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Cambridgevs.Lincoln

sportsmole.co.uk, 26 September 2024, 14:10
Rock-bottom Cambridge United will be looking for their first win of the season on Saturday when they welcome Lincoln City to Cledara Abbey Stadium in League One.

The visitors meanwhile have enjoyed a solid start to their campaign, and they come into this game on a four-game unbeaten run in the league.

Match preview

It has been a miserable start to the season for Cambridge, with the U's languishing at the foot of the League One table and continuing their poor form which stretches back to last season when they ended the campaign with six games without a victory.

It is not just their league form that is of concern, as Cambridge have also lost in the EFL Cup to Queens Park Rangers, and Bromley and Charlton Athletic in the EFL Trophy.

This means that you have to go all the way back to Cambridge's 1-0 win over Blackpool in April for the last time the U's tasted success in a competitive fixture; their winless run is now at a staggering and alarming 14 games.

In terms of recent form, Garry Monk's side come into Saturday's game on the back of a 2-1 defeat away at Wycombe Wanderers, where Dan Nlundulu's goal for the U's was cancelled out by goals from Garath McCleary and Cameron Humphreys.

This result has left Cambridge bottom of League One on just one point, and even more worrying for Monk's side is the fact that they are already six points from safety at this early stage of the season.

Lincoln have meanwhile endured a more stable and solid start to their campaign with the Imps sitting in sixth, although it says a lot about the quality of League One that they are level on points with Stockport County, Peterborough United, Blackpool and Mansfield Town.

Michael Skubala's side come into Saturday's game on the back of consecutive league draws, with a 1-1 draw away to Peterborough being followed up by last weekend's 0-0 stalemate against Wigan Athletic at home.

Before their two draws the Imps had also lost 1-0 at home to Chesterfield, so while they do come into this game winless in their last three games, a trip to a side that are bottom of the league will have them feeling optimistic that they can get back to winning ways this weekend.

Lincoln are also unbeaten away from home in League One with wins over Burton Albion and Stevenage and their draw against Peterborough, so Skubala's side have amassed seven points from their three games on the road so far this campaign.

With Lincoln having to play the likes of Blackpool, Wrexham and Birmingham City in October, the need to end September with a victory at Cambridge cannot be understated either.

Cambridge United League One form:

L

L

D

L

L

L

Cambridge United form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

L

L

Lincoln City League One form:

W

L

W

W

D

D

Lincoln City form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

D

D

Team News

Cambridge have a few injury concerns heading into Saturday's game, with Shayne Lavery potentially being sidelined until November and he joins Josh Stokes on the treatment table.

Kell Watts and Gary Gardner are also doubtful heading into this weekend's game, so options are limited for Monk to make too many changes.

Nlundulu, Sullay Kaikai and Emmanuel Longelo are therefore expected to start in attack once again here, with James Gibbons and Danny Andrew supporting out wide in the wing-back positions.

Lincoln meanwhile are waiting on the availability of goalkeeper George Wickens who missed the Wigan game after sustaining a concussion, but if he is absent then Zack Jeacock is likely to get the nod to start in goal.

The visitors otherwise have a fully-fit squad to pick from for the trip to Cambridge, with Ben House and Bailey Cadamarteri hoping to once again start ahead of Tyler Walker and Jovon Makama in attack.

Elsewhere, Tom Bayliss is the most likely candidate to support the attacking duo ahead of him, but if the manager opts to drop Bayliss back then Jack Moylan could grab a start in the more advanced midfield position.

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:

Reyes; Rossi, Digby, Okedina; Gibbons, Smith, Brophy, Andrew; Kaikai, Longelo, Nlundulu

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Wickens; Jackson, O'Connor, Roughan; Darikwa, Jefferies, Erhanon, McGrandles, Bayliss; House, Cadamarteri

We say: Cambridge United 1-2 Lincoln City

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