21 years on from their last league encounter, Cambridge United and Peterborough United rekindle their rivalry on Saturday afternoon as London Road hosts the Cambridgshire Derby...
An expectant atmosphere awaits as the travelling amber army attempt to roar their side towards consecutive league triumphs. As for the Posh, the play-off occupiers boast the second-best home form and also want to maintain a winning run.
How to Watch
The eagerly-awaited clash kicks off at 3pm, with the U’s allocation of 2,248 completely sold out. An attendance of over 12,000 is already anticipated.
For all the latest updates regarding sales for the match, including when returned tickets become available, be sure to follow the cufcdirect.com Twitter page.
Domestic fans who are unable to make the game will be able to listen to live match commentary via iFollow, as well as being able to follow live match updates on the day through United’s social media channels.
Overseas fans can stream the game live for £10 with an iFollow Match Pass, which are available to purchase by clicking here.
Opposition Focus
Under the helm for the second time, Grant McCann adds title-winning experience in the division this time around, with his aims for the Posh as clear as day. Originally a yo-yo club between the second and third tier, the side finally broke through again in 2021, but it proved to be another one-year stay. Eager to return and then stabilise in the Championship, early signs indicate they will challenge yet again.
A pulsating season-opener at Cheltenham Town saw the Blues wrap up a 2-3 victory, before backing that up with a comprehensive dispatching of Morecambe. Early stormers Plymouth Argyle inflicted a first defeat, but they bounced back with promising successes at London Road against Sheffield Wednesday and Lincoln City. From here, they slumped to four consecutive losses by one goal, but then recorded a four-game unbeaten streak, scoring 11 goals in the process. Most recently, Wycombe Wanderers got the better of the Posh, but they travelled home from Oxford United last time out with a 1-2 victory. They approach the tie in 4th, eight points from the automatic promotion spots. Like the U’s, they’ve drawn just once all season.
Keeping a large core of the group that have been there and done it before, Frankie Kent and young prodigy Ronnie Edwards have been a revelation at the heart of the defence, who are protected well by the legs of Jeando Fuchs and Jack Taylor. Kwame Poku and Ephron Mason-Clark, another youngster plucked from Barnet, offer real trickery on the flanks, topped off by serial goalscorer Jonson Clarke-Harris, who has already bagged 55 goals since his 2020 move.
Form Guide
Peterborough United: WLLWW
Cambridge United: LLWLW
United’s Approach
Cambridge United prepared in morale-boosting fashion after overcoming Wycombe Wanderers 2-3 at Adams Park in midweek.
First-half strikes from Harvey Knibbs and Jack Lankester put the U’s in the driving seat, before Lloyd Jones slotted home his first goal in amber colours to ensure a thoroughly-deserved, resolute win.
Against an opponent renowned for their ability to grind out points and make life tricky, attaining points was always going to be the main goal on Tuesday after five successive defeats, but to cap that off with a tremendous performance, where the visitors made it awkward and scruffy, was promising.
Reverting to the 4-2-3-1 formation, using the counter attack to their advantage and scoring from a set-piece, so many boxes were ticked as the U's went back to basics.
The Head Coach revelled in the moment, stating, “They were absolutely brilliant tonight. The endeavour of the team was a brilliant reminder to us what we are and what good looks like for us – there’s a bar set,” he said, as his team moved up to 16th.
In regards to injury news for the weekend, a similar squad is expected - with the possible exception of Fejiri Okenabirhie, who went off with a potential hamstring injury. Greg Taylor is a possibility for the weekend after a concussion, whereas Harrison Dunk remains a 50/50.
Head-to-Head
Peterborough United Wins: 16
Cambridge United Wins: 14
Draws: 11
Down Memory Lane
Whilst you’ll have to go back to December 2001 to reflect on our last league meeting, a stalemate at the Abbey, the sides have in fact pitted wits three times since – all in the Football League Trophy.
Last time out, United proved victorious thanks to Callum Burton’s heroics during a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw, where Ben Worman’s first professional goal cancelled out Flynn Clarke’s sublime strike.
Speaking on that evening just under two years ago, Bonner observed, “It shows the mentality we’re building as a group of players that hate losing and want to win games.”
Ultimately, it’s the hosts who boast the greater record in terms of recent league encounters – unbeaten in six, with three draws in that time. Michael Kyd was the hero the last time United were victorious, his accurate long-range strike proving the difference in April 1998.
United's most memorable run of results against Peterborough came between 1989-1990, when the U's reeled off five wins in a row, including a 5-1 win at London Road in which Dion Dublin scored a hat-trick.
Officials
Referee: Scott Oldham
Assistant Referee: Hristo Karaivanov
Assistant Referee: Adrian Tranter
Fourth Official: Paul Stonier