The French coach made a change to his wingback formation to give his lifeless attack much more width. Soon they were providing balls into the box which began to unsettle the Leyton Orient defence.
It was all Orient during the first half but it took them 44 minutes to take the lead from a three-man move finished by Andy Scott.
But once Justin Walker equalised for the home side in the 51st minute a one-sided encounter turned into a tremendous match in which both sides had opportunities to win.
In the early stages it looked like being an unsavoury repeat of the final game at Brisbane Road last season in which nine players were booked. The tally was up to four (two each) by the 21st minute this time.
With Orient in charge before the break, Scott hit the post from six yards in the 37th minute, before doing much better with a drive from twice that distance.
The only response from the home side was a 40 yard Luke Guttridge free-kick just before the whistle which rattled the crossbar.
With their new line-up beginning to gel Cambridge began to rip through the Orient defence and six minutes into the half substitute Andy Duncan had a header cleared off the line.
Guttridge swung the flagkick to the far post where Justin Walker blasted a header under the crossbar.
As the game developed into a fast, open duel Orient keeper Glen Morris did well to save from point-blank range in the 57th and 78th minutes from Danny Webb.
Orient also had a spell when they got back on top, impressive striker Jabo Ibehre forcing a goal line block from Adam Tann before hitting the goalkeeper with a header a minute later.