In the second of our two matches this weekend, Cambridge United play yet another newly-promoted side when Conference North champions Kettering Town are the visitors. Due to live TV coverage, the match kicks off at 4.15pm.
Team News
United ran out 3-0 winners at Eastbourne on Saturday and Chris Holroyd presented his manager with another selection problem by coming off the bench with ten minutes remaining and scoring a debut goal four minutes later. The pacy former Chester striker will be pressing Lee McEvilly and Mark Beesley for a starting place and can probably expect more than ten minutes on the pitch in today's game.
Ben Farrell slotted into midfield in place of the injured Paul Carden and looks sure to keep his place, while another player pressing for his first start is Swansea loanee Chris Jones who again showed good pace and skill in another late appearance from the bench. If Brabin decides to rest Robbie Willmott after four consecutive starts, Jones would be favourite to slot in on the right.
The manager is delighted by his side's unbeaten start to the season but warned, "I'm just pleased that we came through with another three points. We mustn't get carried away though, and I'm obviously concerned with the injuries to key players that we've suffered, but I've been made up with the attitude of the lads.
"Lee McEvilly scored again, which I'm pleased about, but everyone is working hard at the moment and hopefully this weekend we'll have more people scoring goals and making themselves heroes because they're all working hard and they all have their part to play."
The Opposition
Kettering have drawn all four games 1-1 so far and will be hoping to go one better today, but they have a doubt over giant defender Exodus Geoghaghan who was replaced by John Dempster during Saturday's local derby match against Rushden.
The Poppies will be the third newly-promoted side faced by United so far this season - after Barrow and Eastbourne - and Brabin stressed again that the Conference North Champions must not be taken for granted: "They're another newly-promoted side who are used to winning and they won their league convincingly last season.
"They're strong and well-organised and they'll be hard to break down, so we have to be on top of our game today. When teams are used to winning, like we saw against Northwich and Barrow, they're full of confidence and they can cause you problems so we have to be ready for that."
Kettering will also bring a number of recent ex-United players, as Tommy Jaszczun, Jon Brady and Craig Westcarr all return to their former stamping ground. David Bridges also played for them last season but moved on to Stevenage this summer.
More Information
You can read Doug Shulman's introduction to Kettering Town 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 today's kick-off time is 4.15pm. Away Fans have been allocated the South Stand for this game.
The bookies make United odds-on favourites to win at 4/7 to record a fifth third straight win, while the draw is 11/4 and our visitors are 5/1 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.
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