Match Preview: U's vs Peterborough

23 February 2024

The Cledara Abbey Stadium hosts the latest instalment of the Cambridgeshire Derby this weekend as Cambridge United host Peterborough United in what promises to be an electric Sky Bet League One encounter…

Under the tutelage of Interim Head Coach Barry Corr, the U’s look to make an instant return to winning ways and get one over their rivals, who approach the match off the back of a four-game losing streak in the third tier.

How to Watch

Saturday afternoon’s tussle, which gets underway at an earlier time of 12pm, is expected to be played out in front of a sold-out CB5.

Just a few hundred tickets remain in the ground, so fans are advised to ensure their place online at cufctickets.com or over the phone by calling 01223 566500 (option 1) as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

For all of the latest news regarding sales, be sure to keep your notifications on for the U’s Ticket Office Account on X.

Opposition Focus

Founded in 1934 at a meeting in the Angel Hotel, local councillor Jack Swain had high hopes for the future of the newly-founded club, who filled the void left by Peterborough and Fletton United’s collapse 19 months earlier. Beginning in green shirts, the side would remain in the Midland League until 1960, where they were elected to the Football League following five consecutive titles. Momentum continued, Posh immediately established themselves as a Third Division side, even reaching the FA Cup quarter-final in 1965 and the League Cup semi-final the following year but fluctuated until 1992, where they reached the second tier for the first time. Since the turn of the millennium, they’ve yo-yoed, but Darren Ferguson has spearheaded the visitors to four promotions since 2008. Although their Championship stay was short-lived in 2021/22, they hope to go one better than last season’s play-off semi-final defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and stage a return. Hopes are positive after securing a trip to Wembley in midweek in the EFL Trophy, but can they back it up with promotion?

Lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Jed Steer is now here to stay and is likely to don the sticks, with a very well-balanced back four of Jadel Katongo, Josh Knight, Ronnie Edwards and Harrison Burrows ahead of him. Offering protection, Hector Kyprianou and Archie Collins have been mainstays in the middle of the park, chipping in with defensive duties and their share of goals, but it’s in the attacking ranks that Posh thrive. Former Exeter City man Joel Randall adds the industry and flair in the middle, with livewire wingers Kwame Poku and Ephron Mason-Clark – each with 15 goal involvements – either side. A range of strikers at their disposal means all of the dangerous Jonson Clarke-Harris, improving Ricky-Jade Jones and Malik Mothersille are all fighting to earn a start.

A streaky introduction to Peterborough’s campaign saw them win their first three on the spin before falling victim to three successive losses against Northampton Town, Derby County and Portsmouth. Their form from here, in truth, was remarkable, as they ventured towards a run which included 13 wins, eight draws and the solitary defeat between September to February. A recent 12-match unbeaten streak was terminated by Wigan Athletic, which was the first of four consecutive defeats heading into this weekend. As a result, Ferguson’s men are down to 6th with just a three-point advantage inside the play-offs to protect.

Form Guide

Cambridge United: WLLWL

Peterborough United: LLLLW

United’s Approach

In midweek, the U’s were forced into defeat at the Abbey as promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers battled to a 1-2 comeback victory.

Starting in the ascendency, United’s counter was causing problems and helped create the early opener when Sullay Kaikai’s angled attempt was heavily deflected goal-bound by Eoin Toal. Unable to build on a positive first half, the Trotters came out from the break all guns blazing and secured the turnaround courtesy of Paris Maghoma and Carlos Mendes Gomes, who navigated the conclusion well against the U’s after they ended the game with ten men following Lyle Taylor’s dismissal.

The encounter proved to be Neil Harris’ last as Head Coach, with his 77 days in charge coming to an end on Wednesday following Millwall’s approach. He stated after the whistle: “We played really well in the first half against a really, really top side and we ended strongly in the last 20 minutes… Tonight, we gave a really good account of themselves.”

It’s been a busy week of preparation for the U’s, who have now lost three of their last four, but they’ll be determined to shake off defeat with a morale-boosting result against their rivals and reward Corr, who takes the reins for the first time since the 4-0 cup thumping vs Fleetwood Town in December.

Head-to-Head

Cambridge United Wins: 15

Peterborough United Wins: 19

Draws: 11

Down Memory Lane

It was an afternoon to forget last time out between the sides as Posh powered to a ruthless 5-0 victory at the Weston Homes Stadium.

The U’s started in a positive manner, but a devastating six-minute spell on the eve of half-time from the hosts saw them steam ahead thanks to Ephron Mason-Clark’s brace and Kwame Poku’s strike. Unable to muster a response, the hosts remained on top, with the latter grabbing his second moments after the break before an own goal near the death compounded a testing day out.

Leaving a bitter taste, it’s a loss they’re still hurting from - but Saturday poses an excellent challenge to put that behind them and, just like last campaign, use home advantage to take the game to Posh and claim not just points but pride too.

Officials

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Assistant Referee: Garry Maskell

Assistant Referee: Michael Webb

Fourth Official: Conor Farrell

Match Reports

Report: Cambridge United 0-1 Peterborough United

24 February 2024

Cambridge United were unable to claim any points from the Cambridgeshire Derby as they were edged out 0-1 by Peterborough United at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…

The U’s remained resolute to deal with a lively attack throughout the encounter, but a curler from Ephron Mason-Clark early in the second half proved to be the difference as the hosts succumbed to back-to-back defeats in the third tier.

Under the tutelage of Barry Corr, United approached the heavily-anticipated encounter with three defeats from four, so eyed up getting one over their rivals by securing an instant return to winning ways. As for Posh, they had a trip to Wembley to look forward to following their EFL Trophy exploits, but in the bread and butter had lost four on the bounce.

In response to the slender defeat to Bolton Wanderers, the Interim Head Coach opted to name three changes to the XI as James Gibbons, George Thomas and Jack Lankester all returned to the fold.

A deafening atmosphere awaited the sets of players as they walked out, with both sets of fans pumped up and ready to attack from the first whistle.

The opening chance arrived on the 3rd minute when Kwame Poku wriggled his way towards the penalty area before firing a drilled attempt that was handled firmly by Jack Stevens.

Lively with the press, a weak back pass presented Joel Randall with the chance to intercept and tee up an unmarked Malik Mothersille across the face of goal, but Stevens was there to dive and importantly prevent.

In spite of the chances, the U’s early application had been good. Winning the physical battle, pressuring from the front and restricting wherever possible, there was little complaints.

Their first opportunity fell on the 24th minute when Sullay Kaikai jinked his way down the right and crossed into Lankester who, with his back to goal, managed to flick it on target from close range but it was claimed by Jed Steer.

The tide was starting to turn in Posh’s favour half an hour in, with their crosses into the mixer causing havoc at every attempt. Nonetheless, the U’s had cleared their lines at every attempt.

On 34, the visitors almost broke deadlock when Poku nicked possession and played Mothersille into space, who as soon as he pulled the trigger was closed down by Ryan Bennett’s crucial block, which put the forward off as he side-footed wide of the post from a tight position.

A few minutes later, they went even closer after turning on the gas in the final third in the flick of a switch, with Randall advancing and pulling back for Archie Collins, who unleashed a curler which clipped the roof of the crossbar.

After seeing off a flurry of scares, it was United’s turn to probe. A quick free-kick on 42 resulted in R. Bennett’s flicked header falling invitingly to Lankester from 20 yards, who unleashed with venom but it was prevented to Steer’s dive to his left.

A matter of seconds later, the U’s had the ball in the back of the net after Lankester’s powerful header floated over a sea of blue and towards Elias Kachunga who tapped home, only to be immediately cancelled out by the offside flag.

It proved to be the last action of a satisfying first period for the hosts, who had dug in and certainly not shied away.

First blood was drawn on the 54th minute in frustrating circumstances after Mason-Clark picked out a cross deep down the left, which caught the U’s out and was left by everyone as it creeped into the bottom corner.

In response, United gained more freedom to attack as Posh looked to keep things tight. With time running out, they needed to gamble and bring more men forward whenever they countered.

On 72, Posh had some excellent chances to put the game to bed as substitute Hector Kyprianou rattled against the crossbar after being fed by Mason-Clark, before Poku’s shot from the right was blocked by R. Bennett before it could hit the net.

Ten minutes from time, James Brophy performed a dribble and cut it to Lankester, who was clever and instinctive in dummying it to fall for Danny Andrew from 20 yards who cannoned it across the floor but it went agonisingly wide of the post.

Keeping his side in the contest, Stevens was on hand to deny Poku after the winger got on the end of a deep cross with an acrobatic attempt on the outskirts of the six-yard box.

Despite having six additional minutes, Corr’s men were unable to muster that killer moment when it mattered as they were forced into back-to-back defeats.

Up next, the U’s will look to bounce back as they travel to the Lamex Stadium on Tuesday evening (27th February) for the rearranged fixture against Stevenage – be sure to back the boys.

Cambridge United: Stevens, Gibbons (L. Bennett, 62’), R. Bennett (Okedina, 86’), Morrison, Andrew, Cousins (May, 75’), Thomas, Kaikai, Lankester, Brophy (Njoku, 86’), Kachunga (Bonne, 75’)

Subs Not Used: Mannion, Digby

Goalscorers:

Bookings: Lankester, Morrison, R. Bennett, Andrew

Peterborough United: Steer, Katongo, Knight, Edwards, Burrows, Fuchs (Kyprianou, 60’), Collins, Poku, Randall, Mason-Clark (Clarke-Harris, 85’), Mothersille (Jones, 59’)

Subs Not Used: Bilokapic, Crichlow, De Havilland, Olakigbe

Goalscorers: Mason-Clark (54’)

Bookings: Knight, Katongo

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 7710 (1473 away fans)

Man of the Match: Lankester