Preview: Cambridge United vs. Northampton Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Following four straight defeats, the hosts sit just four points above the relegation zone at the bottom end of the League One table, while their visitors dropped to 12th spot following a midweek loss.

Match preview

With 11 games of the campaign to go, Cambridge United will begin under new management on Saturday in their bid to avoid relegation from League One this season.

Neil Harris, who only took charge of the Us in early December and oversaw somewhat of an upturn in form, departed to join Millwall in late February, on the back of a 2-1 defeat at home to promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers which left them on 38 points from 32 league matches.

Interim manager Barry Corr was then unable to prevent a slump, with a losing run since stretching to four matches as they firstly suffered 1-0 defeats at the hands of promotion-chasing Peterborough United and Stevenage.

A tough trip to Bolton for the reverse fixture then followed most recently on Saturday, and the Us again came away empty-handed as George Thomason and Aaron Collins condemned them to a 2-0 defeat, before the club hierarchy turned to Garry Monk to take the reins at the Abbey Stadium on Monday.

With their lead over the drop zone now standing at just four points, Monk inherits a Cambridge United side who must quickly correct their fortunes to avoid being dragged into the bottom four in the run-in, and he will bid to kick off with a home victory and end their dismal run this weekend.

In their way stand a Northampton Town side who are also seeking to return to winning ways on Saturday, albeit in a far more comfortable mid-table position.

Following their promotion from England's fourth tier last time around, Saturday's visitors have enjoyed an impressive return to League One, establishing themselves in the middle of the division with 49 points from their opening 36 outings.

In those games, the Cobblers have managed 14 victories, two of which came over Bristol Rovers and Burton Albion either side of a creditable draw with Oxford United in late February, before they extended an unbeaten streak to four matches at home to Charlton Athletic last Saturday, with Louis Appere forcing a 1-1 draw with an 80th-minute leveller.

Aiming to continue their pleasing run and strengthen their top-half standing, Jon Brady's side most recently faced a tough trip to promotion-chasing Peterborough United on Tuesday, and despite going ahead early through Jon Guthrie, they would eventually leave empty-handed following a heavy beating as Ephron Mason-Clark, Kwame Poku, Joel Randall, Hector Kyprianou and Josh Knight all got on the scoresheet to seal a 5-1 home win.

Despite the disappointment of that thrashing, Northampton Town do remain 12th in League One ahead of their final 10 games, only trailing Bristol Rovers on goal difference while leading Wigan Athletic by five points, and they will be keen to rebound from the midweek setback on Saturday and further strengthen their claim for a top-half finish in their first season back in the third tier.

Cambridge United League One form:

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Northampton Town League One form:

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Team News

We are yet to see how Garry Monk will line up his Cambridge United side, but he will be able to call on forward Lyle Taylor, who has returned to contention after serving a three-match suspension which concluded at the weekend.

He will fight to come in and lead the line, as will Macauley Bonne, who had to settle for a substitute appearance against Bolton, while Elias Kachunga, James Brophey and Sullay Kaikai will all bid to keep their spots in the attacking setup.

Elsewhere, George Thomas should continue to join mainstay Paul Digby in midfield, while Monk should rely on the experienced centre-back pairing of Ryan Bennett and Michael Morrison.

Despite their heavy midweek defeat at the hands of Peterborough, Jon Brady is unlikely to make wholesale changes to his Northampton Town side, with Louie Moulden continuing between the sticks in the absence of first-choice stopper Lee Burge.

Defender Jordan Willis missed their trip to Peterborough, and if he remains sidelined William Hondermarck will likely continue on the right-hand side of the back four, while Sam Sherring will join captain Jon Guthrie in the centre.

Louis Appere and Kieron Bowie will compete to lead the line in their 4-2-3-1 shape, while Sam Hoskins, Marc Leonard and Mitch Pinnock will line up in a dangerous supporting trio.

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:

Stevens; L Bennett, R Bennett, Morrison, Andrew; Thomas, Digby; Kaikai, Lankester, Kachunga; Bonne

Northampton Town possible starting lineup:

Moulden; Hondermarck, Sherring, Guthrie, Brough; Sowerby, McWilliams; Pinnock, Leonard, Hoskins; Bowie

We say: Cambridge United 1-1 Northampton Town

Garry Monk will hope to have an immediate impact on a Cambridge United side desperate for points, but they face a tough test against a wounded Northampton Town team who have enjoyed a strong campaign thus far.

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