Neil Harris hit out at the mentality of his Cambridge side after a 1-0 defeat at managerless Wigan left them 10 points adrift of safety in League One with 11 games to play.
Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle had been responsible for the game being goalless at the break as the visitors attempted to take advantage of their opponents’ struggles of late.
But when the winning goal arrived, it was the hosts who scored it as substitute Luke Robinson tapped home from a yard with 17 minutes to go after Baba Adeeko’s shot had been parried out by Nathan Bishop.
“For 60 minutes we were outstanding, creating numerous chances, and we looked a really good side,” said Harris.
“We picked a team accordingly, to have ball carriers at the top end of the pitch and to be able to press well with energy.
“We looked really comfortable, and I really enjoyed watching us, I’ve got to be honest.
“We were really disappointed not to be in front at half-time, and I told them with a little bit more of a clinical edge in the second half, we’d go on and win the game.
“And then we just revert to type, we didn’t look the same team…is that credit to Wigan, or is it just where we’re at?
“Is it because we’ve got 10 players back in Cambridge on the treatment table, and the lads who’ve come in have not had the same effect? I don’t know, I’d have to watch the game back.
“But to concede a goal like that? That’s not one of my teams. I don’t like that, and I’m not going to settle for that. If that’s what’s been happening, so be it, but I’m not going to settle for that, and I’ve told the players that.
“The mentality has to be stronger, and I need a performance for 90 minutes – not for an hour.”
For Wigan interim manager Glenn Whelan, it was all about the result, and not the performance.
A return of four points from two matches since Shaun Maloney was sacked last weekend means the Latics are now 10 points clear of the drop zone, with a game in hand.
“It was a very important win for us, to back up the draw we got (at Mansfield) on Tuesday,” said Whelan.
“No matter how today’s game went, it was all about the three points. How we got them didn’t matter.
“There’s loads of things we can improve on, and get better at, but it wasn’t about performance today, just the result.
“It could have been tough, and a few results don’t go your way, and you could have found yourself looking over your shoulder. But now we’ve hopefully started on the right foot going forwards.”
