Attention swiftly turns towards the trip to Lancashire this weekend as Cambridge United’s next Sky Bet League One outing sees them do battle with promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers…
How to Watch
Tickets for Saturday’s encounter at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, which kicks off at 3pm, have now officially gone off sale – with a total of just under 400 avid U’s making the journey. Please note, there will be no sales on the day.
Unable to attend? Fans in the UK can listen to full match commentary with iFollow or on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, whilst overseas supporters can stream the game live with an iFollow Video Match Pass.
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 colossus Ricardo Santos, who has recently returned from injury. 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 the Christmas period saw them rekindle their front-footed approach as they lost once from 12, registering 27 points from a possible 36. Most recently, successive defeats away at Blackpool and Wigan Athletic has halted the slide – Bolton sit comfortably in the play-off places, cemented in 3rd and level on points with Derby County. The chase for silver is on.
Form Guide
Bolton Wanderers: WDWLL
Cambridge United: LWLLL
United’s Approach
United come into this one off the back of a 1-0 loss to Stevenage at the Lamex Stadium in midweek, as the hosts continued their play-off hopes and slumped their opponents to their third consecutive single-goal defeat.
Applying pressure from the get-go, Boro’s relentless nature allowed them to control the game and draw first blood prior to the break courtesy of Jordan Roberts. A triple change on the hour mark gave the visitors momentum as chances became more consistent, but it was not enough to force a share of the spoils.
After the game, Interim Head Coach Barry Corr admitted: “I’m obviously disappointed to lose the game… We sustained pressure for a short period of time but couldn’t do it for long enough.”
Form now reads at four defeats from five for the U’s, who have lost three on the spin just once in 2023/24. Fortunately, it’s as you were in the race for survival, with a comfortable cushion of five points separating them from the drop. The task now is to carry on increasing it as they begin to embark on a lighter schedule.
Head-to-Head
Bolton Wanderers Wins: 8
Cambridge United Wins: 4
Draws: 8
Down Memory Lane
Fans of the outfits need to cast their minds back a mere 11 days to our last encounter, when a rearranged tie at CB5 saw Bolton edge out United with a 1-2 comeback victory.
A rapid start from United saw them claim the advantage when Sullay Kaikai forced an own goal, before holding out for the break with real assurance. A period of early dominance from the Trotters during the second half helped turn the game on its head through Paris Maghoma and Carlos Mendes Gomes, who then restricted the ten-man hosts to a response.
As a result of the defeat, Cambridge are now winless in four vs the Trotters, with two draws sandwiched in between. There’s been eight encounters since the turn of the millennium, with the sole U’s win occurring in August 2021 as Shilow Tracey’s clinical finish earned the newcomers the points. United will hope to build on last season’s dramatic 1-1 tie by registering their first ever win at Bolton’s home in what will be attempt number four.
Match Officials
Referee: Ollie Yates
Assistant Referee: Daniel Woodward
Assistant Referee: Danny Jarvis
Fourth Official: Alan Clayton