U's deserve recognition - Carden

Carden assists long-time friend Gary Brabin at the Abbey

Cambridge United player-coach Paul Carden believes his side are firmly in the Blue Square Premier promotion race despite a recent disappointing run.

The U's have struggled for consistency in recent matches but are up to third following Tuesday's win over York.

Carden told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "You hear how everybody else is flying but we're only three points off the top, we just don't get the recognition.

"People expect us to be there, it's the pressure that comes with Cambridge."

Gary Brabin's side won their first four league matches of the season but have only notched up five victories since.

A Ben Purkiss own-goal handed the U's three points against York on Tuesday and Carden said he is happy with the progress being made.

"This league is there to be got at and if we're in and around it for the majority of the season them I'm sure our mix of experience and youthfulness will cope well," he said.

The U's travel to Altrincham on Saturday and Carden is expecting a sterner test from the Manchester outfit than in previous seasons.

"They've got their act together a little bit after staying up by default in recent seasons," he said.

"I think the management have realised they cannot be relying on anyone else to pull them out of it."