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

Fourth-placed Posh currently sit nine points above the U's, who find themselves in 16th in their second consecutive season in League One.

Match preview

Peterborough come into the derby on the back of two wins, beating Accrington Stanley at home last time out, with the goals coming from Ephron Mason-Clark, Kwame Poku and Jonson Clarke-Harris after Harvey Rodgers had given the visitors a deserved lead.

The Posh's performance did not match the result, though, with Stanley leaving London Road feeling hard done by that they were not leaving with at least a point.

Goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom played a big part in keeping Accrington out with a handful of fine saves, something he has done on numerous occasions this season, especially at home where he has only conceded four goals.

They sit 10 points off top spot after relegation from the Championship last term, but have the second-best home record in the division, behind leaders Plymouth Argyle.

Only the Erling Braut Haaland-powered Manchester City have scored more goals at home than Peterborough, with League One top-scorer Clarke-Harris getting eight of his 11 at the Weston Homes Stadium.

Cambridge have not had a happy time on their travels so far this season - only Morecambe, Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town have picked up fewer points away from home.

Their last two wins have come away from the Abbey Stadium, including in their last game when they beat Wycombe Wanderers 3-2 at Adams Park on Tuesday.

Harvey Knibbs, Jake Lankester and Lloyd Jones scored the goals to earn the U's a sixth win of the campaign so far, and to snap the five-game losing streak they were on throughout October, with their last win before the midweek triumph at Wycombe coming against lowly Morecambe.

Mark Bonner's side have conceded plenty of goals this season, their 28 the most by any team outside of the bottom four, only picking up two clean sheets all campaign.

Going forward, Joe Ironside, Sam Smith and Knibbs all have four league goals, but will have to be at their best to breach the Posh backline.

It is the first Cambridgeshire derby between these two clubs in the league since 2001 - the last game being a goalless draw at the Abbey.

The last time the game was played at London Road was earlier that year, when Posh ran out 1-0 winners, and you have to look back to 1994 for the last time Cambridge won at Peterborough - a 2-0 victory in the FA Cup.

Peterborough United League One form:

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Peterborough United form (all competitions):

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Cambridge United League One form:

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Cambridge United form (all competitions):

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Team News

Peterborough could have Joe Ward ready for selection again after the midfielder missed the midweek victory against Accrington with a couple of knocks which forced him to be replaced early on in the Oxford win at the weekend.

Grant McCann has a decision to make about his central defensive pairing, as Frankie Kent and Ronnie Edwards have held the positions in the past few games but Josh Knight and Kell Watts are vying to take their spots.

Cambridge could be unchanged from the game against Wycombe, meaning Smith could be forced to feature from the bench after being an unused substitute on Tuesday.

Midfielder Adam May is out for the rest of the season with a serious injury, and Harrison Dunk is still touch-and-go with his own knee problem that has kept him out of action since September.

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:

Bergstrom; Ward, Edwards, Kent, Butler; Fuchs, Taylor; Mason-Clark, Burrows, Poku, Clarke-Harris

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:

Mannion; Okedina, Rossi, Jones, Williams; Simper, Digby; Okenabirhie, Knibbs, Brophy; Ironside

We say: Peterborough United 2-0 Cambridge United

A big crowd is expected which should spur the home team on, and they should have too much quality for their local rivals.

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