League One (England)

Sam Smith put the visitors ahead in the first half but Killian Phillips equalised almost immediately.

Wing’s deflected effort after 41 minutes won the day for the crisis-hit visitors, ending a run of nine League One matches without a victory.

The Royals lost Southampton loanee Dom Ballard to injury after 29 minutes, with the attacker carried off on a stretcher.

Moments later, Reading scored the opener as Smith got a slight touch on Femi Azeez’s cross to flick the ball past Max Stryjek.

Wycombe equalised on their next attack. David Wheeler touched the ball back to Phillips, who eluded a Reading defender before curling a fine strike past David Button.

But Reading regained the lead when Wing’s shot took a big deflection off defender Ryan Tafazolli.

Wheeler hit the post for Wycombe just after the break but the hosts struggled to create chances thereafter as Reading held on for a first away league win in more than a year.

Stephen Humphrys drilled a first-minute penalty against a post for the Latics before on-loan Watford striker Shaq Forde put the hosts in front.

But just before the break Humphrys atoned for his miss when he fired a shot from outside the area low into the corner of the net for his seventh league goal of the season.

That equaliser extended Orient’s winless run in the league to six games, but Wellens said there were “loads of positives” to take from the game.

“I think Wigan are a good team and there are not many better front fours in this division,” he said.

“The game started with a pattern where they didn’t play with a striker and they sucked us into areas to switch the play and get runners into pockets.

“They threatened us a few times, but I thought we threatened them more and could have had a few more goals today.

“Today was a big improvement from Tuesday (a 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln). I enjoyed the game tactically and, when we get the press right, we’re a good team, but when we don’t, it’s the youngness we have where we need to talk more.

“When we got it wrong last year in League Two, we played against teams that didn’t take advantage of it. When you step up a level you’ll play against players who will hurt you.

“Loads of positives today, though, and I was just disappointed we didn’t win the game as I thought we created some good chances and dominated the territory.”

Wigan boss Shaun Maloney said the draw was “probably a fair result”.

He said: “I didn’t think there was much control in the game from either team in either half.

“There were probably more chances in the first half.

“The big positive for us is that we’ve had many games like that this season, such as Stevenage, Burton and Cheltenham, but today we stood up to the long ball and the physicality.

“I spoke to the players afterwards and told them that was the biggest positive. I want us to try and play better with the ball at times and go man for man, but a point was about right for me.

“One defeat in seven is definitely another positive. The goal they scored I didn’t like at all. A long ball forward and they created a two versus two in our box, which I didn’t like at all.

“But overall we saw today a side that are improving.”

Darrell Clarke’s improving Robins took the lead through Will Goodwin’s penalty, but Sean Long’s own goal in the 89th minute and Ethan Galbraith’s stoppage-time strike turned the game on its head.

Cheltenham started brightly, with Long turning Will Ferry’s low ball over the bar in the sixth minute.

The home side were reduced to 10 men after 18 minutes as Ben Williams was sent off for two yellow cards in as many minutes for fouls on Jordan Brown and Ruel Sotiriou.

Orient nearly capitalised as George Moncur saw a volley blocked in the six-yard box by Tom Pett and Darren Pratley’s header cannoned off the bar from Theo Archibald’s corner in the 34th minute.

Cheltenham regained the initiative in the second half, with Goodwin forcing Solomon Brynn into a diving save with a snapshot in the 62nd minute.

Their pressure paid off when Ferry was tripped by Pratley and Goodwin made no mistake with his penalty.

But substitute Shaq Forde’s shot was deflected into his own net by Long in the 89th minute and Galbraith won it with a shot from 22 yards in the fourth minute of time added on.

After fans had gone on to the pitch to alert the referee to the medical emergency in the East Stand, the match was halted in the 82nd minute and eventually abandoned.

The London Ambulance Service confirmed on Wednesday morning that despite extensive treatment and the combined efforts at the scene – which included an incident response officer, two medics in fast-response cars and an ambulance crew – the 74-year-old man had later been pronounced dead.

On Wednesday afternoon, Orient revealed plans to pay tribute to Reynolds at Saturday’s home game against Reading, with his family invited as guests of the club.

A book of condolence will be available for supporters in the East Stand to sign on Saturday, and then afterwards for all fans in West Stand reception.

“Leyton Orient Football Club is devastated to confirm that supporter Derek Reynolds has passed away,” a club statement read.

“Derek, 74, became unwell at Brisbane Road during Tuesday evening’s league fixture against Lincoln City.

“Despite the best efforts of Derek’s fellow supporters and medical professionals from the club’s on-site paramedics and doctors, Lincoln City and the London Ambulance Service, he sadly lost his life.

“Derek was a lifelong O’s supporter and he lived in Osbourne Road, a short walk from the ground, for many years. As well as being a lifelong fan, Derek was heavily involved in the club and managed the club’s tannoy system during the 1990s.

“The club will be paying tribute to Derek at Saturday’s home fixture against Reading and his family have been invited to the game as guests of the club.

“We would, once again, like to thank Derek’s fellow supporters for the way in which they conducted themselves on Tuesday night and acted to try and help the situation.”

Lincoln also passed on the club’s condolences.

“The thoughts of everyone connected with Lincoln City are with the family of the Leyton Orient supporter Derek Reynolds who passed away during Tuesday night’s game at Brisbane Road,” the Imps said in a post on social media.

Orient were leading 1-0 when the game was stopped, through an early goal from Joe Pigott.

The English Football League will determine whether the fixture will be rescheduled, or if the result at the time of the abandonment will stand. The decision will be taken only after consultation with both clubs.

Guidance is in place for clubs if a supporter becomes unwell in a stadium, with local circumstances determining the action taken.

It is strongly advised the nearest steward is made aware, who will ensure the crowd medical team is notified and that appropriate care is provided.

Then should a situation arise where there is a need for the match to be halted, a decision will be taken between the crowd medical team, the ground safety team and the match officials, with the information relayed to the supporters at the ground. The EFL will also be informed at this point.

All clubs have a matchday medical plan with dedicated crowd medical teams in the stadium, ready to assist at any point during the game.

A fan ran on the pitch towards referee Stephen Martin to draw attention to the fact that a member of the public needed medical attention in the East Stand.

The game then continued for less than a minute before around 20 fans sat down on the pitch at the home end to alert the referee to the continuing medical emergency and the game was halted.

With the paramedics appearing to give the individual CPR on the side of the pitch, the referee took the teams off the field.

The match was abandoned an hour after the initial stoppage occurred. and as the fans left the ground, the medical teams were still attending to the patient.

The home side were leading 1-0 when the game was stopped.

Following a disappointing start to the season, Oxford have now recorded three successive wins after Cameron Brannagan’s early penalty, a Jordan Williams own goal and Tyler Goodrham’s late effort earned them a 3-1 win at Oakwell.

Manning said: “It was a terrific performance. There were some challenges in the first half, in the set-up out of possession where they caused us a few problems.

“Credit to the lads because they problem-solve quite well in terms of how to deal with it.

“I thought we shifted the momentum in the first half back in our favour by passing the ball with a bit of quality.

“Going in at half-time we were able to re-focus and reset, get the group together and make a clear plan for the second half.

“Out of possession, I thought we showed a real togetherness and real compactness and defended really well.

“In possession, I thought we carried a threat throughout the whole game.

“Me being critical, I thought we missed a few too many chances, but overall it’s been a really tough week and what we saw there is a group of lads who are all together.

“They had to dig deep and go to a place where they had to push themselves and physically it probably hurt a little bit. If you want to win games, you have to go there regularly.”

Barnsley head coach Neill Collins, whose side made it 2-1 when Devante Cole pulled a goal back in the 70th minute, felt they could have got something out of the game.

He said: “I actually think the game was there for us. I think even in spite of us not being at our best, we could have won that game.

“We started a little slowly, made a couple of strange decisions, lost the penalty, but then looked like we could really hurt Oxford.

“We got ourselves in some fantastic opportunities, but didn’t get the goal. I think if we’d have shown any quality in the second half, we’d have been able to get something out of the game.

“We were victims of our own downfall in so many circumstances today. Players just weren’t able to execute things we know we can do. The reasons for that could be wide and varied.

“Ultimately, there were too many good players playing way below themselves. I don’t think we really played with any quality.

“I thought Devante was excellent. I’m sure the fans would appreciate that that’s what we’d expect from 11 players. We didn’t get the spirit and desire that Devante showed.

“I think it’s probably been below-par. I think there are some basic elements you would expect which we’re not getting.

“When we assess it, we’ll feel that there’s a lot of players and units in the team that we need more from.”

The U’s briefly went back to the top of Sky Bet League One, only for Portsmouth’s late winner against Wycombe to leave Manning’s men in second place, but with a four-point cushion over third-placed Bolton.

Oxford’s goals came from Fin Stevens in the 17th minute, Ciaron Brown on the hour-mark and Greg Leigh in stoppage time, with the Shrews not helping themselves as Joe Anderson was sent off just before the second goal for a second yellow card.

Keeper Marko Marosi was at fault for the first and third goals.

Manning said: “It was a really professional performance because we restricted them to very little, and arguably could have scored more goals.

“This was another experience for the team, seeing how we could break down opponents when we had a lot of possession, and later when they had 10 players.

“We are playing with confidence and we wanted to make sure the intensity is there, and the discipline and we had that.

“Our first goal was wing-back to wing-back – Leigh to Stevens – and it was nice for Stevens to get his first goal – it’s important to us that everyone chips in.”

Left-back Leigh, who was sent off against Port Vale and then away on international duty, is now Oxford’s second highest scorer.

Manning said: “Yes, Greg had an interesting start to his career here, but you could see last Saturday the quality he has and what he brings to us.

“I actually thought we had more quality against 11 players in the first half than we did against 10. But it was another new experience and good test to see how we managed the game against 10 men.

“We’ve got options coming off the bench and depth, it’s a strong group and people need to be ready for when they come in and get a chance.”

Shrewsbury’s head coach Matty Taylor admitted he was angry with his players.

Taylor said: “It was always going to be tough coming here against a good team and when you make the errors we did that makes it even tougher.

“Out of possession I thought we were in control but we made three bad errors and got punished for it.

“And making errors is uncharacteristic for this group of players.

“There has been a conversation in the dressing room and the players, who are obviously disappointed, understand why I am angry.

“With the first goal Marosi should catch it and doesn’t, and the third goal – coming all the way out there – is something he doesn’t need to do.

“He has been consistent for us, and he needs to get back to being consistent for us again.

“I have no arguments with the sending off. I’ve looked back at it and yes, it’s two yellow cards.

“But apart from the three errors and three goals, I think our keeper’s only had one real save to make.

“I think 11 v 11 we would have created more chances, but going down to 10 men and then conceding a second goal from that free-kick made it impossible for us.

“We need to regroup and make sure we don’t do this again. I am really angry because that is not a reflection of the types of players we have got at this club.

“We didn’t make the correct decisions as often as we have in previous games. The players now need to be positive for what is a massive and difficult game against Northampton on Saturday.”

The midfielder reacted quickest to touch in George Lloyd’s pass after Carlisle goalkeeper Tomas Holy spilled the ball while trying to prevent a corner in the 27th minute.

It meant that after failing to score in their opening 11 games of the campaign, improving Cheltenham have now scored in 10 successive matches, during which run they have picked up all four of their wins this season.

Darrell Clarke’s men are still bottom of the League One standings, but are now within three points of safety.

Cheltenham lost in-form striker Will Goodwin to injury inside three minutes, but with the strong wind behind them, they began to create chances.

Substitute Lloyd, who replaced Goodwin, had the ball in the net in the eighth minute, but the offside flag was raised.

Carlisle then had a goal disallowed of their own, with Jon Mellish denied in the 20th minute.

Cheltenham opened the scoring soon after that and went close again through Rob Street in the 44th minute, before Jordan Gibson saw a shot saved for the hosts before the break.

Carlisle applied pressure in the second half, but a shot over the bar from Dan Butterworth in the 75th minute was all they could muster and they are now without a win in seven.

The midfielder beat goalkeeper Jack Stevens with a deft chip from 20 yards in the fifth minute.

It was only the bottom-placed Robins’ second league goal of the season, but they are already showing signs of improvement under new boss Darrell Clarke.
They had picked up a creditable 1-1 draw with Derby County in their last league outing.

Cheltenham started well against a Cambridge side who were winless in six.

Liam Smith forced a save from Stevens a minute before Sercombe’s goal and Tom Bradbury was also close in the 11th minute.

Rob Street’s header from Sean Long’s crossed drifted just past the far post before half-time.

James Olayinka tested Stevens early in the second half, but Cambridge were close a leveller when Michael Morrison’s close-range header cleared the bar in the 70th minute.

Street saw another headed effort turned over by a flying Stevens three minutes later and Smith was denied by Morrison’s block late on, but Cheltenham had done enough to end their 175-day wait for a win.

Pompey had taken the lead through a 49th-minute own goal, but the Robins responded quickly with Sercombe’s first brace for the club sealing three valuable points in their battle against the drop.

Portsmouth were on top for much of the first half, with Abu Kamara a major threat.

But they failed to seriously test goalkeeper Luke Southwood, who made comfortable saves from Sean Raggett and Marlon Pack.

Kamara had the ball in the net before half-time but the whistle had already been blown for a foul on him and it was ruled out.

Paddy Lane’s cross was helped on by Raggett and Tom Bradbury deflected it into his own net under pressure from Colby Bishop to put Pompey ahead.

Portsmouth led for less than two minutes, with Will Ferry’s long throw-in hooked in by Sercombe in the 51st minute.

The winner came when George Lloyd dispossessed Conor Shaughnessy in the 54th minute, allowing Sercombe to smash into the roof of the net for his sixth of the season.

Daniel Mandroiu was sent off 10 minutes after half time for a rash tackle on Burton forward Josh Gordon and the Brewers wasted no time in taking advantage.

Less than five minutes later, Burroughs diverted Joe Powell’s corner beyond goalkeeper Lukas Jensen.

Earlier, Mason Bennett had cut inside and fired his effort wide of Jensen’s goal as Burton looked to open the scoring with the game 11 v 11.

Bennett had another chance to open the scoring after Gordon and Bez Lubala linked up well, but the former Derby man’s effort was smothered by Jensen.

Lincoln, who suffered their first home defeat of the season, mustered just one shot on target all afternoon through that of Burroughs, who forced Max Crocombe into a fine save to prevent the Imps opening the scoring at 0-0.

But it was ultimately Burroughs’ mistake at the other end that separated the sides as Burton made it six unbeaten in League One.

The Imps took the lead after 16 minutes when Dylan Duffy was hauled down in the box by Jordan Cousins, allowing Daniel Mandroiu to fire home from the penalty spot.

Duffy produced a surging forward run before shooting at Jack Stevens but – on his 21st birthday – Duffy did then double Lincoln’s advantage just after the half-hour mark.

The hosts cleared a corner but failed to close Duffy down and his powerful shot from the edge of the box went under Stevens on its way into the net.

Cambridge struggled to threaten a comeback until late on, waiting for the 77th minute for teenage substitute Glenn McConnell to fire an effort over the crossbar.

Lukas Bornhoft Jensen pushed away a Jack Lankester header and then made a fine save to tip Adam May’s deflected drive wide.

Lincoln then made the game safe with five minutes left when Hakeeb Adelakun’s corner found its way to Jack Vale to turn in.

Daniel Mandroui opened the scoring from the spot inside seven minutes after Ben House was brought down in the Blackpool area.

Goalkeeper Lukas Jensen saved from Seasiders debutant Jordan Rhodes when he was through one-on-one and as the rebound fell to CJ Hamilton, the winger could only volley over with the goal gaping.

Five minutes before the break, Ethan Erhahon doubled his side’s advantage. He travelled to the edge of the visitors box and saw his shot flick off Marvin Ekpiteta’s legs before nestling into the far corner.

Oliver Norburn was given his marching orders with 17 minutes to play after fouling House in front of an open goal.

Substitute Teddy Bishop slammed home the resulting penalty to seal the points and extend the Imps’ unbeaten run to four, with Blackpool winless in the league since opening day.

The impressive Imps secured a fifth successive win as they extended their unbeaten run to 15 games.

Michael Skubala’s side are ahead of seventh-placed Oxford on goal difference with five games to go.

Ben House opened the scoring in the 10th minute, slotting home after Joe Taylor flicked Lasse Sorensen’s deep cross into his path.

Jack Robinson blasted over the crossbar with Carlisle’s best chance before the break.

Jordan Wright produced a good save to tip a Jon Mellish header over at the start of the second half.

Luton loanee Taylor scored his 21st goal of the campaign as House turned provider for the striker to double his side’s advantage in the 56th minute.

Sam Lavelle pulled one back with 10 minutes to go as he poked home from Sean Maguire’s knock down.

Paudie O’Connor’s flick hit a post for the visitors before Teddy Bishop sealed the points with a stunning strike in the third minute of stoppage time.

Cheltenham came flying out of the traps and were ahead inside nine minutes.

Jonny Smith felt aggrieved about conceding a free-kick close to the Wigan box and the visitors took full advantage as Tom Bradbury’s set-piece found Matty Taylor, who fired low into the bottom corner past Sam Tickle.

And that was about it for the first half, with Wigan enjoying the vast majority of possession, but being able to do very little with it.

Wigan manager Shaun Maloney’s unease was shown at the break when he made a triple attacking substitution, sending on Callum McManaman, Stephen Humphrys and Josh Magennis for Tom Pearce, Baba Adeeko and Charlie Kelman.

And that helped to set far more of a tempo for the second period, with McManaman winning the ball twice inside his first 90 seconds on the pitch, and getting the home fans back onside.

Wigan managed to force an equaliser within seven minutes of the restart, with on-loan Liverpool defender Luke Chambers firing home from a tight angle, although the ball took a massive deflection off Town defender Elliot Bonds.

Chambers then played in Magennis, who laid the ball off for Jonny Smith, who fired tamely at Luke Southwood, who had very little else to do.

Tom Barkhuizen thought he had bagged the winner for Derby seven minutes from time before Leahy struck at the death.

There were few openings in a scrappy first 30 minutes in which five players were booked by Rebecca Welch, who next Saturday will become the first woman to referee in the Premier League.

Derby had the bulk of the possession but Wycombe went close just before half-time when Garath McCleary shot wide from the edge of the box.

The home side almost broke through in the 64th minute from a Max Bird corner but Eiran Cashin’s powerful header was brilliantly saved on the line by Max Stryjek.

But Wycombe’s resistance was broken in the 83rd minute when Stryjek could only parry Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s cross-shot and Barkhuizen pounced to turn in the rebound.

Pride Park was stunned in the sixth minute of added time when Welch pointed to the spot after Joe Ward caught David Wheeler and Leahy sent Joe Wildsmith the wrong way with a clinical penalty.

The U’s had the first clear-cut chance within the opening 10 minutes when Michael Morrison’s headed effort was pushed away by Marko Marosi.

But Shrewsbury broke the deadlock in the 12th minute. Jordan Shipley was the architect, driving the ball into Dan Udoh’s path at the front post and he guided it past the diving Jack Stevens.

It took two minutes for Cambridge to find the equaliser as Sullay Kaikai, in acres of space out wide, played a low cross into Taylor and he slotted home at the back post.

The away side took the lead within the opening 30 seconds of the second half when Elias Kachunga crossed into Taylor, who poked home from close range.

Shrews captain Chey Dunkley rose highest to meet a corner in the 70th minute but his headed effort hit the post and bounced out for Stevens to save.

Tom Bloxham was then shown red for two yellow card offences in added time for Shrewsbury.

It is 32 years since Savage Sr pitched up at Old Trafford, going on to play in the FA Youth Cup-winning Class of 92 before joining Crewe without making a first-team appearance.

Another Savage is now in the United youth set-up and Charlie fulfilled a lifelong dream by making his senior debut as a substitute against Young Boys in the Champions League in late 2021.

The 20-year-old regularly jokes with his dad that has the edge on him as a result, but Robbie’s humorous retort reminds him there is a long way to go.

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“I say it all the time to him,” Charlie Savage told the PA news agency. “He played 346 games in the Prem and he says come back to me when you’ve played 347!

“I’d have to play every game in a row for 10 years to do that!”

You could feel the respect as Charlie spoke about his dad’s career, which saw him represent Leicester, Birmingham, Blackburn and Derby in the Premier League as well as play 39 times for Wales.

That impressive CV and subsequent media career piques interest and leads to comparisons when the 20-year-old comes into focus, but he brushes such talk aside.

“With the industry that we’re in, it’s fair that people say about my dad and stuff,” Savage said. “But I definitely am my own player.

“I think we’re quite different as players. It’s hard to compare me and him because we’re from two different eras.

“Obviously if I go and have the career that he had, I’d be very happy – playing for your country and playing more than 340 times in the Premier League.

“My aim is to be my own man but, like I say, it doesn’t really bother me that people compare me to my dad because I am proud that he is my dad.”

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That pride is reciprocated by his father, who was emotional on co-commentary duties when Charlie came on against Young Boys.

A clip then went viral of the ex-Wales international expressing his joy after seeing his son had netted his first senior goal during his loan at Forest Green in the second half of last season.

It is a time Savage junior took a lot from, embracing life in Gloucestershire and building a bond with staff beyond the field in a season that ultimately ended in relegation from League One.

Savage says playing for a club built on sustainability has made him “more environmentally conscious” and has backed them to bounce straight back under Everton great Duncan Ferguson.

“He’s been fantastic with me,” Savage said of the Forest Green boss.

“He’s not who everyone makes him out to be in terms of the hardman persona. He’s honestly really caring.

“I’m forever grateful for him giving me a chance and sticking with me.”

Savage is now looking forward to the next step in his career for club and country.

He is taking part in a Wales training camp later this month and plans to work throughout the summer to give himself the best chance of impressing back at United.

“I think it’s tough to say at the minute,” he said of his ambitions for the 2023-24 campaign.

“Obviously it’s everyone’s dream to make it at United when you’ve come through here as a boy, so I have to work as hard as I can and see where it takes me.”

United technical director Darren Fletcher kept in frequent contact during his time at Forest Green, as did loan managers Les Parry and Danny Keough.

Savage said that hands-on approach “sticks with you”, so too the chance to work so frequently with United boss Erik ten Hag after he arrived last summer.

“I went on the tour in pre-season to Thailand and Australia,” said the midfielder, who came on at half-time in the 4-0 win against Liverpool in Bangkok before getting further minutes Down Under.

“I spent the first two, three months of the season with them every day, so it was a really, really good experience learning from him and taking knowledge from him.

“I think United have had a really good season, winning the Carabao Cup and potentially winning an FA Cup, so I’d say he’s done a really good job.”

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Savage would love to have another chance to impress this pre-season and is staying open-minded about his future.

“I’d have liked to make my debut for Wales,” he said when asked where he sees himself in a year.

“I think that’s the next one, not to tick off as such but that’s my next aim along with just playing at the highest level I can.

“Whether that be on a better loan, at United or whatever it is. Football works in weird ways. you never know where you’re going to be until maybe a week before.”

There was nothing in a goalless first half but United fell apart after the restart when a defensive mix-up allowed Kieron Bowie to break the deadlock.

Sam Hoskins added a swift second, his 10th of the season, and that proved too much for Cambridge to come back from despite Gassan Ahadme scoring late on.

Cambridge have just one win in their last 12 League One games and are now 16th in the table.

“The first half was fine and we chased it well enough at the end but we gave the game away with two hopeless goals in a five-minute spell at the start of the second half,” said Bonner.

“We were OK and had a couple of half decent chances, both teams did, and defensively we were doing OK but it doesn’t matter because we’ve giftwrapped a game that we should never have lost.

“The goal just after half-time is a hopeless goal to give away. We looked vulnerable and they caused us problems when they played forward.

“The goal gives them a leg up and they score another one quickly, they outplay and outrun us in that moment and Hoskins has the quality that we don’t have in that part of the pitch and it becomes a difficult task for us.

“The boys came on from the bench and gave us everything they could to try and help us but we couldn’t find the quality we needed to get an equaliser.

“We turned the ball over too cheaply and we have a lot to do because the result isn’t good enough, our form isn’t good enough and the goals we’re conceding aren’t good enough.”

Having now won back-to-back games, Northampton have leapt up to 15th in League One.

“The second half was much better,” said manager Jon Brady. “We needed to be more purposeful with our forward runs.

“I thought we dominated the ball in the first half and we dominated in terms of chances but I felt we could have played with more purpose and break their back-line a bit more.

“We started to do that and the second goal, where Patrick Brough underlaps, gets to the byline and cuts it back for Sam to score, that’s what we really wanted and we felt we could hurt them in that way.

“We got a bit of fortunate with the first goal when Kieron chases a lost cause and the goalkeeper makes a mess of it, but it was down to Kieron’s persistence and pressure.

“We didn’t finish the game how we wanted to finish it and Cambridge threw caution to the wind but to get three points and to jump up a few places in the table, that’s the most important thing.”

Okenabirhie netted his first league goal for the club with a curling finish in the 78th minute before summer signing Kaikai scored in stoppage time to seal a third win in four and consign Rovers to a first league defeat of the season.

After a summer of change at the Abbey Stadium, with 10 players leaving the club and six arriving, Bonner is happy with the options at his disposal.

“I think with the quality of the players we have we’re in a good position, and the impact Fejiri and Sullay had when they came on was outstanding,” he said.

“You need those attacking options off the bench. Fejiri is in a good place at the moment and that was a brilliant finish, but there were good performances all over the pitch.

“From start to finish the players did everything we asked, they carried out the game plan and we looked a really good team.

“We were patient, we had some good attacking situations and our defensive structure was strong. That’s three clean sheets in four games, which we’re really pleased with.”

It was Cambridge’s 2,000th game in the Football League, and they were indebted to goalkeeper Jack Stevens for a crucial save from Aaron Collins in the second half when the scores were level.

Collins raced clear on goal in the 68th minute after a long ball forward from Tristan Crama, but Stevens stood up well to block his shot.

Prior to that there had been little by way of goalmouth incident, but Okenabirhie made the breakthrough in the 78th minute with a fine finish after good work from Kaikai and Jack Lankester.

Then in the 96th minute, with Rovers on the attack in search of an equaliser, Cambridge broke and George Thomas and Okenabirhie combined to leave Kaikai with a simple finish.

Bristol Rovers assistant manager Andy Mangan said: “Credit goes to Cambridge because they came with a game plan and it has worked.

“We didn’t take our chances and we need to be better in all departments. We had opportunities but we never really got going properly today. We’ve got to move the ball quicker and try and pull them apart, and these are areas we need to develop.

“We’ve got a strong squad, probably the strongest Bristol Rovers has ever had, and with that comes pressure. Today we’re frustrated because we didn’t put enough pressure on Cambridge, but we need to stick together – we’re a new group and today we’ve seen there are things we need to improve on.”