Off the back of three successive draws in Sky Bet League One, Cambridge United will be looking to recapture that winning feeling this weekend when they take on basement side Shrewsbury Town at the Croud Meadow…
How to Watch
Members of the amber nation still have time to join those who have already secured their place for Saturday’s meeting in Shropshire, with proceedings getting underway at 3pm.
This can be done either online at cufctickets.com, over the phone by calling 01223 566500 (option 1) or by visiting the Cledara Abbey Stadium Club Shop during the usual opening hours. Alternatively, tickets will be available to buy from the ground via the CASH ONLY sales point at the SY Comms North Stand.
Those who are unable to attend can back the boys from home via their CUFC TV account. Overseas supporters can stream the game live, whereas UK U’s can tune into audio commentary.
Opposition Focus
Experiencing mixed fortunes since their formation in 1886, the Shrews moved to Gay Meadow in 1910 and joined the Football League in 1950 following a successful election campaign. Just shy of three decades later, they made the second division for the first time in their history. Although they dropped down the leagues slightly from here, they established themselves as a no-nonsense third tier outfit ever since their promotion from League Two in 2015 - even making the play-off final in 2017/18 after a superb campaign - but fell short to Rotherham United at Wembley. First, Steve Cotterill laid stern foundations for Salop in recent times, firing them to 12th two seasons ago – their best showing in five years – but the new era stagnated under Matt Taylor and Paul Hurst in his second spell. Fans have been left disappointed in recent weeks after savvy operator Gareth Ainsworth left his role after just three months, so it’s down to Michael Appleton to ensure a positive end to a testing campaign where relegation edges closer.
13 points from safety with seven to go, the drop looks inevitable for Town in what has been a real write-off of a season – the aim now is to simply play for pride and set some foundations ahead of a busy summer. The solitary victory from their opening 10 set the tone, with the standout spell being a four-match unbeaten run during the Christmas period. Coming into Saturday’s meeting between the bottom two, Shrewsbury are winless in 10 with three of those being draws, which includes their stalemate with Wycombe Wanderers in midweek – they hope the gritty performance can motivate them to pick up a first triumph since early February.
Boasting key Football League experience, Appleton will be looking to motivate his men throughout the run-in and has opted with a 3-4-1-2 system in his opening two matches. Goalkeeper Jamal Blackman is authoritative inside the box and could have a trio of promising 19-year-old Josh Feeney, the commanding Aaron Pierre and Morgan Feeney just ahead of him. The versatile Mal Benning has racked up the appearances, as has loanee Funso Ojo, whilst David Wheeler and Jordan Shipley have the experience out wide to create. In the final third, Vadaine Oliver is a focal point and can be effective aerially, whereas George Lloyd has enjoyed partnering top goalscorer John Marquis, who has proven his quality at this level by bagging eight league strikes.
Form Guide
- 04/03/2025 - Shrewsbury Town 0-0 Bristol Rovers - Sky Bet League One
- 08/03/2025 - Exeter City 2-0 Shrewsbury Town - Sky Bet League One
- 15/03/2025 - Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Burton Albion - Sky Bet League One
- 29/03/2025 - Birmingham City 4-1 Shrewsbury Town - Sky Bet League One
- 01/04/2025 - Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Shrewsbury Town - Sky Bet League One
The Amber Angle
The U’s will undoubtedly take pride from their display last time out, as they showed resilience to share an entertaining 2-2 draw with promotion-chasing Wrexham at CB5.
After being dealt an early sucker punch by the Welsh outfit two minutes in when George Dobson guided home a long-range strike, the hosts refused to allow any form of control as they upped their levels to draw level through Liam Bennett’s first league goal, before coming out of the blocks firing after the break as Josh Stokes coolly dispatched home his seventh of the season from the spot. As expected, the Red Dragons then went for the jugular and equalised through Sam Smith’s header, but United didn’t budge as they held firm for a well-earned point.
Delighted with the performance levels, the Head Coach said to the press after the game: “When we talk about what a Neil Harris team looks like, it’s not about just the formation, it’s about the profile of the players in the team and the way I want us to play… That’s what the modern game is and that’s what we’ve got to be as Cambridge United. I fully know what the fans want to see, fully know what this club stands for and it’s why I’m here. It’s why I’ve been brought here - to deliver that.”
Form Guide
- 11/03/2025 - Blackpool 2-1 Cambridge United - Sky Bet League One
- 15/03/2025 - Cambridge United 0-1 Peterborough United - Sky Bet League One
- 22/03/2025 - Barnsley 1-1 Cambridge United - Sky Bet League One
- 29/03/2025 - Cambridge United 1-1 Northampton Town - Sky Bet League One
- 01/04/2025 - Cambridge United 2-2 Wrexham - Sky Bet League One
Head-to-Head
- Shrewsbury Town Wins: 15
- Cambridge United Wins: 14
- Draws: 11
Last Time We Met
Saturday 7 December 2024 - Cambridge United 4-1 Shrewsbury Town - Sky Bet League One
A free-flowing United put in their most complete performance of the season in the reverse fixture at a wind-swept Cledara Abbey back in December as they roared to a scintillating 4-1 triumph. Tricky conditions did not dampen the U’s spirits in the big six-pointer, who were fast out of the blocks to open the scoring just 46 seconds in through Shayne Lavery. The striker soon secured his brace, before Dan Nlundulu and Elias Kachunga made sure of the victory after the break, with John Marquis’ penalty proving to be just a consolation. The line-up that day: Reyes, Ibsen Rossi, Morrison, Watts, Bennett, Smith, Cousins, Brophy, Kachunga, Nlundulu, Lavery.
Officials
- Referee: Ollie Yates
- Assistant Referee: Oliver Bickle
- Assistant Referee: Marvyn Amphlett
- Fourth Official: Michael Crusham