Cambridge must find ways to 'change it up' - Ball

Cambridge United midfielder Dom Ball says they must find creative ways to unlock packed defences as they look to secure automatic promotion from League Two.

The U's were held to a 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley on Saturday despite having 76% of the possession and needed an 81st-minute Louis Appere equaliser to salvage one point.

The result left them third in the table, below MK Dons on goal difference and five points behind leaders Bromley.

"It's not that we were predictable, because we did put a lot of good balls in (to the box), but changing it up a little bit more, finding a way, we're going to have to do that," Ball told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"Teams are giving us the respect now, sitting off us, and we're going to have to find a way to get through that."

Cambridge have only been beaten once in their last 20 league games, winning 12 of them, and have a number of players in their squad with experience of promotions at other clubs.

Ball went up with Ipswich Town in successive seasons in 2023 and 2024, having previously won league and cup honours in Scotland with Rangers.

"We've got a good blend of that in our squad, and with the staff, that sort of intensity, but also that calmness - we've got players who have been there before and understand what is needed," said Ball.

"There's 11 games to go and there's going to be moments in games that aren't straightforward and we need to be calm in those moments."

Boss Neil Harris admitted his side's finishing had not been good enough against Accrington, a problem, he said, that had affected results from early in the season.

"If we'd come off winning that game four or five, no-one would have batted an eyelid, would they?," he added.

"Both halves were all about us and we had chance after chance after chance and we just weren't clinical enough.

"You should train how you play - sometimes you play how you train and Friday's training session was disappointing in my eyes quality-wise and (although) the mentality, the attitude and application (in the game) was first class, the quality was lacking."

Cambridge - whose goals against total of 28 is the lowest in the fourth tier - are at home to Gillingham on Saturday (15:00 GMT).