Although we’re hoping that this FA Cup run doesn’t provide the definitive memories of this season, it hasn’t half enlivened the feeling around the club. Casting our minds back to December, despite being within touch of the promotion spots, it still felt like there was something missing about this season. Those victories over Stoke and MK Dons have not only demonstrated there is genuine quality about this side, but a character and team spirit to go out there and battle for results.
Heading straight back into league action carries the risk of another ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ that we saw against Exeter, but it’s also a chance to strike while the iron (the iron of momentum, that is) is still hot and grab a victory that puts us into automatic promotion contention. While Cambridge United are going to be very different opposition to MK Dons, we should be looking to attack this game with a similar sense of purpose and confidence.
The burgeoning form of Maxime Biamou and Marc McNulty up front is proving to be a real boon for us right now. The two have come a long way both individually and as a partnership since the start of the season, but they are currently looking like a major piece of the jigsaw that was missing earlier on.
The next thing to fall in place now would be goals from midfield. Jordan Maguire-Drew and Josh Barrett both have looked like they might play a useful role for us in their minutes on the pitch thus far, while Jordan Shipley and Peter Vincenti are also capable of adding goals to their game. Hopefully this extra competition for places out wide leads to the respective players raising their games.
The wide player conundrum is added to after Tom Bayliss demonstrated on Saturday that he is more than capable of being effective while played on the right. The freedom from defensive responsibilities gave Bayliss further licence to push forward, while allowing Mark Robins to bring Liam Kelly back into the side. With Kelly being unable to last the 90 minutes on Saturday though, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bayliss pushed back into a central position.
Last Time We Met
Our meeting with Cambridge back in September was typical of many of our defeats this season, where a lack of composure in front of goal saw us drop points. A slow start saw Cambridge take the lead via a deep cross to the far post nodded down by Jabo Ibehre. After several excellent chances to equalise, a raking cross-field pass from Peter Vincenti to Duckens Nazon was smashed emphatically by the Haitian into the near post.
The game seemed to have swung in our favour, with several opportunities spurned to take the lead. However, it was another cross into the box – this time headed home by Uche Ikpeazu – that undid all our good work.
How Are They Doing?
Having had promotion aspirations in each of the past two seasons under Shaun Derry, the manager’s inability to consistently get goals from his side has cast Cambridge United into mid-table also-rans. Although they are currently on a run of one defeat in their past six games – three of those six having been draws – both Cambridge and Derry seem to be operating on the understanding that the manager will be leaving in the summer.
With hopes of mounting a late season surge towards the play-offs starting to fade, the pressure is off Cambridge somewhat. While a recent 5-2 defeat to Forest Green showed how this can manifest itself in a negative manner, they drew 3-3 with Notts County last month, showing that they are still capable of making life difficult for their opponents.
Those two results notwithstanding, Cambridge have found goals hard to come by this season. This is fairly surprising given they have two bruising, powerhouse centre-forwards in Jabo Ibehre and Uche Ikpeazu to call upon, both of whom are capable of getting into double figures at this level. Furthermore, summer signing Jevani Brown – plucked from non-league St Neots Town – has been a revelation this season in an attacking midfield position, possessing an excellent eye for a pass and scoring some spectacular long-range goals.
At the back, Cambridge are experienced and can be formidable when they have a lead to defend. The experience of centre-back pairing Greg Taylor and Leon Legge has been important for them, although academy graduate Harry Darling (amazing name, by the way) has stepped up ably in recent weeks after an injury to Legge. In goal, the veteran David Forde is capable of completely shutting up shop when the mood takes him – it was his heroics that were vital in Cambridge winning the last meeting between these two sides.
Moreover, Shaun Derry has built a reputation as a manager for being ultra pragmatic in trying to scrape out results. His pre-match interview suggested that he’s seeing this as a big game at a big stadium, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Cambridge set out to completely spoil the game from the off. Although he’s unlikely to achieve anything with Cambridge this season, he has a managerial reputation to salvage.
Prediction
I’m fairly confident heading into this game that we can build on the momentum from the MK Dons game. With the draw against Brighton a decent one without being overly distracting, the players must know that it’s all about putting a run together in the league. While this is a winnable home game, Cambridge are fully capable of exploiting any lapses in concentration and holding onto a 1-0 scoreline.
Given the struggles in front of goal of both sides this season, this is unlikely to be a classic and it seems set to be a game decided by the first goalscorer. I’m going to be back us to be that team.
Sideways Sammy 