Burkina Faso
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Cambridgevs.Blackpool

sportsmole.co.uk, 22 August 2024, 20:22
Two early-season strugglers meet at Cledara Abbey on Saturday, when Cambridge United host Blackpool in League One.

While both sides go in search of their first league points of the season, the visitors come into this game without a manager, having sacked head coach Neil Critchley after consecutive league defeats.

Match preview

Cambridge come into the game on the back of a 2-0 opening-day defeat away at Stockport County and last weekend's 1-0 home loss at the hands of Crawley Town.

The EFL Cup provided no respite for Garry Monk's side either after losing 2-1 at home to Queens Park Rangers, when Paul Digby's goal was the only thing that the U's fans have had to celebrate this season thus far.

Cambridge finished just four points above the relegation zone in 18th last season, and goals were the main source of frustration as they were the second-lowest scorers in League One with just 39 scored in 46 games.

Monk joined Cambridge as their new head coach after Neil Harris left for Millwall back in March; his first managerial job since leaving Sheffield Wednesday back in 2020, but there was no discernible upturn in form after his arrival.

His style of play at Sheffield Wednesday was surprising given he played under the likes of Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers at Swansea City, with Monk favouring a more direct approach as opposed to the more controlled, technical style his former coaches often deployed.

Perhaps a realistic aim for Monk this season will be to finish in mid-table and avoid another relegation scrap, and Saturday's home game provides him with the chance to claim his first win of the season.

Similar to their opponents, Blackpool have also made a sluggish start to the new campaign having lost consecutive league games, with a 2-1 opening-day defeat at Crawley Town being followed up with a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Stockport.

The latter was Blackpool's first home league defeat since November 2023, and losing to two newly-promoted teams in consecutive weeks was enough for the board to make an early managerial change by sacking Critchley.

Former Derby County defender Richard Keogh has since been appointed as caretaker manager for the Seasiders, and it will be interesting to see if he adopts the back five Critchley played, or whether he has time to implement a new formation and style of play with just a matter of days to prepare.

The Seasiders did however win away in the EFL Cup last week, when goals from Ryan Finnigan, Matthew Pennington and Lee Evans secured a resounding 4-0 win over Burton Albion.

Blackpool finished eighth last season and missed out on the playoffs by just three points, and with exciting signings like Ashley Fletcher, Jordan Rhodes and Elliot Embleton over the summer, there is still plenty of reason for optimism for the Seasiders should they turn their form around.

Cambridge United League One form:

Cambridge United form (all competitions):

Blackpool League One form:

Blackpool form (all competitions):

Team News

The only injury concern for Monk is that of defender Mamadou Jobe, who suffered a serious knee injury prior to pre-season.

Striker Shayne Lavery is in line to play against his former club after joining the U's from Blackpool over the summer, and Elias Kachunga and Sullay Kaikai will be hoping to support in attack.

Keogh has a fully-fit squad to pick from in his first game as a manager, and it remains to be seen if he will continue with the back five that was preferred by Critchley.

If he does only opt for small tweaks to the lineup, then the likes of Rhodes and Embleton will be looking to start to provide more attacking quality in the side.

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:

Reyes; O'Riordan, Rossi, Watts; Gibbons, Digby, Smith, Brophy; Kachunga, Kaikai; Lavery

Blackpool possible starting lineup:

Grimshaw; Pennington, Baggott, Husband; Apter, Embleton, Evans, Carey, Coulson; Rhodes, Fletcher

We say: Cambridge United 1-2 Blackpool

Although both teams have made slow starts to the season, Blackpool demonstrated last year that they have enough quality in their ranks to push for the playoffs.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

22 April 2025 talksport.com Jack Wilshere has become the interim manager at Norwich City with two Championship matches remaining this season. 22 April 2025 talksport.com Gary Lineker believes BBC chiefs wanted him to leave his role as Match of the Day host last year. 22 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea beat two Champions-League-participating clubs to sign Palmeiras winger Estevao Willian, according to the player's agent. 22 April 2025 talksport.com Manchester United have already made their pitch to Matheus Cunha as the transfer race for the Wolves star hots up. 22 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa will be bidding to end a 62-year streak when they face Manchester City in the Premier League on Tuesday night. 22 April 2025 talksport.com Ian Wright angrily confronted a former England youth international after a feisty Baller League clash. 22 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly emerged as contenders to sign a Gambia international during the summer transfer window. 22 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly prepared to hand a significant 'salary increase' to one of their youngsters. 22 April 2025 talksport.com Fans of Sabrina Carpenter and Luke Littler have finally got the crossover event they've been looking for at Hyde Park this summer. 22 April 2025 talksport.com Arsenal host Crystal Palace this week as they strive to keep the Premier League title race alive, and it's live on talkSPORT. 22 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have allegedly made progress in their efforts to secure a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha. 22 April 2025 talksport.com Manchester City and Aston Villa continue their pursuit to reach the Champions League tonight, live on talkSPORT. 22 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has hinted that he is ready to consider a transfer away from the Premier League club. 22 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Needing to claim at least a point to keep the Premier League title race mathematically going, Arsenal host Crystal Palace in Wednesday's London derby at the Emirates Stadium. 22 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 22 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia vs. Espanyol (Tuesday, 6.00pm) Two La Liga teams in impressive form will lock horns at Mestalla for an intriguing match on Tuesday evening, with Valencia welcoming Espanyol. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Martin Odegaard's performance levels have reportedly concerned staff at Arsenal, with the club believed to be assessing their options ahead of the summer transfer window. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool winger Luis Diaz has insisted that he is close to fulfilling one of his childhood dreams amidst speculation that he could leave Anfield in the summer transfer window. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is expected to rotate his side for Wednesday's La Liga meeting with Getafe at the Coliseum. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Getafe will be unable to call upon Christantus Uche for Wednesday's La Liga clash against Real Madrid at the Coliseum. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has expressed confidence that goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will stay at the club beyond this season. 21 April 2025 talksport.com VAR's biggest critics had an eight-minute respite due to a fire alarm during Nottingham Forest's 2-1 win over Tottenham. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has praised his side's character after they earned a 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Alaves will continue their La Liga survival bid when they welcome fellow Basque side Real Sociedad to Mendizorroza on Wednesday. 21 April 2025 talksport.com Matheus Cunha may well snub the Champions League for the lure of Old Trafford. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women will look to bounce back from Sunday's heavy European defeat to Barcelona when they welcome Crystal Palace Women to Kingsmeadow for Wednesday's league clash. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest reclaimed third place in the Premier League as they secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal journalist Charles Watts is not "losing sleep" over the Gunners missing out on the signature of talented Rosenborg midfielder Sverre Nypan, but he has conceded that the North London giants could be better at acquiring young talents. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will continue their La Liga campaign with a home fixture against Mallorca on Tuesday night. 21 April 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will continue their La Liga title bid when they travel to the South of the Spanish capital for Wednesday's meeting with Getafe at the Coliseum.