Despite entering possibly their best performance since Head Coach Brian Dutton took the hot seat, the Saddlers ultimately slipped to an agonising late defeat away to the title-chasing U's.
Seemingly heading for their second goalless draw in as many outings, Walsall were punished for their few missed opportunities as Cambridge striker Paul Mullin grabbed his twenty-fifth goal of the season in second-half injury time.
Continuing to offer honest post-match assessments, Dutton admitted he was gutted by the late defeat before calling upon his players to improve their levels of stamina and stay alert during the dying moments of matches.
Speaking to the assembled media, Brian said; "I’m gutted, absolutely gutted. It was a bittersweet performance.
"The boys have given me everything and I couldn’t be more proud of them. They’ve come to a team who are second in the league on their home patch and put in a performance like that.
"That is the level we need to reach to make things happen for us. We had that in abundance but you have to be physically at the top of your game.
"Top players are so fit because they have to go right through the 93rd, 94th and 95th minute.
"If you’re not able to do that you get punished and that’s what’s happened today, we’ve been punished.
"I’m gutted with the result but really pleased with the performance. It became end to end, there were chances for us to win it and chances for them.
"The easy thing to do at Cambridge would be to shut up shop and settle for a point, but I don’t want that mentality at Walsall football club.
"I want us to be able to win at home and away. It’s not happening at the minute for us but I am more than confident that if this group of lads put in more performances like that, we’ll become a force to be reckoned with in time."