Fresh from valiantly registering their first point of the 2024/25 Sky Bet League One season last time out, Cambridge United now make the trip down to the Memorial Stadium determined to deliver a first victory as they do battle with Bristol Rovers this weekend…
How to Watch
A healthy contingent of U’s fans will be present for Saturday afternoon’s clash in the Southwest, which kicks off at 3pm. To join them, you can purchase a ticket from the Memorial Stadium on the day of the game.
CUFC TV will once again be on hand for those who are unable to attend. Overseas U’s fans can stream the game live, whilst those based in the UK can tune into audio commentary.
Opposition Focus
Early signs indicate a solid campaign for the Pirates, who will be out to improve on recent third tier rankings of 17th and 15th. A Conference Premier outfit just a decade ago, it’s been a progressive incline which former Exeter City and Rotherham United manager Matt Taylor, at the helm since December, would like to consolidate. First and foremost, he’ll aim to make the defence more watertight and improve squad cohesion after shipping 68 last time out, in a season which culminated in seven defeats from ten.
Starting as they meant to go on, Taylor’s troops earned a well-earned 1-0 triumph against Northampton Town on the opening day courtesy of Bryant Bilongo’s last-gasp winner on his EFL debut, before following this up with a determined stalemate away at relegated Rotherham. In their most recent encounter, they became the newest victim of Stockport County’s emphatic start as the Hatters scored either side of half-time in a 2-0 win.
Donning the sticks for the Gas is well-respected young goalkeeper Josh Griffiths, who was on the cusp of breaking into parent club West Bromwich Albion’s XI in the previous couple of years. Utilising a three-at-the-back system, the reliable trio so far has been Valenciennes man Taylor Moore, partnered by Clinton Mola and the vastly experienced James Wilson. Summer signing from Walsall, Isaac Hutchinson, guarantees final third explosiveness after registering 27 goal involvements in 2023/24 and will have that licence to roam alongside Grant Ward and the eye-catching Kamil Conteh. Non-league pluck Bilongo and the energetic Luke Thomas will occupy the flanks, with Promise Omochere likely to partner either former top-flight man Scott Sinclair or Cypriot Ruel Sotiriou following Chris Martin’s long-term injury.
Form Guide
- 10/08/2024 – Bristol Rovers 1-0 Northampton Town – Sky Bet League One
- 13/08/2024 – Cardiff City 2-0 Bristol Rovers – Carabao Cup Round One
- 17/08/2024 – Rotherham United 0-0 Bristol Rovers – Sky Bet League One
- 20/08/2024 – Bristol Rovers 3-3 Tottenham Hotspur U21 (5-6p) – EFL Trophy Group Stage
- 24/08/2024 – Stockport County 2-0 Bristol Rovers – Sky Bet League One
The Amber Angle
A scintillating conclusion saw the U’s raise the roof and accelerate momentum last time out as a clinical late showing from Garry Monk’s men helped them salvage a thrilling 4-4 draw against managerless Blackpool.
Tested from the get-go, a carbon copy James Husband header either side of Shayne Lavery opening his account in amber gave the hosts work to do, who failed to clear their lines as Kyle Joseph and Dominic Ballard neatly helped steam to a three-goal lead. However, just when the points look secured, United upped their game immensely and roared towards a share of the spoils as Danny Andrew struck home an exquisite free-kick, Brandon Njoku grabbed his first professional strike and Lavery haunted his former club with the all-important equaliser.
In spite of the comeback, and Cambridge’s first 4-4 tie since August 2015, emotions were mixed for Monk, who admitted: “It’s real mixed emotions. I’m angry and happy – it’s quite a strange feeling.
“We can’t concede goals like that but what you can do in those really tough moments – and you probably won’t get a tougher moment than that – is how strong is your belief in yourself and each other to come back? They showed that in abundance… They’ve given everything and that’s what you want from your team.”
Quite the contrary to the week before, United finished on the front foot and were perhaps unlucky not to deliver victory. Their options from the bench helped light up the latter stages and, with the window having slammed shut come Saturday, the jigsaw will officially be complete. A point from their opening three is the bare minimum they’ve deserved, with a plethora of signs that further points will come if they can find the consistency within the course of 90 minutes.
Form Guide
- 10/08/2024 – Stockport County 2-0 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 13/08/2024 – Cambridge United 1-2 QPR – Carabao Cup Round One
- 17/08/2024 – Cambridge United 0-1 Crawley Town – Sky Bet League One
- 24/08/2024 – Cambridge United 4-4 Blackpool – Sky Bet League One
Quick Quotes
Monk on the U’s approach: “We’re really just trying to improve ourselves - we know some of the real good stuff we’re doing and of course we keep reaffirming that but any weaknesses that we do have we’re just working really hard on the training ground with the players and trying to see improvement week upon week. We know if we do that, results will follow.”
Monk on the Gas: “They’ve invested in their squad, they’ve got good players, good quality – I’ve watched all of their games and they’ve been unlucky in terms of results; we feel a little bit similar with the results we’ve had too.”
Monk on deadline day additions: “There’s one in late negotiations which would be very positive if that happens… we’re very hopeful. We’ve been looking at multiple positions just to see if we can strengthen ourselves but there’s one for that position (striker) that’s quite far down the line.”
Team News
The Head Coach confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Gary Gardner, Jordan Cousins and Ryan Loft have all returned to light training, but this will be a match too soon for them to be involved. Elsewhere, Taylor Richards, Kell Watts and Elias Kachunga remain sidelined after picking up recent knocks.
Head-to-Head
- Bristol Rovers Wins: 24
- Cambridge United Wins: 8
- Draws: 8
Last Time We Met
Tuesday 16th April 2024 – Bristol Rovers 1-0 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
The Gas recorded their sixth victory in seven against the U’s back in April as a late show wrapped up a 1-0 triumph at the Memorial Stadium. The hosts pushed the early initiative, whereas Monk’s side were most threatening with their set-pieces. Will Mannion popped up with penalty heroics shortly before the break to deny Chris Martin, but the experienced forward made no mistake at the death, firing low to seal a narrow win and extend the visitors’ wait for safety. United’s line-up that evening was: Mannion, Jobe, Ibsen Rossi, Andrew, L. Bennett, Digby, May, Brophy, Kaikai, Kachunga, Bonne.
Boot in Both Camps
An indispensable figure and undisputed club legend, John Taylor bulged the onion bag 86 times in 336 appearances during two eras with the U’s. Spotted by Chris Turner whilst with Sudbury Town in 1988, ‘Shaggy’ enjoyed a prolific partnership with Dion Dublin and helped the club progress from the Fourth Division to the pinnacle of the Premier League in the early 1990s as well as reaching two FA Cup quarter-finals. The striker enjoyed fruitful spells with Bristol Rovers, Bradford City and Luton Town but returned home in 1997, where he stayed until 2004 and cemented himself as the club’s leading goalscorer in the Football League. From here, he embarked on the local non-league scene as a player-coach and - after a short stint in the first team coaching setup at CB5 in 2020 - he remarkably put the boots back on to appear for Thetford Town as a 56-year-old as recently as 2021. Age really is just a number.
Officials
- Referee: Craig Hicks
- Assistant Referee: Declan O’Shea
- Assistant Referee: Christopher Husband
- Fourth Official: Matthew Russell
