Dunne delighted with courageous performance with 10 men

Posted Sunday, November 25, 2018 by PA

Joe Dunne lauded his side’s second half’s courageous performance after 10-man Cambridge drew with Bury.

The U’s came from two goals behind to draw 2-2, their equaliser coming from defender Greg Taylor’s thunderous effort four minutes from time after they had played the final 35 minutes with 10 men following Paul Lewis’ second yellow card.

Asked if his side deserved the point, Dunne said “I felt we did in the end, for the endeavour and the courage.

“A really top side like Bury had some big moments in the match and I’m not going to say it was all us going forward in the second half, we had to defend like Trojans for a lot of the game, especially with 10 men.

“I felt we did that really well but overall with the courage of the team and the Abbey (Stadium) we felt we could get a goal back.

“It’s important that we show days like this because we had it in abundance at times last year. In the second half we defended resiliently. I’m pleased for the team because they’ve shown a lot of guts today.

“You could just sense there was something happening, the crowd was behind us. The game had everything today. I think everyone can be proud of being involved in the game today where we’ve really stuck at it.

“It’s a wonderful strike (Taylor’s equaliser). If you get centre backs hitting the ball with that kind of venom, maybe I’ll put him on free-kicks next.”

Meanwhile, Bury boss Ryan Lowe reflected on “two points dropped” for his side after they had to settle for a draw.

“I’m obviously frustrated,” he said. “Credit has to go to them, they’ve had a man sent off, given it everything and probably deserved a goal and a point.

“I felt we were a little sloppy at times but for the first 30 minutes there was only one team looking like going on to win the game.

“Sometimes you have to give credit where credit’s due, they’ve got in our faces and made it tough for us and we did say that they won’t lie down.

“I’m disappointed that we haven’t put them to bed a bit earlier with the chances we created but they’re fighting for their lives.

“You’re never comfortable until 90-odd minutes when the whistle’s blown because in this league it can throw up situations like that; they have a man sent off and it rallies them a little bit.

“The goals we’ve scored are always goals we have to work hard for. I don’t feel the opposition have to work too hard for goals against. I didn’t think we managed the game as well as we have been.”