City left the chilly west midlands with nothing to show for their efforts other than deep frustration at not having taken anything away from a game which they just shaded.

John Frendo was on bench duty, Steve Gentle and Jamie Barker leading the line. Robbie Nightingale was out, Tony Burke was in giving City a midfield with some width and pace.

Maybe the exertion of two hours of football on Tuesday night on a heavy and energy-sapping pitch was the reason that City’s capitulation in the final minute occurred, or perhaps it was more to do with finding the right combination of strikers to put out together. The final result makes stark reading: a loss against a moderate team; three defeats in five and just four points.

It could have been very different. Thanks to the close attention to duty from Messers Chaffey and Theobald, the City defence held well in the middle, repelling a series of corners in the early stages of the match. Although under pressure, the defence held firm and Zac Barrett wasn’t pressed into serious action until Luke Corbett had the keeper at full stretch just past the half hour mark.

At the other end, chances were at a premium and when they were fashioned, wrong decisions were taken. Burke did exceptionally well to get behind the Brakes’ defence but instead of pulling the ball back to his forwards, elected to blast across the six yard box, the opportunity then lost.

Later, City launched their most potent attack of the half, breaking quickly from defence through Adrian Cambridge. His pass found Fuller out on the left, the winger streaking forward. At the same time Barker made an excellent run into space, positioning himself for Fuller’s ball. When it came, he blasted over what turned out to be one the half’s better chances.

Captain Cambridge also smashed one over the bar after Lee Chaffey had set him up with a header. Given the pressure they had been under at the start of the half, the first 45 ended with City more in the game and looking settled.

The second half was, until the very last seconds, City’s. Once again, the back four kept the brakes on the Brakes, keeping the penalty area more or less safe from attack. And if decent chances had been put away, the points would have gone back down the A14 to Cambridge. Fuller had a shot fumbled by debutant Carl Pentney, on loan from the mighty Leicester City, but Gentle couldn’t complete the follow up. Pentney was asked to make a double save from Barker and Gentle when the latter really should have scored.

If it wasn’t City’s day in front of goal then at least the defence were holding firm…until they were undone by a scrappy effort in the 89th minute. Substitute Chris Murphy’s shot should have been prevented before it happened. However, when the shot came in - it appeared to be slightly scuffed - Barrett was unable to keep it out. It looked a soft goal and in all honesty, the Cambridge defending was by this time looking a little tired. 1-0 and game well and truly over.

There is an awful lot of football left in this season and this result should not be seen as a defining moment in the season. It does, however, highlight the need to find the right pairing in attack who will score some goals for City. It is telling that the club’s leading scorers are both midfielders. Tuesday night at Bedford is an excellent opportunity to put things right.