win it, let alone draw. We couldn’t have done much more for an away performance than what we did

“We responded well to going behind and showed character. We were good offensively for most of the game but moments you need to go for you just aren’t going for us.”

Mansfield manager Nigel Clough called on his side to be better in possession.

“We gave away a free-kick in the corner and the pressure at the end came from that,” he said.

“We should keep the ball better, we have to keep it better or the opposition will hurt you. There are some lessons from today.

“We gave it away far too much all over the pitch today. We get a little bit too frustrated and try to get forward too fast.

“You have to be more patient at this level and we have to learn that quickly and be better. When you do give the ball away you don’t get it back as quickly as in League Two.

“It was backs to the wall today and we got away with a couple. I thought Cambridge were very good indeed.

“It just shows the step up from last season and the quality in the league. It couldn’t have been any more difficult today.

“Cambridge have some really good competent players, they are struggling at the wrong end of the table and it just highlights the strength of this league.”