Match Preview: Peterborough vs U's

10 November 2023

Cambridge United look to continue their improved Sky Bet League One form as they lock horns with Peterborough United in the latest instalment of the Cambridgeshire derby on Saturday afternoon at the Weston Homes Stadium...

The U’s make the short journey eager to extend their unbeaten run to six games in all competitions, rise into the top half of the table and seal back-to-back league victories over the Posh, who are out to preserve their play-off berth by making an instant return to winning ways.

How to Watch

United will be roared on by a sold-out away following of 1,613 for Saturday’s matchup, which gets underway at 12pm.

Should any returns be made available, they will be released on cufctickets.com. Keep up to date by having your notifications on for the Cambridge United Ticket Office Twitter account.

Fans without tickets are urged not to travel to Peterborough, and those supporters that do are reminded to behave in a manner which aligns with the Club’s community and family focused values.

If you haven't got a ticket, supporters in the UK and abroad can do the next best thing and stream the game live with an iFollow Match Pass. Don't miss out - buy your Match Pass by clicking here.

Opposition Focus

Founded in 1934 at a meeting in the Angel Hotel, local councillor Jack Swain had high hopes for the future of the newly-founded club, who filled the void left by Peterborough and Fletton United’s collapse 19 months earlier. Beginning in green shirts, the side would remain in the Midland League until 1960, where they were elected to the Football League following five consecutive titles. Momentum continued, Posh immediately established themselves as a Third Division side, even reaching the FA Cup quarter-final in 1965 and the League Cup semi-final the following year, but fluctuated until 1992 where they reached the second tier for the first time. Since the turn of the millennium, they’ve yo-yoed, but Darren Ferguson has spearheaded the visitors to four promotions since 2008. Although their Championship stay was short-lived in 2021/22, they hope to go one better than last season’s play-off semi-final defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and stage a return.

Also lining up in the familiar 4-2-3-1 system, Australian Nicholas Bilokapic has garnered six clean sheets from 16 and has a dependable back four of Harrison Burrows, Peter Kioso, Josh Knight and Ronnie Edwards, with the latter two racking up 200 appearances already between them. Hector Kyprianou is the enforcer who sits back and makes the side tick, he’s usually joined by Archie Collins or, most recently, Manchester City loanee Jadel Katongo. Exciting attacking options Ephron Mason-Clark and Kwame Poku are real livewires and a defender’s worst nightmare – in their 15 league starts, they’ve combined for 16 goals. David Ajiboye is becoming a key asset, whilst at just 21 Ricky-Jade Jones has been around the setup for a while and consistently makes impressions. As for Jonson Clarke-Harris, the powerhouse has pedigree – he’s plundered 31 and 26 in his last two third tier campaigns and is desperate to achieve a similar target this time around.

Starting on the front foot, Peterborough racked up three successive wins against Reading, Charlton Athletic and Barnsley to secure their place as early pace-setters, but a triple whammy of defeats – followed by a draw against Leyton Orient on home soil – tampered momentum. In spite of that, it kick-started a nine-match winless run where 19 points was attained from a possible 27. Along the way, they shared the spoils with fellow promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers and dispatched Blackpool 2-4 prior to Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat to Wigan Athletic. Sitting in 4^th, Posh have a four-point advantage from 7^th and could possibly go within a point from the automatic promotion spots should they return to winning ways.

Form Guide

Peterborough United: WWWDL

Cambridge United: DWDWW

United’s Approach

The U’s are rightfully optimistic and have a renewed sense of optimism all around the squad after a rotated XI deservedly overpowered Tottenham Hotspur U21s 4-1 in their last Bristol Street Motors Trophy encounter.

A promising first-half performance saw United head into the break a goal to the good following Kai Yearn’s close-range volley. Saikou Janneh got off the mark for the campaign moments into the second period after capping off a fine counter-attack, before Will Lankshear drilled home to reduce Spurs’ deficit. Concluding in the ascendency, late strikes from Jack Lankester and Lewis Simper helped stretch the unbeaten run to five in all competitions as the hosts exited in style.

For the first time since Wycombe Wanderers away in October 2022, United had scored more than twice in a game, therefore Mark Bonner was delighted with the application shown, saying: “I was really pressed with the outcome tonight, in terms of the result first, but obviously just the performance levels… Probably some of the boys needed that level of performance and needed the minutes that they got as well, so a good day for us.”

Yet to taste defeat since Cheltenham Town away three weeks ago, the U’s have turned the corner and now look extremely watertight – three successive clean sheets puts their season showing to eight, a feat which no other side in the 92 can match. They’ll look to continue that trend by seeing off their rivals and cementing a place in the top half of the table.

Team News

The boss revealed earlier in the week that he is hopeful Gassan Ahadme will return to the fold on Saturday and that it’s good news regarding Jordan Cousins, whose scan came back positive - he’s a “real long shot” for the weekend, with an outside chance that he could play a part. Elsewhere, Elias Kachunga has made a welcome return to training.

For a further update and all the latest news and views, be sure to tune into the Head Coach’s pre-match press conference, which will be published on all social media channels on Friday.

Head-to-Head

Peterborough United Wins: 17

Cambridge United Wins: 15

Draws: 11

Down Memory Lane

The sides met at the very same venue just two months ago in the EFL Trophy, as the hosts proved victorious with a 2-0 win thanks to Katongo’s and Mason-Clark’s efforts either side of the break.

Nonetheless, the U’s retain the local bragging rights in terms of league fixtures and will vividly reflect on April’s encounter at a delirious, jam-packed Abbey Stadium as they claimed maximum points in a league tie for the first time since 1998 courtesy of club legend Harrison Dunk and Sam Smith.

Speaking after the memorable day, which proved to be the spark that crafted the upturn in results and the great escape, Bonner acknowledged: “It was a brilliant afternoon, a super atmosphere and the extra significance to everybody that has waited 20-odd years for the game here – to get the result, certainly having lost the one earlier in the season, it’s great to send everybody home happy.”

Browsing the form book, it remains the sole triumph in the past 12 meetings – a dramatic contrast to the U’s dominant record between 1988-1995. The past seven visits to London Road has resulted in defeat in each and every one, with the aim now to ensure the United faithful travel home possessing the win for the first time since an FA Cup Second Round tie in December 1994.

Match Officials

Referee: Scott Oldham

Assistant Referee: Steve Durnall

Assistant Referee: Richard Woodward

Fourth Official: Ryan Atkin

Match Reports

Report: Peterborough 5-0 Cambridge United

11 November 2023

Cambridge United succumbed to derby day defeat at the Weston Homes Stadium as Peterborough United claimed the points in Sky Bet League One with a ruthless 5-0 victory...

The U’s started in a positive manner, but a devastating six-minute spell on the eve of half-time from the hosts saw them steam ahead thanks to Ephron Mason-Clark’s brace and Kwame Poku’s strike. Unable to muster a response, Posh remained on top, with the latter grabbing his second moments after the break before an own goal near the death compounded a testing afternoon for United.

Warming up in front of a raucous atmosphere, the U’s – who boasted the best defence in the 92 thanks to eight clean sheets from 16 – were out to hold their nerves, extend the unbeaten run to six and rise into the top half, whilst play-off occupying Posh looked to return to winning ways after tasting a first defeat in ten last time out.

In response to the midweek success against Tottenham Hotspur U21s, Mark Bonner reverted back to his senior side as he named ten changes, with Saikou Janneh the only player retained in what was an unchanged XI from their last league outing. Elsewhere, Elias Kachunga and Gassan Ahadme returned to the bench after recovering from injury.

The U’s kept things tight in the opening minutes, impeccably keeping their shape, pressing well and looked calm in possession. Outside of it, they remained stern and threw bodies on the line to block Hector Kyprianou’s quickfire attempts inside the area, before Harrison Burrows’ speculative effort on 12 – the first on target – was claimed assuringly by Jack Stevens

On the stroke of the hour mark, the visitors forced their first opportunity when George Thomas’ corner floated towards Ryan Bennett, who directed a firm 15-yard header which continued to loop but Nicholas Bilokapic was on hand to leap and catch before it could trickle in.

Deadlock was broken on the 33^rd minute when Poku picked out a deep cross down the right which was met by the head of Mason-Clark, who converted into the tight angle past his near post.

A hairy few minutes after the opener resulted in a second for Posh, who were exuberating confidence. Ricky-Jade Jones drove into space and unleashed a drilled delivery into the six-yard box, where Mason-Clark was on hand to slide in for his brace.

The hosts concluded the devastating spell on the 39^th minute by handing United another sucker punch and a mountain to climb when Poku cut inside and curled an effort which took a huge deflection prior to finding its way into the net.

Desperate for a response, Bonner’s group created their best move on the 44^th minute when Adam May was teed up from 12 yards – the midfielder’s fierce attempt was blocked and then latched at by Janneh, who headed past the post with his back to goal.

The game plan was certainly working for the first 30 minutes, but Peterborough smelt blood and were ruthless. It proved to be the same story after the break as, just when the U’s were showing some industry, their corner resulted in a blistering counter-attack started by Jones, crafted by Randall and concluded by Poku from a matter of yards.

The visitors introduced John-Kymani Gordon and Gassan Ahadme to the fold just after the hour mark, but chances dissipated as the half progressed. Posh remained on top in terms of final third action, but the U’s were clearing their lines well when called upon.

On the 79^th minute, Gordon tested the gloves of Bilokapic after weaving his way into a dangerous position and curling towards the bottom corner, but the Australian strongly pawed it away.

Six minutes later, the hosts were celebrating their fifth when Randall’s corner was unfortunately turned home by Liam Bennett.

It was the last action of an afternoon to forget for the U’s, who now have two weeks to recuperate and prepare to bounce back ahead of their next League One tie, which sees them travel to Northampton Town on Saturday 25^th November.

Peterborough United: Bilokapic, Kioso (Katongo, 68’), Knight, Edwards, Burrows, Kyprianou, Collins, Poku (Ajiboye, 83’), Randall, Mason-Clark, Jones (Wakeling, 83’)

Subs Not Used: Talley, Crichlow, De Havilland, Clarke-Harris

Goalscorers: Mason-Clark (33’, 36’), Poku (39’, 53’), OG (85’)

Bookings:

Cambridge United: Stevens, L. Bennett (Okedina, 87’), R. Bennett, Morrison, Andrew (Haunstrup, 87’), Digby, Thomas (Ahadme, 63’), Brophy (Kachunga, 78’), May, Janneh (Gordon, 63’), Okenabirhie

Subs Not Used: Mannion

Goalscorers:

Bookings:

Referee: Scott Oldham