Cambridge United are back at the Abbey this evening for a testing home match against in-form Rushden & Diamonds (7.45pm).
United snatched a point at Luton in stoppage time on Saturday and are currently ninth, having taken 28 points from the first twenty games, while Rushden have won their last seven games and lie seventh in the table with 35 points from their twenty matches.
The bookies rate the U's as 13/10 favourites with our online betting partners bet365, while Rushden are 21/q0 and the draw is 23/10. Click here for all the match odds.
Team News
Martin Ling will be forced into at least two changes to the team that drew 2-2 at Luton.
Winger Robbie Willmott and fullback Anthony Tonkin are suspended after accruing five yellow cards so Courtney Pitt looks set to return to the starting eleven after his lively performance from the bench on Saturday and left-back Darryl Coakley is drafted into the squad.
18-year-old Coakley played in the first four games of the season when Tonkin was injured and has been a fixture for scholars' side CRC, who moved up to second in the Ridgeon's League Premier Division with their 4-1 win at the Abbey on Saturday, in which Adam Marriott scored a hat-trick.
Dan Gleeson trained with the squad yesterday and may make an early return if there are no ill effects from his recent thigh injury, but Rory McAuley will continue if it is too soon to risk Gleeson.
Danny Crow reacted to being dropped by scoring the two vital goals to level the game after coming off the bench at Luton and he will hope for a recall to the front line, having admitted after the match, "When you get brought on you are really trying to show everyone you should be starting, so to play a big part in the comeback leaves you buzzing."
Willmott and Tonkin's suspensions are just one-game bans so they will be available again for Saturday's FA Cup tie at home to York City, but Wayne Hatswell, Jai Reason and Paul Carden are all one game away from an automatic suspension so Ling will keep an anxious eye on their conduct this evening.
The Other Side
Having won their last seven games in all competitions, including a 2-0 win against Luton, Justin Edinburgh's side arrive in fine form and Ling knows his men will need to match their confidence and tempo to get the right result tonight.
United drew 1-1 at Nene Park on August Bank Holiday Monday, when Wayne Hatswell headed home Jai Reason's free kick to cancel out Jamie Stuart's second half volley, and Ling commented, "We had a tough game there when we drew 1-1 and since then they've been on a run and they've put themselves in a good position.
"We know we will have to be our mettle because they're clearly in good form and they're pushing towards the top five, which is what we need to be doing."
He added, "It will be a tough game because they're on an unbelievable run, but we're coming into the game on the back of a good fightback at Luton and a good point so we'll be looking to take that into tonight's game.
"Hopefully we'll start the way we ended on Saturday, build on that and take it from there."
More information
You can learn more about the Diamonds in Matt Gooding's 'The Other Side' article here, and if you fancy a bet on our match or any other event this week visit our official betting partners bet365 - the place where your online betting makes money for the U's.
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