Cambridge United will be determined to secure back-to-back victories in Sky Bet League One for the first time since October this weekend when they take on Crawley Town at Broadfield Stadium…
How to Watch
Over 1,200 U’s fans have already secured their place for Saturday’s meeting in West Sussex, which gets underway at 3pm.
With the initial allocation already sold out - which includes all the seated availability - be quick in purchasing the additional terrace tickets, which are still available via the Crawley Town website.
Those who are unable to attend can back the boys from home via their CUFC TV account. Overseas supporters can stream the game live, whereas UK U’s can tune into audio commentary.
Opposition Focus
There’s plenty to admire about the Red Devils’ recent rise. Heading into last season, they were favourites for a drop to non-league for the first time since 2011, but thanks to 46 battle-hardened performances and three awe-inspiring play-off clashes, they steamrolled to an unlikely promotion to the third tier thanks to exceptional recruitment and man-management from legendary figure Scott Lindsey, who only arrived in January 2023. Nonetheless, a summer of transition loomed, with a heavy squad upheaval and the parting of the manager in September, who was replaced by Rob Elliot following an impressive period with Gateshead. The challenge of staying up was a mammoth one – whilst they were unfancied, Crawley remained unfazed and have so far shown that they are not to be written off.
Similar to United, this weekend’s hosts are in a relegation dogfight, occupying 22nd position with a five-point gap to bridge. A memorable opening week saw the newcomers dispatch Blackpool 2-1 on home soil before dramatically stealing the points at the Abbey in the reverse, but a tricky few months awaited as they lost eight of their following nine. A 3-0 success against Lincoln City in mid-October, to date their best win of the campaign, kick-started a run of just one defeat from seven to lift them out of the drop, but again form dipped as the side endured a winless start to 2025. Most recently, they’ve shown fight and signs of improvement as they overcame Stevenage 3-1 and took a point from Wycombe Wanderers and Wigan Athletic, but know the importance of reacting to last weekend’s defeat to Blackpool in a positive fashion and stretching their unbeaten streak at Broadfield Stadium to four matches.
The new-look Crawley have been accustomed to a three-at-the-back system throughout the season to ensure solidity in the middle and runners in the final third. Ghanaian goalkeeper Joe Wollacott has worked his way back into the squad and could have Dion Conroy – one of two players remaining from the play-off final victory in May – former Wealdstone man Charlie Barker and 20-year-old Ben Radcliffe. The tenacity in the heart of the pitch comes from the likes of Max Anderson, loanee Kamari Doyle and the returning Panutche Camara, with wide options in Harry Forster, Junior Quitirna and another previous non-league prospect in Ade Adeyemo at their disposal. Tasked with making the difference in front of goal are Will Swan, on seven for the season, Arsenal Academy graduate Tyreece John-Jules and former U’s loanee Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.
Form Guide
- 08/02/2025 – Bolton Wanderers 4-3 Crawley Town – Sky Bet League One
- 11/02/2025 – Crawley Town 3-1 Stevenage – Sky Bet League One
- 15/02/2025 – Crawley Town 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers – Sky Bet League One
- 18/02/2025 – Crawley Town 1-1 Wigan Athletic – Sky Bet League One
- 22/02/2025 – Blackpool 3-1 Crawley Town – Sky Bet League One
The Amber Angle
The U’s concluded a busy week in positive fashion last time out, with a revitalised performance helping to secure a 2-0 victory against promotion-hopefuls Stockport County at an atmospheric Cledara Abbey.
The Neil Harris era part two could not have got off to a more promising start, as playmaker Josh Stokes headed his side into an early lead, before the Bristol City loanee secured his brace moments before the break courtesy of a long-range strike for his sixth of the campaign. From here, the hosts dug in and showed little signs of surrendering as they claimed a first win in six and first clean sheet since November.
Bursting with pride after the whistle, the Head Coach said: “The attitude and desire from the lads, and the information they’ve taken on board in the last 24 hours, has been immense. Today was about the changing room, the board and the fans. We’re a side in a difficult position and I’ve just got to get the best out of the players that are available to me and give them some belief and confidence. We’ve done that and we’ve got to carry that forward.”
Now, United must use the determined display as a benchmark. Ultimately, they remain eight points from safety, but the focus is solely on themselves and taking it one match at a time – starting against a side in similar circumstances on Saturday, who they’ll be out to leapfrog come 5pm.
Form Guide
- 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
- 11/02/2025 - Birmingham City 4-0 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 15/02/2025 - Cambridge United 0-1 Exeter City – Sky Bet League One
- 22/02/2025 – Cambridge United 2-0 Stockport County – Sky Bet League One
Head-to-Head
- Crawley Town Wins: 13
- Cambridge United Wins: 9
- Draws: 4
Last Time We Met
Saturday 17th August 2024 – Cambridge United 0-1 Crawley Town – Sky Bet League One
United will be out to get revenge from our previous meeting in the early stages of the 2024/25 season when newcomers Crawley snatched a 0-1 win in the dying embers at CB5. Despite chalking up an abundance of attempts during a promising hour of football, the U’s were forced to rue them as the visitors bided their time, grew into the game late on and secured maximum points minutes from time when substitute Ade Adeyemo capitalised from a tricky angle. The line-up on that warm afternoon: Reyes, O’Riordan, Ibsen Rossi, Andrew, Gibbons, Smith, Digby, Brophy, Kaikai, Barton, Lavery.
Officials
- Referee: James Oldham
- Assistant Referee: Scott Williams
- Assistant Referee: Ross Murphy
- Fourth Official: Wayne Cartmel