Match Preview: Shrimps vs U's

22 September 2022

Cambridge United are presented with the opportunity to secure back-to-back successes on the road as they travel to Morecambe in their next Sky Bet League One outing...

Mark Bonner’s men will look to preserve their placing in the top half of the table and return to winning ways in the division against a Shrimps side who, in spite of a testing start to the season, can take inspiration from their cup heroics and will no doubt be in high spirits after notching their first league victory last time out.

How to Watch

The clash in Lancashire kicks off at 3pm, with tickets priced at £25 for Adults, £20 for 65+ and £7 for Under 18s. To secure your place, purchase online at cufctickets.com - four away credits shall be issued.

Due to the International Break, supporters who can't make it to the game can stream the action live with an iFollow Match Pass. Match Passes cost £10 and are available to purchase by clicking here.

Opposition Focus

It’s been a rollercoaster of a few years for supporters of Morecambe. From staring down the barrel to moving on up and battling it out with former giants of the first tier week by week. The integral engineer was no doubt manager Derek Adams who, after joining in November 2019, steered the side to safety before masterminding an unlikely promotion the following season. Although he did depart days after the play-off success, he returned in February 2022 and kept the team in League One with a respectable 19th place finish. In what is another demanding task, the sole aim is to show progression and consolidate once more, despite many critics believing they’ll suffer second season syndrome.

Languishing in 23rd with seven points to their name, it’s been a strenuous introduction to the campaign – but that’s not to say there hasn’t been promise. Funnily enough, the side are yet to lose back-to-back games, picking up a share of the spoils against Shrewsbury Town, Fleetwood Town, Oxford United and Bristol Rovers. Despite scoring in four of their nine clashes, 50% of that rate occurred last Saturday as Farrend Rawson’s last-gasp goal clinched a 1-2 win at Forest Green Rovers. Their cup exploits has been creditable too, Adams’ side have dispatched Everton U21’s and Hartlepool United on penalties in the EFL Trophy, whilst winning through the same feat against Stoke City before overcoming another Championship side in Rotherham United in the Carabao Cup.

The U’s can expect to face a committed side scrapping for every ball – a rapid start for the hosts could make things tricky for Bonner’s men. Rawson, Jacob Bedeau and Ryan Delaney compliment each other well as a back three, whilst bite and endurance in the middle of the park in Jake Taylor and former U Jensen Weir is a dream for talisman Cole Stockton, one of the standout strikers in the division last season as he plundered 26 goals. Three points would be vital to ease any early nerves for the Lancashire outfit.

Form Guide

Morecambe: WDLWW

Cambridge United: LWLLW

United’s Approach

A thoroughly authoritative 0-2 success at lower-league Northampton Town in the Papa John’s Trophy last time out, thanks to Fejiri Okenabirhie’s clinical brace, has hopefully set the motion ahead of a busy Autumn schedule for the U’s.

With 16 members of the squad getting valuable minutes into the tank, it’s safe to say the boss has some exciting decisions to make going forward, with many staking their claim. Although they were pitted against a very youthful Cobblers team, you can only beat what’s put out ahead of you, and the visitors done that in style – the defensive pairing of Lloyd Jones and Zeno Ibsen Rossi didn’t hand their counterparts a sniff, whereas the aforementioned goalscorer, Saikou Janneh and Jack Lankester showcased endeavour and trickery at the other end of the pitch.

Reflecting on the win at Sixfields, First Team Coach Barry Corr summarised: “We’re really pleased that we’ve given ourselves a chance to progress to the next round… it’s always good to win football matches, it brings confidence.”

Whilst it is of course handy to shatter the winless rut on the road, particularly three days after losing their unbeaten run at the Abbey, the United faithful know they’re a threat whatever the venue.

Currently in the top ten, a win could very well plummet the U’s back into the play-offs. Week by week, the league table continues to take its shape – can this side remain a mainstay in this transition? Perhaps one talking point would be the negative goal difference - the pack have conceded the fifth most in the division, but a watertight performance and clean sheet on Tuesday is a solid foundation to build upon.

In regards to an update on the squad ahead of the journey up north, Assistant Head Coach Gary Waddock kept his fingers crossed that Brandon Haunstrup “won’t be out for too long,” whereas Greg Taylor’s recent exclusion has been down to managing his workload as he works his way back to full fitness.

Head-to-Head

Morecambe Wins: 8

Cambridge United Wins: 9

Draws: 5

Down Memory Lane

Over the years, the U’s vs the Shrimps has had a tendency to become a very streaky fixture, the ‘bogey team’ label certainly comes to mind. Between 2016 to 2019, United didn’t taste victory once, with Saturday’s opponents keeping four consecutive clean sheets in that point. The script was soon flipped – now, Bonner’s side now arrive six unbeaten, winning all of their four previous matchups.

Last time out against the Shrimps, the Abbey faithful witnessed a clinical 2-1 success in April and the confirmation of another season in the third tier thanks to Sam Smith’s alert strike and Joe Ironside’s penalty.

Following what was a third win in four games, the Head Coach praised the attacking options at his disposal, stating, “I think him (Smith) and Joey are on really good numbers for goals, and I think Knibbsy will chip in and add to those. He is playing a real part in creating those chances. I’m really pleased for Joe and Sam, we know the strengths they’ve got.”

During the 2020/21 promotion-winning season, early signs of fruition were there when a Paul Mullin and Wes Hoolahan inspired side secured the double, but no doubt the most memorable victory occurred on a warm April evening in 2016 when United secured their biggest ever Football League win, dispatching the Lancashire outfit 7-0. Luke Berry and Harrison Dunk enjoyed braces that night, with Ben Williamson, Mark Roberts and Zeli Ismail also finding the net.

Officials

Referee: Robert Madden

Assistant Referee: Darren Williams

Assistant Referee: Steven Rushton

Fourth Official: Samuel Barrott

Match Reports

U's turn it around to snatch victory at Morecambe

24 September 2022

Cambridge United earned a well-deserved three points on the road as they came back from behind to beat Morecambe at the Mazuma Stadium…

After falling behind in the first half to Jensen Weir’s goal, United didn’t allow their heads to drop at any point in the contest and got their rewards with Lankester’s leveller and Knibbs’ late winner.

Mark Bonner made four changes from the U’s last league outing as Jack Lankester, Zeno Ibsen Rossi, Adam May and Joe Ironside joined the starting XI in place of Harvey Knibbs, Jubril Okedina, Liam O'Neil and Shilow Tracey.

Despite starting the game in the ascendency and with the home side pinned back, it was the Shrimps who took an early lead through former U’s loanee Jensen Weir. With United caught short at the back, Weir took the ball past lone covering defender Brophy before firing into the bottom corner of the near-post.

Not disheartened by the set-back, Cambridge continued to probe for goal and Smith had two good sights of goal within the space of a minute around the 20 minute mark, as the forward latched onto a Digby cross but shot straight at the goalkeeper, before taking aim from 20 yards but was again denied by Ripley.

All the territory was in the Morecambe third and ten minutes later, United finally made it count after a patient attacking with, through Lankester’s expert first-time finish to turn Dunk’s pass into the back of the net.

The boys in blue pushed for a go-ahead goal throughout the remaining quarter of an hour before the half, without creating any real chances of note.

Buoyed by the leveller, Bonner’s side continued to play with confidence when the teams returned from the break, but a couple of dangerous moments flashed across the face of goal within the first five minutes of the half as Morecambe reminded the U’s of their own threats.

Williams was the first United man to have a sight of goal in the second half, as Ironside’s dirty work up against the Morecambe backline saw the ball spill out to the right-back but despite hitting it hard and clean, Ripley was able to get down and make the stop.

Smith saw a golden opportunity to put the U’s ahead moments later, as he did brilliantly to take down May’s pass, heading it past the on-rushing Ripley before firing it into the side netting from the narrowest of angles.

The chances kept on coming but Morecambe were proving resilient opponents. Adam May saw a deflected effort fly just wide of the post on the hour mark before Lankester jinxed in and out of defenders before seeing the ball taken away from him just as he was about to take aim at goal.

Looking for a fresh spark, Bonner turned to the bench and brought on Tracey and Knibbs to replace Brophy and Lankester and with 10 minutes remaining, there were huge appeals for a United penalty as Ripley appeared to handle the ball outside of his area, but the referee waved away all protests as the game entered the closing stages.

Gibson got the home fans on their feet shortly after, as he let off a powerful strike from distance which sailed over the bar before making a dangerous run through the U’s defence before being denied by Mitov.

Then, with just a few minutes remaining, the substitutes made the difference as Tracey burst past his man towards the by-line, before cutting the ball back towards the penalty spot for Knibbs to rifle the ball past Ripley.

It was a comfortable end to proceedings as United managed the game well to pick up their first three points on the road this season