Substitute Sullay Kaikai’s strike cancelled out Mason Burstow’s 50th minute opener to help Cambridge picked up a deserve point. It is now three matches without a win for Wednesday, who have slipped to ninth in the table.
Here are five talking points after the Hillsborough clash:
Centre-back shortage
No Ricardo Santos. No Di’Shon Bernard. No Liam Cooper. Far from an ideal situation for interim boss Matt Hamshaw to be without three senior centre-backs heading into a difficult assignment. Cooper was rested following a manic period.
With Cooper given a well-deserved night off, Hamshaw handed Ernie Weaver his first league start in almost 13 months. Weaver was one of five changes and partnered Max Lowe at centre-back. It did not take Weaver long to make his presence felt as he hooked Cathel Heffernan’s shot off the line inside the opening 30 seconds.
Cambridge, sitting in sixth position before kick-off, looked a side full of confidence. They were well-organised and attacked with pace in transition. Ben Knight dragged an effort well wide after nipping in behind Wednesday’s back line before Ashley Maynard-Brewer pulled off a smart save to foil Liam Bennett from close range.
It took Wednesday a long time to get going. It was not the fast start Hamshaw would have wanted. Too often Wednesday’s players were guilty of taking the safe option in the early skirmishes. It was all slow and predictable.
Harry Gray
As Wednesday gradually worked their way into the contest, the Leeds United loanee and Reece James got plenty of joy down the flanks and whipped in several teasing crosses. Restored to the starting XI, Gray was a bright spark and looked to make things happen in the final third. He linked well with Callum Slattery in the No 10 role and tried his best to take the fight to Cambridge.
Gray had Wednesday’s chance of the half, diverting a shot over on the stretch at the back post. It was a tough chance but he will have been disappointed that he did not make the goalkeeper work.
Mason Burstow
It has been a tough start to life at S6 for the forward. He has been in and out of the side. Henrik Pedersen often rotated his forwards, meaning Burstow struggled to get regular game time.
But Hamshaw rewarded Burstow for his positive showing at Doncaster with a start. Burstow repaid his faith by breaking the deadlock in the 50th minute after latching onto Slattery’s exquisite pass. He shrugged off the attentions of his marker before rifling a ferocious right foot shot past Jake Eastwood. It went in off the post and Burstow wheeled away in celebration after scoring just his second goal in Wednesday colours. The relief was etched all over Burstow’s faith. It felt a significant moment and could be the springboard to kickstart his Wednesday career.
Burstow came desperately close to grabbing a second but Eastwood produced a stunning save to palm over his shot from eight yards. It proved a big turning point.
The equaliser
Billy Mitchell’s costly error let in Shayne Lavery down the left. Lavery fed fellow substitute Sullay Kaikai, who emphatically fired home from just outside the penalty area. It was a clinical finish.
Wednesday continue to get punished for defensive lapses. They are too easy to play through. Cambridge kept going even when they were under the cosh and frequently asked questions of Hamshaw’s makeshift back four. It took some heroic last-ditch stuff to stop United from grabbing a late winner. Ashley Maynard-Brewer also produced several excellent saves.
Wednesday urgently have to get back to basics and tighten up at the back to reverse their poor run of form.
A difficult week
Two defeats. One draw. Not the points haul of a team with promotion aspirations.
It is worth stressing Cambridge are a good side. It is easy to see why they have not lost on their travels this season. They showed no fear and played with freedom and energy. It is no fluke they find themselves in seventh position.
But Wednesday have to be better in and out of possession. Only playing well in fits and starts won’t cut it at this level. Inconsistent performances will not get them to where they want to go. A new manager can’t come in soon enough.
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