Cambridge United's EFL Cup campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Millwall at the Cledara Abbey Stadium this week. Jake Cooper's early goal settled the tie, sending the Championship side through to the third round.
Neil Harris's side, currently sitting 4th in League One with four points from their opening two games, faced a Millwall team that made ten changes. The visitors started strongly, hitting the crossbar twice in the opening quarter of an hour. Millwall manager Alex Neil later said his team should have scored more in that dominant spell.
How did the match unfold?
Millwall's pressure told early on when defender Jake Cooper found the net. The Lions continued to create chances and were the better side for much of the first half. Cambridge United, who have scored four goals and conceded three in the league this season, struggled to gain a foothold initially.
Neil Harris, Millwall's all-time record goalscorer and a former boss at The Den, made tactical adjustments. The U's put an extra defender into their back line to try and stem the flow. Millwall responded by changing their own shape, attempting to create a spare player in midfield. The tactical battle saw the visitors flip their formation again in the second period.
What was the reaction after the game?
Millwall boss Alex Neil gave his assessment to Southwark News. "It’s always nice to win games. I think we started the season really well. These games are never easy for anyone," he said. Neil added, "In the first 15 to 20 minutes, we probably should have scored more."
The win was a pleasing one for Neil, who saw his side work hard to protect their slender lead. Cambridge United applied real pressure during six minutes of added time, forcing Millwall to defend resolutely to see out the victory. Players like Elkan Baggott and Danny Batth were involved in the late efforts to find an equaliser.
Where does this leave Cambridge United?
The focus for Harris and his squad now returns entirely to League One. The U's are just two points behind early leaders Bradford City and will look to build on their solid start. Key to their hopes will be top scorer B. Knight, who has netted 11 times in 36 appearances.
This cup exit, while disappointing, allows the team to concentrate on the league schedule. Fans can check the upcoming fixtures to see when the U's aim to bounce back. The squad depth and current form, detailed on our stats page, suggest they have the foundation for a positive campaign. The immediate task is to maintain their position near the top of the standings.
