U's 2-1 Blackpool: A New Era

Neil Harris arrived at the Abbey looking to continue his unbeaten start. How would the United faithful react? @vinylperez was there to find out.

After last weeks last-minute draw at Charlton United fans were suddenly feeling a little more confident. Neil Harris has come in and without making wholesale changes, started to rejuvenate the players a little bit. He named the same line-up (although the clubs Twitter admin thought we were only starting with ten me - a sign of what was to come?) again, with Ahadme and Kachunga leading the line, and Ryan Bennett nowhere to be seen.

United started brightly, but Blackpool looked decent too, probing the Cambridge back line and testing Stevens a couple of times. They took the lead from a free-kick, everyone somehow leaving Jordan Rhodes unmarked at the back post to nod in in front of the NRE... here we go again? Not this time.

United fought their way back into the game, battling the ball forward when Digby was alert to a loose ball after Okedina was fouled, Ahadme held things up, Cousins found Brophy who checked his run and played in Ahadme, who's touch was frankly dreadful but luckily Kachunga was there to tidy up and draw the U's level.

Twelve minutes later Liam Bennett nodded it on to Kaikai who absolutely *didn't* control the ball with his hand, and he knocked it forward to Ahadme who again didn't have the best touch, but was easily bought down in the box and converted his second penalty in as many weeks.

The second half saw United continue to play well - and were well in control until Paul Digby got a second yellow ten minutes from time. Neil Harris had a better view than me, and said Diggers got the ball, but from my lofty Block B perch it looked reckless and worthy of the second yellow. Harris managed the game out bringing on the likes of Thomas (who had about five touches -one of which hit the post, but the rest of them were all awful, but lets put that down to rustiness) , Rossi and Haunstrup to secure the points.

The end of the game saw Harris fist-pump the NRE as Coconuts played out, something we hope to see many more times this season.

Takeaways from this game then? Firstly Jubril Okedina - he really came of age in this game. He's struggled against forwards like Rhodes before, but he seemed to mature as the game went on, helping Bennett when needed and showing the class that we've seen glimpses of in the past. Brophy - had a fantastic game and if Harris can help him add those assists/goals to it then he's really going to step up a level. Cousins - superb, Ahadme - one of his best games for us.

I'm in no doubt we'd have lost that game three weeks ago. Charlton got the belief back in the squad and Saturday will only go to improve on that. These aren't bad players, and whilst things have gone a little awry lately we should have enough about us to stay clear of the trouble we found ourselves in last season.

Man of The Match: Brophy and Kachunga are both huge contenders and played excellently, but I'm going with Stevens, who kept us in the game early on and made a game-winning save towards the end.

Soundtrack of The Match: Nu-Era - Heartstrings