A big Sky Bet League One matchup awaits Cambridge United in midweek when they take on table-topping Birmingham City at St Andrew’s…
How to Watch
Tuesday evening’s meeting in the West Midlands, which kicks off at 7:45pm, is an all-ticket fixture - therefore supporters must secure their place by 9am on Tuesday as there will be no sales on the day. Buy online at cufctickets.com or from the Ticket Office at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports+ for fans in the UK who can’t make it to the game, whilst overseas supporters can stream the action live on CUFC TV.
Opposition Focus
Installed as early favourites for the title over the summer, which has only since inflated, the feel-good factor has been resurrected for Birmingham, despite suffering relegation to the third tier for the first time in 30 years last time out in a year that saw six separate managers in the dugout. Nonetheless, the statement of intent and backing from the owners has ensured an exciting time at St Andrews, who firmly believe in the process of one step backwards and two steps forward under young tactician Chris Davies – the clean slate has produced a memorable campaign so far.
A former assistant to Brendan Rogers at the likes of Liverpool and Celtic, and most recently Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur, the 39-year-old decided to cut his teeth in the top job with the Blues over the summer and has exceeded expectations. A blistering start saw the side embark on seven successive wins following an opening day draw to Reading, with slender defeats to Charlton Athletic and Shrewsbury Town in October and November respectively still their only two of the season. Currently, they’ve embarked on a 13-match unbeaten streak which has consisted of 10 wins to firmly place them at the top of the pile with an eight-point cushion from the play-offs.
Comfortable when deployed in a 3-5-2 or 4-2-3-1, Birmingham have a vast array of experience, versatility and firepower to impose themselves on anyone in the division. Ryan Allsopp is the trusted gloveman between the sticks ahead of Northern Ireland international Bailey Peacock-Farrell, with the pedigree of Grant Hanley, Ben Davies, Christoph Klarer or Krystian Bielik to choose from in the heart of defence. The full-back positions are usually accompanied by former Hearts man Alexander Cochrane and the rapid Ethan Laird, who started his career with Manchester United. In the middle of the park is Tomoki Iwata – a Champions League player last season – the creative Marc Leonard or workhorse Taylor Gardner-Hickman, with Rangers loanee Kieran Dowell recently drafted in. Keshi Anderson knows the level incredibly well and will look to pick out prolific strikers in Lyndon Dykes, Alfie May and Jay Stansfield – a £15 million summer transfer who has bagged 17 in all competitions.
Form Guide
- 23/01/2025 – Wrexham 1-1 Birmingham City – Sky Bet League One
- 28/01/2025 – Huddersfield Town 0-1 Birmingham City – Sky Bet League One
- 01/02/2025 – Birmingham City 2-1 Rotherham United – Sky Bet League One
- 04/02/2025 – Stevenage 0-1 Birmingham City – Vertu Trophy Quarter-Finals
- 08/02/2025 – Birmingham City 2-3 Newcastle United – Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
The Amber Angle
The U’s showed fight to seal a share of the spoils last time out as a battling 90 minutes resulted in a 1-1 draw against mid-table Lincoln City at the LNER Stadium.
It was a confident start for the Imps, who drew first blood 10 minutes in when the dangerous Freddie Draper rifled home the opener from inside the area. They maintained the momentum and didn’t allow the visitors space to pour forwards. Therefore, United needed to be clinical to find a way back, which they did prior to the break when James Gibbons opened his account with a well-taken effort. Although they improved as the game wore on and tempers flared owing to a late red card from substitute Joe Gardner, the sides could not be separated.
Assessing the performance, Garry Monk said: “We showed character, belief and togetherness. We got back into the game and finished the half really strong. In the second half we totally controlled it against a really good side. They won’t have been controlled here too many times this season as we did it.
“The performance was pleasing, of course it was. The attitude that we showed was brilliant and the spirit was like we showed last week (against Wycombe Wanderers). There’s no doubting any of that.”
The scene is set for top against bottom, with a mammoth test of character awaiting the U’s, who arrive off the back of just one defeat in five, but know the importance of finding a way to turn one point into all three in the final few months of the season.
Form Guide
- 18/01/2025 – Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 25/01/2025 – Cambridge United 3-2 Mansfield Town – Sky Bet League One
- 28/01/2025 – Rotherham United 2-1 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 01/02/2025 – Cambridge United 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers – Sky Bet League One
- 08/02/2025 – Lincoln City 1-1 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
Head-to-Head
- Birmingham City Wins: 5
- Cambridge United Wins: 5
- Draws: 2
Last Time We Met
Saturday 5th September 2020 – Birmingham City 0-1 Cambridge United – EFL Cup First Round
The memorable promotion-winning season of 2020/21 started at Tuesday’s venue when the U’s booked their place in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup with a surprise 0-1 win against the Blues. Terrific energy levels were on display for the visitors, who responded to Robbie Cundy’s early header by professionally seeing out the game to overcome a Championship outfit for the second season running. The line-up on that day: Mitov, Knoyle, Taylor, Cundy, Dunk, Hoolahan, Digby, O’Neil, Hannant, Mullin, Ironside.
Officials
- Referee: Darren Drysdale
- Assistant Referee: Kevin Howick
- Assistant Referee: Grant Taylor
- Fourth Official: Dale Baines