Cambridge United are at home to Kettering Town on Saturday (3pm) and looking to build on three successive wins. FA Cup victories sandwiched a 2-0 win at home to Kidderminster two weeks ago, and Martin Ling is looking for his side to close the gap on the top five clubs.

United are currently eighth, having taken 27 points from the first eighteen games, while visitors Kettering are unbeaten in eleven games and flying high in third, with 35 points from their eighteen matches.

The bookies rate the U's as 5/4 favourites with our online betting partners bet365, while Kettering are priced at 9/5 and the draw is 9/4. Click here for all the match odds.

Team News

Dan Gleeson remains sidelined by a thigh injury and is unlikely to return for 10-14 days, but winger Andy Parkinson returned to training this week and Courtney Pitt was also expected to train on Friday following an Achilles problem earlier this week.

Whilst denying that the next four games are 'make or break' as far as this season is concerned, Martin Ling believes the next three weeks could show what can be expected from this season.

Following the third-placed Robins, United face Luton (fifth) and Rushden & Diamonds (seventh) before sixth-placed York City at home in the FA Cup with a potential big money clash in the third round for the winners.

"We've won three on the trot, and although two of those were in cup games other teams have been knocked out by lower league teams so it's three good results," said the U's boss.

"But the more accurate test comes for us in the next three games as we're playing three teams above us in the league before we go into the York FA Cup game.

"We're in eighth, just outside the play-offs, and once we've played those three games - two of them here - that will be more of a barometer of where we are and where we're going. It's not going to be make or break, but if results are really good it will be great and if they're really poor it will be a hindrance.

"It's four big games against teams above us so it's an important period without a shadow of a doubt; in the FA Cup there are only 20 teams from the lower leagues going through to join the big boys and the possibility of a fixture that can make a big difference to a club of our size in terms of finances."

He added, "The last three games have been good but if we can get positive results over the next four games, we could be in a good position in the league and sitting here with a third round tie, so it could be exciting."

Ling was delighted that six of the 18-man squad for last Saturday's FA Cup tie were graduates of the club's youth structure, capped by 18-year-old Adam Marriott coming off the bench for his home debut and scoring the fourth goal.

"We've got good cover players there at present and we have to see if they can take the next step up where they become first choice players, like Robbie Willmott has become and Josh Coulson hasn't quite become yet.

"When they've been called upon they've done a job and the next question is can they do it for a longer period? When Tonkin and Gleeson have been injured, both Rory McAuley and Darren Coakley have done the job and I'm pleased with how the young lads have done.

"You don't know how good they are until they're tested."

The Other Side

Unbeaten in their last eleven outings and winners of their last five away games - including Hartlepool in the FA Cup last weekend - Kettering will arrive at the Abbey as a team in form.

Manager Mark Cooper is tipped to take over at Peterborough United in the next few days so this could be his final game in charge of the Poppies, but Ling does not expect the speculation to distract Cooper or his men on Saturday.

"I know Mark quite well because our paths have crossed quite often and we've been on courses together so I know what he's about.

"You've got to take your hat off to him because he's done a super job at Kettering, just missing out on the play-offs last year and he's got them in a good position this year and some luck too in getting Leeds in the Cup too.

"He's done a good job there and you have to respect that, and we'll respect him and his team when they come here on Saturday."

United's back line will have to be on their mettle against Kettering's strike force of the experienced Anthony Elding, who joined on loan from Stockport last week and scored on his debut against Wrexham, and Moses Ashikodi, who counts Millwall, West Ham, Rangers and Watford among his former clubs.

The talented 22-year-old has rarely settled at his clubs but has flourished at Kettering, scoring eight goals so far, including the decisive goal at Hartlepool, since signing in August.

"Paul Carden and I watched them last week against Wrexham and we've had them watched a couple of other times," said Ling.

"They've got Elding in on loan and Ashikodi plays just off him and is lively, they play at a high tempo and look to go forward quite quickly and we're going to have to match that side of it before we can get our side of it to work," said Ling.

"We've done our work on the training ground and the gameplan is in place, and we'll be ready and up for what should be a good game."

Putting speculation about their manager to one side, Kettering's players will be confident after such a good unbeaten run and with five away wins behind them, but Ling feels his men are equally buoyant.

"Yes, they're the form team and they went to Hartlepool last week for an away win at a League club so I'm sure the confidence in their camp is high, but the confidence in our camp is quite high as well.

"They hold no fears and runs are there to be broken; we went eight games unbeaten earlier this season then lost two. They will be a tough nut to crack and we'll have to be at our best - it will be a true test of what we're about."

More information

You can learn more about the Poppies in Matt Gooding's 'The Other Side' article here, and if you fancy a bet on our match or any other event this weekend visit our official betting partners bet365 - the place where your online betting makes money for the U's.

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