We will find response in 'huge' Shrewbury game - Monk

Garry Monk managed Swansea, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday before taking over at Cambridge in March 2024

Under-pressure Cambridge United boss Garry Monk says Saturday's League One game against fellow strugglers Shrewsbury Town is "huge" and is sure his side will react positively to their defeat at Reading.

The U's were beaten 3-0 on Tuesday, their recent three-match unbeaten run coming to an end.

Monk called the result "hugely disappointing" after the in-form Royals conceding three goals in an 11-minute period just after half-time.

"We didn't put our body in the line, especially for the first goal. It's naive defending for the second and then you're two-nil down," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"The first two were so avoidable. You didn't see that coming after the first half when I felt we in the game and doing well.

"It cost us dearly. No excuses, we have to do better."

Wins elsewhere on Tuesday for Leyton Orient and Crawley Town increased the gap to safety for Cambridge to five points.

After a wretched start to the season that saw eight defeats in the first nine games, the U's had seemed to turn a corner with three league wins in a row during a run of five victories on the spin in all competitions.

Despite a 6-1 thrashing in the derby against Peterborough, Monk's side responded with three draws.

The U's boss knows there needs to be a similar act of defiance following the latest setback when they take on a Shrewsbury side who could swap places with them in the table if they beat Blackpool on Wednesday.

"As disappointed as we are, I know there's more than enough in that changing room in terms of attitude and I'm sure we'll dust ourselves down and make sure there's a huge response on Saturday," Monk said.

"We know every game is huge but Saturday's even bigger now - we need to put a response in.

"The feeling we have now, we have to harness that. There's enough character there. There will be a response. We'll make sure everything is geared up towards that."