Neil Harris praises Cambridge’s mentality during win at Fleetwood

Neil Harris hailed his side’s mentality after Cambridge’s 2-1 victory at Fleetwood.

The promotion-chasing U’s took the lead through Sullay Kaikai’s fantastic free-kick.

Ethan Ennis levelled from the spot before James Gibbons’ fine strike made it 11 league games without defeat.

“It was a really big game for us,” offered Harris. “They haven’t been in good form recently, but it’s a tough place to come here in January.

“We talked about Chesterfield being a statement victory, Walsall being a statement victory, but we haven’t had a league game for two-and-a-half weeks.

“I said to the guys before if they want to show how far you’ve come as a group, not in a footballing sense but mentally, go out there and win today.

“So I’m really pleased with the mentality of the group. We were really good for 90 minutes and the 100 minutes of added time or whatever it was!

“What a free-kick that is. You don’t get better than that off the underside of the bar.

“Fleetwood tried to make it difficult for us. They gave us respect with five behind the ball. But we managed to break them down, we played some really good football.

“We spoke at half time about keeping the intensity and then we gave them a leg up with the penalty. At any level of football there’s going to be a chance and they took it.

“At that stage, it was either stick or twist and in the form we’re in I trusted my players and it’s another great finish from Gibbo.”

It was only Fleetwood’s third home defeat this term, but they have gone four games in the league without victory and failed to win a game since the turn of the year.

Boss Pete Wild said: “It’s another frustrating one. It was quite an even game.

“They get a free-kick where he’s just fallen over, there’s no contact. It’s a great free-kick fair play to him, but it’s not a free-kick and it’s clear for everyone to see.

“We got ourselves back into the game with a penalty and we don’t defend a free-kick properly.

“It’s frustrating, but what chance have we got? What chance have we got when we’re not treated the same way?

“They’re a team of men. That’s what you need to get out of this league.

“We tried to live with them, but they’ve got the experience and the firepower with their forwards to take the game away from you. That’s what’s happened today.

“I was pleased with the effort and how we went about our business. It’s another nip and tuck game, but it’s frustration again for us.

“I said it on Thursday in the pre-match presser, I think they will be right up there.”