Cambridge United’s final match of the 2024/25 Sky Bet League One season sees them welcome champions Birmingham City to the Cledara Abbey Stadium this weekend…
How to Watch
Saturday afternoon’s curtain closer, which kicks off at 3pm, will be played out in-front of a near-capacity crowd – which is testament to your unwavering support throughout the campaign.
To avoid disappointment, please secure your place in advance. This can be done by purchasing your tickets online at cufctickets.com, over the phone by calling 01223 566500 (option 1) or by visiting the Ticket Office. All prices will increase by £2 when buying in-person on the day.
The 46th and final clash will be shown live on Sky Sports+ for fans in the UK who can’t make it to the game, whilst overseas supporters can stream the action live on CUFC TV.
Opposition Focus
Installed as early favourites over the summer - which only inflated as the months progressed - the feel-good factor has been resurrected for Birmingham, despite suffering relegation to the third tier for the first time in 30 years last time out in a year that saw six separate managers in the dugout. Nonetheless, the statement of intent and backing from the owners has ensured an exciting time at St Andrews, who firmly believe in the process of one step backwards and two steps forward under young tactician Chris Davies. The clean slate has produced a memorable campaign, with the first objective completed in devastating fashion as they romped to the title. As recently as Wednesday, they set a new EFL record – last set by Reading in the Championship in 2005/06 – by stretching their points tally to 108. With this momentum behind them, the sky is the limit.
With just three defeats to their name, there’s no doubting the Blues’ promotion credentials, who have been a consistent force throughout. Although matches in the opening half of the season were tight, their ability to control games and punish opponents at the right times was testament to their approach. The tone was set early doors as they responded to an opening day draw by winning seven on the spin, with the only sticky part of the season being a run of two victories from six heading into late November. An 18-match unbeaten run followed, terminated only by Bolton Wanderers in March. They simply responded by embarking on a string of a dozen matches without tasting defeat, picking up 32 points in that time. They’ll now look to make it a lucky 13 and say goodbye to League One in emphatic style.
Thriving in Davies’ 4-2-3-1 setup, the last line of a watertight defence that has shipped just 30 goals is experienced glovesman Ryan Allsop, with a stellar pairing of Ben Davies and Christoph Klarer – who didn’t take long to earn rave reviews – in the middle of athletic full-backs Alex Cochrane and Ethan Laird. Hailing from Asia, Tomoki Iwata provides Champions League experience in the middle of the park alongside Seung-Ho Paik, whereas Marc Leonard and Luke Harris enjoyed stellar loans with Northampton Town and Exeter City respectively last season and always provide when called upon. In the final third, who have all chipped in to bulge the onion bag 82 times, you’ve got the know-how of Keshi Anderson and intelligence of Rangers loanee Kieron Dowell, with Iceland international Willum Willumsson pulling the strings behind the striker. With the luxury of either Jay Stansfield, who has bagged 23 in all competitions or Alfie May – the division’s top scorer in 2023/24 – supplying the finishing touches, this is a squad blessed with quality all over the pitch.
Form Guide
- 18/04/2025 – Birmingham City 0-0 Crawley Town – Sky Bet League One
- 21/04/2025 – Burton Albion 1-2 Birmingham City – Sky Bet League One
- 24/04/2025 – Stevenage 0-1 Birmingham City – Sky Bet League One
- 27/04/2025 – Birmingham City 4-0 Mansfield Town – Sky Bet League One
- 30/04/2025 – Blackpool 0-2 Birmingham City – Sky Bet League One
The Amber Angle
Despite a determined effort to take their survival fight to the wire, relegation from League One was confirmed for the U’s last weekend as Burton Albion sealed a 2-1 win during stoppage time at the Pirelli Stadium.
On an afternoon of high stakes for both sides, a tense first half with little goalmouth action still managed to provide drama as Ryan Loft and John McKiernan picked up red cards in quick succession. Naturally, space to create chances was a given after the break, as the Brewers came out of the traps firing via Jon Dadi Bodvarsson. Just as time was running out, Elias Kachunga provided hope with a close-range finish, but Dylan Williams made sure of United’s fate in the closing moments, drilling home to put to an end their four-year stay in the third tier.
Reflecting on the outcome, Neil Harris said to the press: “The level over the course of the season has been relegation level. You can’t hide away from that, and I can’t sugar-coat it. I’m not prepared to do that because I speak honestly.”
Although he cut a frustrated figure, the Head Coach was determined to use it as fuel to really attack League Two from the first kick next season, affirming: “All I can say is we’re going to be a better football club in a few months’ time than we are today, that’s for sure. To the fanbase that have followed us up and down the country and supported us again today – and supported me since I came back – we’ll be better moving forward.
“Sometimes you have to take a step back to take two steps forward and that’s what we plan to do as a football club.”
Form Guide
- 05/04/2025 – Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 12/04/2025 – Cambridge United 0-1 Charlton Athletic – Sky Bet League One
- 18/04/2025 – Huddersfield Town 1-2 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 21/04/2025 – Cambridge United 1-2 Leyton Orient – Sky Bet League One
- 26/04/2025 – Burton Albion 2-1 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
Head-to-Head
- Cambridge United Wins: 5
- Birmingham City Wins: 6
- Draws: 2
Last Time We Met
Tuesday 11 February 2025 – Birmingham City 4-0 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
Our reverse meeting three months ago in front of 22,000 at St Andrew’s dished up no surprise scoreline as the U’s were on the receiving end of a comprehensive 4-0 victory for runaway leaders Birmingham. Up against it from the get-go, a penalty mid-way through the first half from Jay Stansfield opened up the floodgates on the evening, with an own goal, Kieran Dowell strike and a late finish from substitute Luke Harris sealing the damage. The line-up that day: Bishop, Okedina, Morrison, Watts, Bennett, Digby, Stevenson, Brophy, Kachunga, Barton, Loft.
Officials
- Referee: Charles Breakspear
- Assistant Referee: Paul Lister-Flynn
- Assistant Referee: Andrew Aylott
- Fourth Official: James Durkin