Peterboroughvs.Cambridge

After putting together a streak of three straight successes that lifted them off the foot of the table, the U's also won two cup contests in the space of a week; meanwhile, their hosts are unbeaten in seven home games.

Match preview

Last week, Peterborough booked their place in the FA Cup second round by beating Newport County 4-2 at Rodney Parade, after Abraham Odoh's strike sparked a spirited comeback from two goals down.

Just three days later, Odoh scored twice to help Posh record a 4-1 EFL Trophy win over Crystal Palace Under-21s, as they continued the defence of their crown.

Last season's winners therefore cruised into the knockout rounds, having won all three games in the process of topping Southern Group D.

They must now switch focus back to their League One campaign, as they currently occupy 13th place with 18 points, four adrift of the last playoff spot.

While Darren Ferguson's side - who lost to a last-gasp goal in Bolton when last on league duty - have gone unbeaten for five home games in the English third tier, they have failed to keep any clean sheets during that time.

As Peterborough have lost only one of their last 10 meetings with Cambridge, posting five shut-outs in the last six, they may expect to keep the back door closed this weekend.

Indeed, Saturday's visitors will be well and truly up against precedent, having come away empty-handed from all of their last six visits to Peterborough. Furthermore, they have kept just one clean sheet in 17 EFL trips to London Road.

Garry Monk's men do have recent form on their side, though, as they start to turn around a dismal start to the 2024-25 campaign.

Cambridge failed to win any of their opening 12 matches across all competitions, causing Monk to come under serious pressure, but they have subsequently won five on the bounce without conceding a single goal.

After the U's beat Wigan Athletic and Burton Albion either side of ending their eight-match wait for an away win by seeing off Stevenage, they then recorded a couple of cup victories.

First, they knocked Woking out of the FA Cup, then Chelsea Under-21s were dispatched in Tuesday's EFL Trophy clash, so they will be confident of securing successive away wins for the first time since April 2022.

Peterborough United League One form:

L

W

D

L

W

L

Peterborough United form (all competitions):

D

L

W

L

W

W

Cambridge United League One form:

L

L

L

W

W

W

Cambridge United form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

W

W

Team News

Though Jadel Katongo is nearing a return from a hamstring injury and could make Peterborough's squad, goalkeeper Jed Steer is set to undergo knee surgery and could be missing for up to six weeks.

In Steer's absence, Darren Ferguson will select Nicholas Bilokapic between the posts, while Malik Mothersille, Abraham Odoh and Kwame Poku should join forces in the final third - the latter has bagged seven goals in 14 League One games this season.

Meanwhile, Garry Monk must make a late decision on whether Northern Ireland striker Shayne Lavery can return in time for this local derby, following a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since mid-September.

Ryan Loft is still struggling with a dead leg, and fellow forward Dan Barton (knee) will not be back until next month.

As ever, both teams are expected to make several changes compared with their midweek EFL Trophy lineups.

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:

Bilokapic; Dornelly, Fernandez, Nevett, Sparkes; Collins, De Havilland; Odoh, Randall, Poku; Mothersille

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:

Reyes; Okedina, Morrison, Gibbons; Bennett, Digby, Smith, Brophy; Kachunga, Kaikai, N'Lundulu

We say: Peterborough United 2-2 Cambridge United

Peterborough are mid-table in League One, eight points above their opponents; however, their 'goals against' total of 26 is the highest throughout the division.

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