First points of the 2024/25 Sky Bet League One season are up for grabs for both Cambridge United and Blackpool this weekend as they go head-to-head at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
How to Watch
An impressive 6,720 fans flocked to CB5 for the season opener, with that figure likely to be surpassed for Saturday afternoon’s clash - which gets underway at 3pm.
With all four areas of the ground expected to be close to full capacity, please avoid disappointment by securing your tickets in advance either on online at cufctickets.com, over the phone by calling 01223 566500 (option 1) or by visiting the brand new Ticket Office on Newmarket Road. Please note, all prices will increase by £2 when buying in-person on the day.
CUFC TV will be on hand for those who have an account but are unable to attend. Overseas U’s fans can stream the game live from wherever they are, whilst those based in the UK can tune into audio commentary.
Opposition Focus
It may be early days, but it’s all change for this weekend’s visitors, who arrive without a manager following the dismissal of Neil Critchley on Wednesday morning. A Championship outfit as recently as last year, Blackpool took the play-off race to the final day last time out thanks to impressive late-season form, but ultimately fell short. Going one step closer is the aim, but without star loanee Karamoko Dembele and a significantly strengthened division, it may prove to be a season of consolidation, with 38-year-old Richard Keogh taking the reins and looking to impose his own style.
It's been a physically demanding first couple of weeks of 2024/25, with the Tangerines yet to tally a single point. Either side of a 0-4 hammering against Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup - where they scored all of their goals in the space of a devastating 22 minutes - they were surprised 2-1 by Crawley Town before fellow newly-promoted side Stockport County picked up a superb 0-3 success at Bloomfield Road.
A solid spine remains. One that, on their day, is a match for absolutely anybody in the division. Dan Grimshaw will be the number one for the season, whilst the likes of Matt Pennington, Oliver Casey and James Husband are dependable in the back three and Ipswich Town loanee Elkan Baggott provides assurance on the ball. The impressive Rob Apter is locked down the right thanks to an imperious year with Tranmere Rovers, whereas Hayden Coulson will be on the opposite flank helping turn defence into attack. A compact midfield sees summer signing Lee Evans - a sound figure at this level - partner Elliott Embleton and prospect Sonny Carey, the main creative spark who will look to kick on from six goals last time out. An array of talent up top sees Ashley Fletcher drop down a division, 22-year-old Kyle Joseph, Southampton loanee Dominic Ballard and veteran Jordan Rhodes – who’s here to stay following a successful 15 strikes from 29 in League One last season. Keep the group fit and the Seasiders have enough to be there or thereabouts come May.
Form Guide
- 30/07/2024 - Blackpool 1-3 Accrington Stanley - Pre-Season Friendly
- 03/08/2024 - Crewe Alexandra 0-2 Blackpool - Pre-Season Friendly
- 10/08/2024 - Crawley Town 2-1 Blackpool - Sky Bet League One
- 13/08/2024 - Burton Albion 0-4 Blackpool - Carabao Cup Round One
- 17/08/2024 - Blackpool 0-3 Stockport County - Sky Bet League One
The Amber Angle
A well-taken goal at the death was enough to consign Cambridge to consecutive league defeats last time out, as newcomers Crawley Town continued their emphatic start with a gritty 0-1 triumph.
A win for the visitors was only ever going to come in smash-and-grab fashion following an incredibly dominant hour from the U’s who, in the same intensity as the cup defeat, throwed the kitchen sink at a rear guard who needed to dig in deep and see off a plethora of chances, which included a goal line clearance. However, Scott Lindsey’s men bided their time and grew by the minute, with some influential substitutions handing them the impetus to finish stronger and clinch maximum points courtesy of Ade Adeyemo’s smart angled attempt.
Analysing the result, Garry Monk admitted: “I’m frustrated for everyone… I get it, it’s about taking opportunities, but I think from the 60-minute mark onwards it looked like we felt a little bit sorry for ourselves that we hadn’t got the rewards of the goals.
“We stopped doing what we were doing, being brave, getting on the ball, progressing the ball to good situations – ultimately we suffered the cruellest blow.”
Three defeats from three, but morale remains high, for it is early days and there is still plenty to be positive about. With the recent loan additions of the energetic Emmanuel Longelo and the creative Josh Stokes, options within the squad have increased and talent in the final third has been bolstered. United will aim to keep doing what they have been in terms of creating chances, but this time add a clinical edge as they hunt their first points.
Form Guide
- 02/08/2024 - Cambridge United 1-0 West Bromwich Albion - Pre-Season Friendly
- 03/08/2024 - Colchester United 6-0 Cambridge United - Pre-Season Friendly
- 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
Quick Quotes
Monk on the squad revamp: “It’s not all going to be done in this window, it’s a matter of time. But I think we’ve made good strides; we’ve talked about lowering the age profile and adding more mobility to the squad so we can play this way that we want to play.”
Monk on Blackpool: “There’s the unknown (being managerless), which makes it difficult. But that probably makes the emphasis of focusing on ourselves and getting ourselves right, which I do anyway but probably more so this week because of the unknown they (Blackpool) will bring.”
Team News
The Head Coach confirmed that Elias Kachunga is due for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury – estimating a timeline which could stretch towards five weeks. Taylor Richards is currently nursing an old injury and is also expected to be out, as is the case for Jordan Cousins, Gary Gardner and Ryan Loft too.
Head-to-Head
- Cambridge United wins: 4
- Blackpool wins: 5
- Draws: 4
Last Time We Met
Saturday 6 April 2024 - Blackpool 1-0 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
You only need to cast your minds back four months for our last meeting, in which the U’s two-game winning streak came to an end at the seaside as Blackpool gained a 1-0 victory at Bloomfield Road. Confidence was sky-high following critical Easter successes against Barnsley and Wigan Athletic, but this proved a game too far as a fine Sonny Carey strike was enough to separate the sides despite an improved showing from the visitors after the break. Little did they know, United were already safe for another year, whereas the Tangerines embarked on four wins on the bounce – ultimately it wasn’t enough as they fell three points short of the top six.
Boot in Both Camps
A fine Football League shot stopper, Chris Maxwell has proved himself as an imperious and reliable figure between the sticks ever since making his debut for Wrexham as an 18-year-old in 2009. It was a remarkable short-term loan with the U’s which undoubtedly helped pave the way for promotion in 2013/14, where the Welshman kept 18 clean sheets and won the Conference Premier player of the month for October after not conceding. Recalled to parent club Fleetwood Town that January, he soon established himself as a standout League One performer before appearing for Preston North End, Hibernian and Blackpool between 2020 to 2023. Now 34, he resides at Huddersfield Town and is in the final year of his contract.
Officials
- Referee: Jacob Miles
- Assistant Referee: Conall Bartlett
- Assistant Referee: Stuart Butler
- Fourth Official: Lauren Impey