Stevenage manager Alex Revell described his side’s performance as “unacceptable” after they fell to a 2-0 loss at home to Cambridge in League One.
It was a second win on the bounce for the U’s following their victory over Wigan by the same scoreline, ending nine games without a success.
Korey Smith scored in the 32nd minute before Sullay Kaikai wrapped things up at the death but it was the manner of the loss that angered Revell.
“We were unrecognisable, outfought (and lacking) a desire to win first contact or second balls,” he said.
“It’s extremely disappointing (and far) from the levels that have been set.
“If you don’t look after the ball and you keep turning it over, you give teams oxygen to breathe and we did that.
“We never got in a rhythm, never got going and just fell way short everywhere. When you do that, you don’t win games, simple as that.
“It’s unacceptable. We don’t get out fought here. That’s the biggest thing. This is our ground and we have a way of playing. You can be better in possession and things like that but you don’t get outfought.
“You ask players to look at their own individual performances and there’s not one that can look themselves in the mirror and say ‘I’ve absolutely been at my best, I’ve given it all’.
“Second half we played backwards too often. We want to go forward with the ball and we were demanding it to go forward but we went backwards and that allowed them to get back into their shape and be extremely difficult to break down.
“Just not good enough and we have to make sure it never happens again.”
Cambridge manager Garry Monk was delighted with his side’s second consecutive win.
He said: “These are not hanging on wins that we’ve had. We’ve been able to get the points we want but putting performances on with it just increases the confidence.
“The performances have been really, really pleasing and I’m delighted for everyone. The away end was rocking.
“I just thought we had great spirit, the desire and the determination to really fight for each other and run. And then at certain moments, when we needed quality, we produced it.
“We created quite a few good opportunities and we took our moments. It was well deserved.
“That’s the pleasing bit. We would have taken any type of win but the fact we’ve backed them up with really strong performances, that bodes well.
“With this it just shows, not only our fans, but it shows the players themselves (what they are capable of).”
