It’s a quick turnaround at the Cledara Abbey Stadium on Saturday as Cambridge United take on Bristol Rovers in an important Sky Bet League One clash…
How to Watch
Tickets are selling fast for this weekend’s encounter in CB5, with the televised match kicking off at the earlier time of 12:30pm.
Your incredible support means that we are looking at another bumper crowd - avoid disappointment and purchase your tickets online at cufctickets.com, over the phone by calling 01223 566500 (option 1) or by visiting the Ticket Office. All prices increase by £2 when buying in-person on the day.
Fans in the UK who are unable to attend can get behind the team from the comfort of their own home, with the action being shown live on Sky Sports+. Elsewhere, overseas supporters can also stream the game live on CUFC TV.
Opposition Focus
Founded 150 years ago, our visitors saw in the 1900s as a Southern League outfit but would go on to establish themselves as a resolute Division Two member throughout the 50s, 70s and 90s, which included a solitary season in the second tier in 1992/92 – where they were relegated with the U’s. The three-time FA Cup quarter-finalists fluctuated from here but have recently showed endeavour to bounce back from a non-league slump with successive promotions. The Pirates have been a third tier member for eight of the past nine seasons and will be delighted if they can replicate recent rankings of 17th and 15th under new boss Inigo Calderon.
An intriguing appointment, the Spaniard ventured to the west of the country last month following spells managing Brighton & Hove Albion’s U18s and as a coach with Deportivo Alaves, with his first task to steer clear of a potential dogfight. The Gas are situated in 20th - five points ahead of United – and need to arrest their slide. A respectable August, which included two wins and a draw, was undermined by a four-match losing streak, but they would persevere and register three victories from four to keep afloat. However, since the end of October Rovers have secured just the solitary triumph – 0-1 at Mansfield Town – and are in the midst of a seven-match winless run which includes six uninspiring losses. For both sides, it represents a great opportunity to turn the page and get the ball rolling for 2025.
At their disposal, and in an expected 4-2-3-1 setup, is Josh Griffiths between the sticks, who at just 23 has pedigree. A nice blend in defence sees veteran James Wilson orchestrate with his know-how, Arsenal loanee Lino Sousa excites on the left and Taylor Moore and Connor Taylor have both been everpresent. After popping up with 27 goal involvements at Walsall last season, Isaac Hutchinson thoroughly deserved the step up and could play in a deeper position alongside Grant Ward, who’s spent the majority of his career in the step above. That allows the likes of Luke Thomas, the promising Gatlin O’Donkor and Cypriot Ruel Sotiriou the opportunity to create in the final third. After physical frontman Promise Omochere was forced off with injury on New Year’s Day, talisman Chris Martin could lead the line after getting off the mark with a brace in the defeat against Leyton Orient.
Form Guide
- 14/12/2024 – Birmingham City 2-0 Bristol Rovers – Sky Bet League One
- 21/12/2024 – Bristol Rovers 1-1 Wrexham – Sky Bet League One
- 26/12/2024 – Exeter City 3-1 Bristol Rovers – Sky Bet League One
- 29/12/2024 – Stevenage 3-0 Bristol Rovers – Sky Bet League One
- 01/01/2025 – Bristol Rovers 2-3 Leyton Orient – Sky Bet League One
The Amber Angle
There’s little time to dwell for the U’s, who must dust themselves off after the year started with a 1-3 defeat to in-form Reading at the Abbey three days earlier.
The hosts started on the front foot and all in all enjoyed an incredibly encouraging first half, which was dampened by Harvey Knibbs’ close-range finish minutes from the break. In spite of the setback, they came out of the traps firing and immediately equalised through Elias Kachunga’s fourth goal in six league games. Just as they’d reclaimed momentum, Knibbs grabbed his brace to give United work to do. Although they created a plethora of half-chances with deliveries into the mixer, they ultimately rued that final killer touch to force the ball home, with Sam Smith killing the game off late in the afternoon with an exquisite lob.
Cutting a frustrated figure, Garry Monk’s assessment was: “That was a brutal result to receive considering everything we put into the game and the way that we went about it. It was crucial moments in both boxes… Normally we’d be stood here saying how proud we were of that performance, everything that went into it and the quality that we showed. It was a tough result to take.”
Looking ahead, they now take on a fellow relegation battler in the Gas, knowing that a much-needed triumph – last achieved just under a month ago – could potentially see them go within two points from safety.
Form Guide
- 14/12/2024 – Wrexham 2-2 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 20/12/2024 – Cambridge United 0-4 Huddersfield Town – Sky Bet League One
- 26/12/2024 – Charlton Athletic 2-1 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 29/12/2024 – Leyton Orient 2-0 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 01/01/2025 – Cambridge United 1-3 Reading – Sky Bet League One
Head-to-Head
- Cambridge United Wins: 8
- Bristol Rovers Wins: 25
- Draws: 8
Officials
- Referee: Matt Corlett
- Assistant Referee: Scott Williams
- Assistant Referee: Stuart Butler
- Fourth Official: Andrew Humphries