Garry Monk vowed to fight on as Cambridge boss despite suffering a fifth straight defeat in Sky Bet League One.
Bristol Rovers’ 1-0 win against United, coupled with Northampton’s success at Burton, leaves Monk’s side eight points adrift of safety.
Had Cambridge won they would be only two points behind 20th-placed Rovers, but their run of defeats leaves them facing an enormous task if they are to remain in the division.
“I’ve been a fighter my whole life, there’s no lying down for me. I’m just not that character,” Monk said afterwards. “I feel like I work hard and do the right things.
“I’ve got no complaints with the players. It would be different if you saw a team that was just flat and giving up. We’ve seen a lot of teams like that in these situations but I don’t think that’s the case.
“I’ll continue to work as hard as I can, push the players, give them all the experience and belief I can in them, and trust that can turn it around.
“I’ve got no complaints in terms of application, determination, effort and endeavour. But we’ve come up short in the critical areas of the game. The good play that we do have and the good pressure that we have, especially in these last two games, that final bit of quality and composure has let us down.
“There’s not been teams that have come here and put sustained pressure on us, it’s just been moments, a situation where you’ve got to defend in those moments. We’ve come up short in those areas as well.”
Bristol Rovers boss Inigo Calderon celebrated his first win as Gas coach on his 43rd birthday.
Luke Thomas headed the decisive goal after 26 minutes before United captain Michael Morrison was sent off for a second yellow card late on.
“I’m really happy for the boys, they fully deserved today,” said Calderon. “They did exactly what we wanted them to do. They played when they felt they could play, and it’s not easy on this pitch, it was not perfect conditions to play, but they understood that it’s the way to have some control.
“We conceded three goals in the last three games, it’s difficult to get points when you concede that many goals. To bring a clean sheet back today is really, really important.
“I saw the improvement. I was feeling the atmosphere in the dressing room and the training ground. It was better but you have to win, otherwise it’s not enough. That helps to get the results and I saw that today, they had that belief.
“They played with great quality. I don’t think you see a team that is fighting at the bottom with that confidence and that’s credit to them.”
