Preview: Crewe Alexandra vs. Cambridge United - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors find themselves 15th in the table but with a game in hand and will be aiming for a win that could take them into the top half.

Match preview

Crewe produced a strong first campaign in League One last season - having been promoted as League Two champions during the 2019-20 season - and consolidated their third-tier status with a 12th-placed finish.

This season has not started so strongly, however, and the Railwaymen find themselves sitting down in the relegation zone in 22nd, with just seven points to show from their first 10 games.

Things are perhaps slowly turning around, as David Artell's side have lost just once in their last six matches, after a run of five consecutive defeats back in August.

They simply have to find a way to finish games off. Three of their last five games have ended in 1-1 draws, and that was once again the case in Tuesday's game away at Plymouth Argyle.

Crewe took the lead early on, thanks to a powerful Scott Kashket strike in the third minute, and they retained that advantage for over an hour, only to allow Argyle to equalise late on through Ryan Hardie.

There are certainly some green shoots of recovery emerging for Alexandra, but they will need to start converting these draws into wins sooner rather than later - on paper, their opponents this weekend offer them a reasonable chance of doing just that.

That is because they are at home to a newly promoted side who finished second in League Two last season to move back up to the third tier for the first time since 2002.

Cambridge have defied their underdog status, though, and produced an impressive start to the season, currently sitting mid-table with a game in hand.

Their most recent game proved to be a frustrating one, as they fell 2-0 to a Gillingham side who came into the match on the back of a five-game winless run in the league.

Mark Bonner must ensure that a draw and a loss in the space of a week proves to be a blip, rather than the start of a slide town the table.

Crewe Alexandra League One form:

Crewe Alexandra form (all competitions):

Cambridge United League One form:

Cambridge United form (all competitions):

Team News

Terrell Thomas and J'Neil Bennett returned to the Crewe starting lineup for Tuesday's encounter, having recovered from bouts of illness.

Madger Gomes became the latest player to suffer with an illness, though, and joined the injured Callum Ainley in missing the match.

Full-back Kayne Ramsay suffered an allergic reaction to something, which forced him off the pitch just five minutes into the second half, but Artell said that the former Chelsea trainee was fine after taking an antihistamine and should be suitably recovered for the weekend's game.

Lloyd Jones and Sam Smith were restored to the Cambridge side as Bonner tinkered with his formation, but considering the changes resulted in a defeated, the U's boss may now choose to return to his old setup.

Jack Lankester was fit to return via the bench last game, but Leon Davies and Kai McKenzie-Lyle remain unavailable.

Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:

Jaaskelainen; Thomas, Daniels, Offord; Ramsay, Murphy, Robertson, Adebisi; Kashket, Mandron, Bennett

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:

Mitov; Williams, Okedina, Masterson, Iredale; Tracey, O'Neil, May, Digby, Brophy; Ironside

We say: Crewe Alexandra 2-1 Cambridge United

This will likely be a tight game, but Crewe appear to be finding their feet this season and should have enough to bring Cambridge down to earth somewhat, despite their impressive start to life in League One.