In the first of two matches this weekend, Cambridge United play another newly-promoted side on Saturday when we visit the South coast to play Eastbourne Borough (3pm). Click here for direction and details.
The bookies make United favourites to win at 11/10 to record a fourth third straight win, while the draw is 9/4 and our hosts are 9/4 to win with our official online betting partners Bet365. If you don't fancy those odds there's a host of other betting opportunities, including First Goalscorer and Scorecast. Click here for all the match odds.
Team News
Paul Carden is the latest addition to the injury list after damaging ankle ligaments during Saturday's win against Barrow. He was unable to continue at half-time and was replaced by Ben Farrell, who looks set to deputise again tomorrow.
Gary Brabin is already without long-term absentees Andy Parkinson and Courtney Pitt due to their respective knee injuries, but with no new injury problems to report he is expected to keep faith with the same eleven that began the second half last weekend.
"Losing Paul is a massive blow and we've now lost the whole of the midfield from the Everton game to injuries, but the lads who've come in have done brilliantly," Brabin commented. "I thought Ben (Farrell) did great when he came on last week and his attitude has been different class, like the rest of the lads.
"It's good having healthy competition for places and people like Chris Holroyd have come into the squad to put pressure on players and he's chomping at the bit for a start, but you have to earn that and as it stands, with the way Macca and Bees are playing at the moment, they'll be staying in the side.
"No one has a divine right to a place in the side but they've done well in the first three games and every day in training, and they're my first choice strikers at the moment."
With Carden injured Brabin will have to hand the captain's armband to someone else but he is keeping his cards close to his chest on that decision.
He added to the squad this week by bringing in goalkeeper Steven Drench on loan from Southport until the New Year. The 22-year-old former Blackburn and Morecambe 'keeper is expected to be on the bench at Eastbourne but Brabin wants him to be competition for Danny Potter and not just back-up.
"Danny Potter has done great and he's aware that I want someone pushing him for his place as well," confirmed the U's boss. "I don't want to sign a keeper just for the sake of it, just like I don't want to sign any outfield players for the sake of it.
"He's got to be quality and have a realistic chance of pushing for that position, but at the moment Danny Potter is the number one and I think he'll realise that he needs that competition. If he keeps playing the way he has, there's no reason he should lose his jersey."
The Opposition
The U's have never met Eastbourne before, but Brabin knows that his team cannot afford to underestimate the newly-promoted clubs. Having already faced Barrow, and with Conference South champions Kettering to come on Monday, he stressed again that these teams arrive in the division with confidence and a 'winning habit' and must be treated with respect.
Eastbourne have had a mixed start to their first season in the Blue Square Premier. After losing their opening game 1-0 at home to Rushden, they bounced back with a 3-1 win at Stevenage, but in a thrilling game at Oxford last weekend they lost 6-3 in a game that was posed at 3-3 at one stage.
"I'm confident that we'll approach every game in the same manner," stated Brabin. "We've got some great footballers and we are a good footballing side, but first of all we've got to do the 'horrible' things and I think we're doing that brilliantly at the moment.
"We seem to be playing the teams at the moment who are on a high from last season, and it does seem to carry momentum this season. Eastbourne have played three really tough games this season and they've got three points which is not a bad start.
"They're a big, strong side, they're well-organised, they do score goals and they'll be at their own ground so it won't be an easy game by any means."
Brabin believes the Eastbourne players will have learned from conceding six goals against Oxford and believes they could be stronger and more difficult opponents as a result.
"I don't think they'll be vulnerable. It was three-all at one stage and everyone I've spoken to about it says it was never a 6-3 game and Eastbourne did really well and it was a really close game. To be 3-3 at Oxford, you have to give them respect for that.
"Their forwards are scoring goals, their midfield work hard for each other and they're a big, strong side so we're aware of their strengths and weaknesses and we've just just got to concentrate on ours."
More Information
You can read Doug Shulman's introduction to Eastbourne here, away travel and ticket information is here, and if you fancy a bet on our match or any other event this week please follow this link to visit our official betting partners bet365 - the only place where your online betting makes money for the U's.
Please note our following game is at home to Kettering Town on Monday (25th). This is a televised game and kick-off is 4.15pm.
Make Your Click Count For The U's - talk about it on the Message Board!
You are respectfully reminded that any article, as with all content on this website, unless otherwise stated, is subject to copyright © and the Official Cambridge United Website must be acknowledged as the original source including all quotes.
AT080822
