The games continue to come thick and fast for Cambridge United, who welcome Bolton Wanderers to the Cledara Abbey Stadium on Tuesday evening for their next Sky Bet League One tie…
How to Watch
The United faithful have been quick to confirm their attendance for the midweek encounter under the CB5 lights, which gets underway at 7:45pm.
To avoid disappointment, purchase your tickets in advance by securing your place online at cufctickets.com, over the phone by calling 01223 566500 (option 1) or by visiting the Ticket Office. All prices increase by £2 when buying in-person on the day.
As part of the Club’s partnership with Anglia Ruskin University, all students in the city have the opportunity to get behind the side at a discounted price of just £10. Please note, a valid Student Card will be required upon entry.
If you can't make it to the game, fans in the UK can watch the game live on Sky Sports+. Live abroad? Overseas supporters can stream the action on CUFC TV.
Opposition Focus
A heavyweight of the division, the four-time FA Cup winners were formed in 1874 and 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 Whites have been accustomed to a strong incline thanks to promotion at the first attempt, stabilisation and recent rankings of 5th and 3rd, which included a play-off final defeat last season. The aim of playing Championship football for the first time since 2019 looms closer – can this be their year?
An opening day victory away at Leyton Orient made for a strong start, but they just couldn’t find their feet from here as they recorded one point from a possible 12, not scoring a single goal and conceding an alarming eight. Nonetheless, they soon started to ascend up the table by picking up six wins, a draw and the solitary defeat in their next eight, which included dismantling Reading 5-2 and putting four past Northampton Town and Stevenage. Most recently, they were on the receiving end of a 5-0 hammering at local rivals Stockport County but bounced back at the weekend with a come-from-behind 2-1 success against Blackpool to allocate them in 9th position going into this fixture, with goal difference separating them from 5th.
Maintaining a 3-4-3 setup, Nathan Baxter should keep his place between the sticks, with a back three of man mountain Ricardo Santos, mainstay George Johnston and Australian Gethin Jones ahead of him – the trio are tight-knit and have played together for the last three campaigns. In the midfield, Josh Cogley and Szabolcs Schon provide the with, with Welsh international Josh Sheehan and George Thomason linking to break up play and create with their intelligence. Blessed with a plethora of attacking options, John McAtee penned terms from Luton Town in the summer and has calibre after scoring 15 for Barnsley last season, Dion Charles has already bagged 50 goals for the Trotters and Aaron Collins has been a regular on the scoresheet following a fruitful spell with Bristol Rovers.
Form Guide
- 29/10/2024 – Stevenage 1-4 Bolton Wanderers – Sky Bet League One
- 02/11/2024 – Walsall 2-1 Bolton Wanderers – Emirates FA Cup First Round
- 09/11/2024 – Stockport County 5-0 Bolton Wanderers – Sky Bet League One
- 12/11/2024 – Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Fleetwood Town – EFL Trophy Group Stage
- 23/11/2024 – Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Blackpool – Sky Bet League One
The Amber Angle
Both the U’s and Northampton Town had to battle with Storm Bert at the weekend, with tricky conditions playing a major part during a conservative stalemate at Sixfields Stadium.
A lack of ruthlessness in the final third ensured that a share of the spoils was the fair result, although even with the wind in their faces during the second half the visitors undoubtedly had the greater opportunities to grab maximum points. Nonetheless, it was a sixth clean sheet from eight matches and another point in the right direction.
Reflecting on a testing afternoon, Garry Monk said: “I thought the conditions dictated, it was going to be impossible to be an ultra-thrilling game, but I thought we gave an excellent performance away from home… I think our performance warranted three points today, but unfortunately we didn’t take those chances that we did have.”
The scene is set with the U’s sat in 22nd, with other results increasing the gap from safety to four points, albeit they do have a game or two in hand over their rivals. Back to home comforts, they’ll be determined to make it five unbeaten at the Abbey.
Form Guide
- 02/11/2024 – Woking 0-1 Cambridge United – FA Cup First Round
- 05/11/2024 – Cambridge United 1-0 Chelsea U21s – EFL Trophy Group Stage
- 09/11/2024 – Peterborough United 6-1 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 16/11/2024 – Cambridge United 1-1 Barnsley – Sky Bet League One
- 23/11/2024 – Northampton Town 0-0 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
Head-to-Head
- Cambridge United Wins: 4
- Bolton Wanderers Wins: 9
- Draws: 8
Last Time We Met
Saturday 2nd March 2024 – Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
Our last meeting back in March – just two weeks on from the reverse fixture, which initially was abandoned owing to torrential rain – saw the promotion-chasing Trotters condemn United to a fourth straight defeat courtesy of a goal in each half in a 2-0 win at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. An arrowed attempt from George Thomason set them on their way, before Aaron Collins struck mid-way through the second period to secure the triumph. The line-up on that day: Stevens, L. Bennett, R. Bennett, Morrison, Andrew, Digby, Thomas, Kaikai, Lankester, Brophy, Kachunga.
Boot in Both Camps
A reliable presence between the sticks throughout a career that spanned almost 20 years, Keith Branagan first plied his trade with the U’s as a 17-year-old in 1983 – where he clocked well over 100 appearances during five years. Millwall went on to acquire his services, with loans at Brentford and Gillingham scattered in, but it was with Bolton where he enjoyed his most successful years. Between 1992 to 2000, he experienced three promotions, a League Cup final, two seasons in the Premier League and a full cap for Republic of Ireland. His final move saw him depart to Suffolk and sign terms with Ipswich Town at the turn of the millennium, before being forced to retire in October 2002.
Officials
- Referee: Paul Howard
- Assistant Referee: Ryan Williams
- Assistant Referee: Alan Cresswell
- Fourth Official: Ruebyn Ricardo