Brabin defends Shield selection

The U's are out of the Shield at the first hurdle for the second year running

Cambridge United boss Gary Brabin has defended his team selection following Tuesday's 4-3 defeat to AFC Telford in the Setanta Shield.

The U's boss made nine changes from Saturday's 0-0 home draw with Rushden in the Blue Square Premier.

Brabin told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "I certainly wanted to win the competition, I never took it lightly.

"A few may say I have because of the team I picked but all of those players are competing for a first-team jersey".

Shield rules state that clubs must hand starts to at least ten players who have been in the past two squads and Brabin said his hands were tied by injuries.

"We spoke to the governing body and they've said it's people over the last two games but we'd only used 12 players over the last two games."

Reserve goalkeeper Steven Drench made his first start for the U's since making the move from Southport over the summer but endured a torrid debut.

"I think he was pretty nervous, he hasn't played since last season," Brabin said.

"I just thought his timing was out, coming out of goal a couple of times but it's hard when we haven't got enough competitive games".

The U's travel to Kidderminster in the FA Cup first round on Saturday where the likes of Wayne Hatswell, Dan Gleeson, and Jon Challinor are expected to return.

The positives are that Lee McEvilly's back, he scored a hat-trick and everyone has got 90 minutes who needed it

U's boss Gary Brabin

Brabin has called on his side to put the shield behind them at Kidderminster.

"The positives are that Lee McEvilly's back, he scored a hat-trick and everyone has got 90 minutes who needed it," he said.

"The downside is we've conceded four goals, been beaten and the yellow cards given to Paul Carden and Phil Bolland [who will miss the upcoming league match at Crawley]".