Match Preview: U's vs Bolton

5 February 2024

Cambridge United will be required to dig in to preserve their unbeaten streak on Tuesday evening when they welcome promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers to the Cledara Abbey Stadium…

Accumulating a four-game run without defeat for the first time this season in Sky Bet League One, Neil Harris’ men continue to climb the division and build up steam. They’ll be quietly optimistic against the Trotters, who have been hot on the heels of the front-runners all throughout – with consistently sound form of one defeat in eight behind them, an action-packed night under the floodlights awaits.

How to Watch

Impressive attendances look set to continue at CB5, with the midweek fixture – which kicks off at 7:45pm – poised to be played out in front of another bumper crowd.

Secure your place online at cufctickets.com, over the phone on 01223 566500 (option 1) or by visiting the Stadium Ticket Office ahead of kick-off.

As part of the Club’s recent partnership with the University of Cambridge, the Club are offering students in the city to take advantage by getting behind the U’s at the discounted price of £5 – a valid Student Card will be required upon entry.

Fans in the UK and abroad who are unable to attend can ensure that they don’t miss a kick of the action by purchasing an iFollow Match Pass. Passes cost £10 and can be purchased by clicking here.

Opposition Focus

Formed in 1874, the four-time FA Cup winners and EFL Trophy holders have had a topsy-turvy couple of decades under their belt, from the highs of a UEFA Cup run to sliding to the pits of the fourth tier. Since the appointment of Ian Evatt in July 2020, the Trotters’ faithful have been accustomed to an impressive incline, which has consisted of one promotion, stabilisation and the awakening of a giant. The aim of playing Championship football for the first time since 2019 looms closer, particularly after last campaign’s play-off finish, with progression looking inevitable this time around.

Deploying a penetrable, modern-day 3-1-4-2 formation, Evatt likes to suffocate and attack from the get-go, whilst remaining resolute at the back too. So far, it’s paying off – Wanderers have conceded the joint-least in the league with a mere 27. At just 25, former Chelsea keeper Nathan Baxter has been a revelation, as has Eoin Toal ahead of him, who could be partnered by loanee Caleb Taylor and former U Jack Iredale following a recent injury to colossus Ricardo Santos. Josh Sheehan plays the all-important holding role, with Kyle Dempsey and Paris Maghoma just ahead enjoying the freedom and dictating for wide options Josh Cogley and Zac Ashworth. In the final third, powerhouses Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo have developed a superb partnership, combining for 21 goals in total, with heaps of options on the bench in the form of experienced Cameron Jerome and Jon Dabi Bodvarsson, as well as the recent addition of 2022/23 League One Player of the Season Aaron Collins.

An imperious introduction to the campaign saw the Trotters ease to comfortable victories against Lincoln City, Cheltenham Town and Fleetwood Town, scoring nine in the process to flex their attacking prowess. A surprise 0-4 hammering to Wigan Athletic followed, but they responded with a run of three wins, two draws and the sole defeat in their next six. A surprise defeat to newly-relegated Carlisle United signalled an upturn where they secured six wins on the bounce, including a 7-0 hammering at home to Exeter City to briefly rise them towards the summit. A three-match winless run followed, but since the Christmas period they’ve rekindled their front-footed approach by registering 19 points from a possible 24. A top six spot looks to be the worst case scenario for Bolton, who have a five-point gap from top of the table to bridge with three games in hand, which starts this evening.

Form Guide

Cambridge United: LWDDW

Bolton Wanderers: LWWLD

United’s Approach

Buoyed, the U’s will fancy their chances of another positive result to continue their ascension as they come into this tie off the back of a clinical 1-2 comeback success against Shrewsbury Town.

Although they lost their streak without conceding early on in the encounter through Daniel Udoh’s close-range finish, Lyle Taylor responded with two instinctive finishes to conclude two excellent counters to secure their first three points away from home since August.

Cutting a jubilant figure, Harris stated post-match: “It’s been a long time coming. I can’t praise the players enough – to come from behind in any game is difficult but the way we did it was very impressive. Shrewsbury had a lot of the possession; it was in the wrong areas for me. We dictated where they had the ball, and we looked a threat and could have scored more goals.”

Onto 35 points for the campaign - something which took them until 7th April to claim last season – on a weekend where many around them failed to clinch anything, a gap of seven points has now formed for United. They won’t get ahead of themselves, but progress is there for all to see. With an upcoming fixture schedule that sees them take on the Trotters again and three other promotion-chasers in their next seven, an excellent test of calibre awaits.

Head-to-Head

Cambridge United Wins: 4

Bolton Wanderers Wins: 7

Draws: 8

Down Memory Lane

A memorable meeting as recently as April 2023 saw the U’s claim what proved to be a crucial point in their fight towards safety as they snatched a last-gasp 1-1 draw against the high-flyers in Lancashire.

In front of a bumper 24,377, the U’s played with sheer confidence and pushed the hosts all the way. Despite falling behind on the 67th minute through Declan John, Mark Bonner’s side remained upbeat and earned their way back into the game via Sam Smith’s deft header at the conclusion to deservedly ensure a share of the spoils.

It was a similar story in the reverse fixture in November 2022 as a spirited United were forced to settle for a point against the ten-man Trotters after they were unable to capitalise on any of the gilt-edged chances they created during a thoroughly-improved performance.

All in all, the head-to-head reads at one win from the seven meetings between the sides stretching back to the turn of the millennium, so the hosts will be hoping for a similar result to the 1-0 victory on this soil back in August 2021.

Match Officials

Referee: David Rock

Assistant Referee: Daniel Robinson

Assistant Referee: Alistair Nelson

Fourth Official: Jacob Lehane

Match Reports

Report: Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Cambridge United

3 February 2024

Cambridge United secured their first victory on the road in Sky Bet League One since August as they battled to a clinical 1-2 comeback success against Shrewsbury Town at the Croud Meadow…

A thrilling start to proceedings saw Daniel Udoh draw first blood, only for opposite marksman Lyle Taylor to immediately level matters by finishing off a well-crafted counter. The perfect introduction to the second half saw the January signing grab his brace with another clinical finish, giving his side the impetus to dig in, frustrate the ten-man Shrews and stretch their unbeaten run to four matches.

Ahead of the meeting in Shropshire, the U’s had accumulated decent momentum, with back-to-back clean sheets a foundation to build upon as they looked to rekindle their goalscoring form against a Salop side who, under the returning Paul Hurst, sat a point and place above in the table and had gained momentum after breaking a turgid losing run last time out.

In response to the goalless draw against Burton Albion a week earlier, Neil Harris named the solitary change to his starting XI as Jack Lankester replaced James Brophy. Fresh from penning loan deals until the end of the season just a few days earlier, James Gibbons and Macauley Bonne started from the bench, as did the returning George Thomas who appeared in the squad for the first time since New Year’s Day.

Getting underway in positive fashion, the visitors conjured up the first attempt of the afternoon within the opening minute after Sullay Kaikai and Elias Kachunga combined inside the box, resulting in the latter invitingly finding Danny Andrew whose ambitious attempt kept rising as it cleared the crossbar.

Following a short stoppage in play owing to Morgan Feeney’s head injury, the U’s remained assertive and tested the reflexes of Marko Marosi after Paul Digby floated a teasing delivery towards the back post where a leaping Michael Morrison headed firmly but was ultimately denied.

United’s run without conceding was terminated on the 11th minute after Jordan Shipley received the ball down the left and swung into the six-yard box, where a lurking Udoh was there to meet it first and cleverly poke home with a deft touch.

Refusing to back down, Harris’ men responded with a rapid equaliser in their next attack. A well-worked counter crafted by the industrious Lankester, the playmaker won the ball in the middle of the park and teed up a battling Kachunga, who returned the favour down the flanks – a burst of pace and a delicious ball was pinpoint for a lunging Taylor, with the striker making no mistake from close-range.

Despite lacking further clear-cut chances, the game remained open from here. The probing U’s looked more of an inventive and creative outfit, with Taylor losing a physical battle and pleading for a penalty after racing onto Lankester’s over-the-top ball, before Liam Bennett’s deep 31st minute cross deceived Marosi and almost trickled to danger.

Two minutes prior to additional time, Kaikai embarked on a mazy run down the left, which resulted in play being recycled down the other end, only for the ball to find its way back to the winger, who beat his man with a silky turn in the area before pulling the trigger from an angle, which was crucially intercepted by Mal Benning’s sliding block.

Out of the blocks firing after the break, the U’s secured the turnaround within a matter of seconds when Kachunga raced down the left and exquisitely cut back to an unmarked Taylor, who showed excellent prowess to strike into the corner and celebrate in front of the travelling faithful.

Looking to respond, a corner from Tom Bayliss just shy of the hour mark was met by defender Feeney, who with his back to goal did well to flick a header but it went wide of Jack Stevens’ woodwork.

On the 62nd minute, it was United’s turn to force a chance when Digby tested his luck from outside of the Salop box, but the enforcer dragged it wide of Marosi’s right post.

Shortly after injecting fresh legs into his side in Thomas and Brophy, the U’s were forced to dig deep and protect their advantage in the 69th minute after Bloxham had space to drive into the penalty area and pull the trigger, but the no-nonsense Morrison blocked and secured a corner, which resulted in a proper scramble where Stevens was on hand to smother.

Enjoying a bright spell, the men in amber could have killed the game on 77 when Kaikai cut back to fellow winger Brophy, whose first time shot on target looked destined to rattle into the net but a miraculous block by Chey Dunkley denied it.

Bonne came on for his debut with the game reaching its latter stages, as did Zeno Ibsen Rossi as a stubborn United looked to finish strong. Late into injury time, Bloxham picked up a quickfire set of cards, prompting a smoother pathway to three vital points on the road.

A quick turnaround sees the U’s play again on Tuesday evening (6th February) as promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers make the journey down to the Cledara Abbey – be sure to back the boys.

Shrewsbury Town: Marosi, Winchester, Feeney (O’Brien, 78’), Dunkley, Pierre, Benning, Perry (Hinchy, 67’), Bayliss, Bloxham, Shipley, Udoh

Subs Not Used: Burgoyne, Sraha, Bennett, Idowu, Bowman

Goalscorers: Udoh (11’)

Bookings: Bloxham (Red), Pierre

Cambridge United: Stevens, L. Bennett, R. Bennett, Morrison, Andrew, Digby, Cousins, Kaikai (Ibsen Rossi, 90+1’), Kachunga (Brophy, 66’), Lankester (Thomas, 66’), Taylor (Bonne, 84’)

Subs Not Used: Mannion, May, Gibbons

Goalscorers: Taylor (13’, 46’)

Bookings: Thomas, L. Bennett

Referee: Craig Hicks

Ticket News

Tickets & Travel: Shrewsbury Town (A)

16 January 2024

Ticket information for Cambridge United's upcoming game at Shrewsbury Town can now be confirmed...

Neil Harris' men travel to the Croud Meadow on Saturday 3 February for a 3pm kick-off in Sky Bet League One.

There is no price rise on the day of the game, when supporters can pay CASH ONLY at the DM Recruitment Stand.

Ticket Prices:

Adults	Concessions	14-18	Under 18
£24	£17	£10	£1

Concessions = Seniors (65+), Young Adult (19-23), Disabled (Free carer if required), Student (NUS Card)

For wheelchair tickets, please call 01223 566500.

Supporters can buy their tickets in-advance from cufctickets.com, over the phone by calling 01223 566500 (option 1) or by visiting the Cledara Abbey Stadium Club Shop on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

Three Away Credits will be issued upon purchasing tickets for this fixture, which are used to prioritise away ticket sales for games where demand is likely to exceed capacity.

For further information or assistance, please email info@cambridgeunited.com, call 01223 566500 or tweet @cufc_to.

Travel:

Get to the game with Cambridge Fans United's (CFU) Away Travel Coach. Coach tickets cost £35 and are on sale now from the SLO Away Travel Store. The coach departs the Cledara Abbey Stadium at 9:30am.