Cambridge head coach Garry Monk was full of praise for his players after the 2-0 win at Barnsley which earned him his first win since taking charge.

An own goal from Mael de Gevigney gave struggling Cambridge the lead before Gassan Ahadme sealed a crucial three points.

Monk said: “We’ve had two weeks to work on stuff, for this particular game, and I was interested to see the level of fight that goes with it and I thought we got all of that.

“I was really pleased because the last two weeks we’ve worked extremely hard and when you’re in a moment of low confidence you need something like this, you need a performance like this.

“You need certain things in games to go for you and obviously you need a result, something to build on. In terms of the level of performance, it was much more in the realms of what we were looking for.

“Delighted for the players, obviously the travelling fans. Giving them a good trip home is obviously important, compared to the last couple. So overall, a pleasing day. But we need more. We’ve got a game on Monday, we’ve set the standard today and we need to back this up.”

Barnsley head coach Neill Collins felt his side’s performance did not match with a disappointing defeat for his play-off chasing side.

He said: “The first goal was a freak incident, I think that maybe happens one in a million.

“A misplaced back-pass – I won’t go into too much detail but ultimately it’s a freak. Normally it goes back to the goalkeeper and you play it up the field, you play it out, just today we got punished pretty brutally and it was the last thing we needed.

“Then we went on and we really should really have just put the ball in the net. We missed good chances and when you do that, then you end up with what we got. We got punished again.

“They took the second goal, made it really difficult, so I’m so bitterly disappointed with the result but I think there’s parts of our performances that need to be better.

“Would we have liked to create a little bit more? Yeah, absolutely. I think that’s where we can just do a little bit better individually and collectively – that last ball, that final delivery.

“That’s where we’ve got to be really careful because you can’t say we created any less today than we have in a lot of other victories this year.

“But in the victories we punished those chances, today we didn’t and we got pretty brutally punished at the other end.”

Barnsley boss Neil Collins rued his side’s lack of clinical edge after Herbie Kane’s late penalty earned them a 1-1 League One draw at Shrewsbury.

The Tyke’s second-half stoppage-time equaliser means they remain in fourth position but are now five points behind third-placed Bolton as they extended their unbeaten away run to eight games in the league.

Shrewsbury pulled ahead after just seven minutes through a Nicky Cadden own goal. Dan Udoh drove a dangerous ball into the box before the Barnsley wing-back guided it into his own net.

Home substitute Taylor Perry conceded a penalty at the death after bringing down Mael De Gevigney in the area and Kane stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick for the Tykes.

Both sides had plenty of chances, but the heroics of Shrewsbury goalkeeper Marko Marosi ensured Barnsley left the Croud Meadow with only a share of the spoils.

Barnsley boss Collins said: “On Saturday, we saw a good goalkeeping performance at Leyton Orient and tonight – Shrewsbury keeper Marko Marosi – managed to up it.

“We should have got more than one goal if our finishing was a little better, but credit to the keeper, he was outstanding. Two or three of the best saves I have seen this season.

“The two negatives is the early goal again. We have got to nip that in the bud. It has been a trend from the start of the season.

“We have had periods when we have not done it and we have been very successful, but it gives us a mountain to climb.

“Then, of course, our finishing at times could have been better, but we are coming away with a fantastic performance.

“We should have scored goals. All-in-all, there is more to be positive about, but the frustration is the performance should have earned three points.”

Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst said: “I thought we looked like we were running on empty in quite a few areas.

“I would like us to be fitter generally. I would like us to have some options that we perhaps haven’t got.

“Credit to the lads that absolutely gave everything. We need that sort of commitment and effort, not just against Barnsley or Derby but against anyone we face.

“We felt there were certain parts of the game where we could hurt Barnsley and maybe the goal was a slight example of that.

“It was a great start and that hopefully give the lads confidence and it gets the crowd involved, who were great all night.

“I feel for Marko. He deserved a clean sheet tonight, there is no doubt about it.

“More often then not, playing against a top team you are going to need your keeper to make some big saves at big moments and he certainly did that.”

Horsham manager Dominic Di Paola heaped praise on his team after they twice came from behind to draw 3-3 at Barnsley and force a replay in the Emirates FA Cup first round.

Tom Richards scored the second equaliser to take the tie back to Woodside Road and Di Paola hailed a monumental effort.

“I thought the boys were absolutely phenomenal,” he said. It was just an incredible performance.

“You could see at the end, I don’t think there was anyone without cramp. For us to put in that performance, away from home against a side as good as them, is just incredible.

“There’s been a bit of controversy around the FA stuff and there’s been some issues here. I noticed there wasn’t any police, which is quite ironic considering that was the reason the game was supposedly moved (from Saturday to Friday night).

“I do feel that justice has been done. I never understood the decision in the first place.

“It’s just so pleasing that we can bring them back to our place. We can bring the town out and be allowed to let our supporters actually watch us in such a high-profile game.”

Richards converted after the ball was squared to him by fellow substitute Lucas Rodrigues and Di Paola said: “It’s a massive credit to all of our players. The subs who came on changed the game.

“We’ve worked so hard this week, mainly on the tactics board. I didn’t feel like we parked the bus. I felt that we had an attacking threat.

“It’s just so pleasing that we did that. I’m really pleased.”

After falling behind to a Max Watters goal, the visitors took a 2-1 lead through Shamir Fenelon and a James Hammond penalty.

Goals from Fabio Jalo and Mael de Gevigney put Barnsley back in front but Lewis Carey’s triple save prevented John McAtee, Callum Styles or Luca Connell from putting the game to bed before Richards levelled in the closing stages.

Barnsley boss Neill Collins praised Horsham, saying: “I think, first of all, credit to Horsham.

“They came super organised, didn’t just sit back, had a good game plan so credit to them. Their fans should be proud of them, which I’m sure they are.

“I think we put in all the ingredients of a performance that gives the result that we got – sloppy mistakes, not doing the basics well, didn’t take chances and gave up.

“We earned the replay that we didn’t obviously want with the performance that we gave.

“I didn’t see it coming. The players’ attitude has been good and we’ve been in good form.

“That’s what this competition can do to you. If you don’t start well, it can quickly descend into what it did.

“I thought we’d get out at 3-2 – we should have made it 4-2 – and then without being over-happy, we’d have taken the win and moved on.

“A couple of mistakes and Horsham deserved the replay. There’s a chance for us to go and put it right.”