Cambridge United lock horns with ambitious Wrexham for the first time in over a decade at the STōK Cae Ras this weekend as they aim to make it back-to-back Sky Bet League One victories…
How to Watch
Approximately 900 U’s will make the trek to north Wales for Saturday’s encounter, which gets underway at 3pm. Please note, this is an all ticket fixture, with no sales available on the day.
Unable to attend? Be sure to back the boys from home via your CUFC TV account. Overseas supporters can stream the game live, whilst UK U’s can tune into audio commentary.
Opposition Focus
The third-oldest football club in existence after being founded in 1864, Wrexham have always been a side up for battle. Joining the Football League in 1920, their peak was in the late 70s as they embarked on the Second Division, but slumped to non-league in 2008. Always there or thereabouts, the Town couldn’t quite muster up a promotion charge, requiring 15 attempts in total. The tide immediately turned following the well-documented takeover in late 2020, with the potential finally unlocked in the proud, historic town. Under the tutelage of Phil Parkinson, they broke through in 2023 with a staggering 111 points before escaping League Two at the first hurdle last time out. Determined to not just consolidate and make up the numbers, just how high can Wrexham climb?
Picking up where they left off, the Welsh outfit enjoyed a storming start to League One life by picking up four wins and four clean sheets from their opening five, which included dispatching big-hitters Reading and Peterborough United. Their first defeats came away at Birmingham City and then Stevenage at the start of October, but they bounced back impeccably each time, going five unbeaten prior to a slender 1-0 defeat against Stockport County. Since that mid-November outing, they’ve secured four consecutive triumphs to roar the side up to 2nd in the table and level on 40 points with Wycombe Wanderers. They’ll be optimistic of extending their unbeaten run at the Racecourse Ground, with their target of a third promotion on the bounce already making waves.
An injury nightmare for both Arthur Okonkwo and Callum Burton means either dependable veteran Mark Howard or recent signing Brad Forster will be selected in goal. Sticking with his progressive 3-5-1-1 setup, Parkinson has the likes of Eoghan O’Connell, Max Cleworth, Tom O’Connor or Lewis Brunt to choose from at the back. Further afield, Andy Cannon, Matthew James and Ollie Rathbone know exactly how to orchestrate from the middle of the pack, boasting vast Championship experience, with Sebastian Revan and Ryan Barnett providing the width. In the attacking midfield role, Elliot Lee remains the creative cog, driving into space and having a reliable goal output – bagging at least 15 in his previous two seasons. Blessed with talent up top, Ollie Palmer has been given the nod of late, whereas 37-year-old Steven Fletcher adds heaps of know-how and the familiar Paul Mullin, as U’s fans will know, adds ruthless pedigree in the box. He’s already plundered well over a century of strikes since his 2021 switch but will want to add to his solitary goal so far this campaign.
Form Guide
- 23/11/2024 – Wrexham 3-0 Exeter City – Sky Bet League One
- 26/11/2024 – Wrexham 1-0 Lincoln City – Sky Bet League One
- 03/12/2024 – Wrexham 1-0 Barnsley – Sky Bet League One
- 07/12/2024 – Burton Albion 0-1 Wrexham – Sky Bet League One
- 10/12/2024 – Wrexham 1-0 Crewe Alexandra – Vertu Trophy Round of 32
The Amber Angle
The U’s full focus is on third tier football heading into the festive fixtures after they bowed out of the Vertu Trophy at the Round of 32 stage on Tuesday after being on the receiving end of a 2-1 comeback success for Cheltenham Town.
United capped an impressive first half with Josh Stokes’ penalty at the brink, who had created a plethora of opportunities throughout a front-footed 45 minutes. However, the game was turned on its head when quickfire goals from Matty Taylor and Arkell Jude-Boyd shortly after the break handed the hosts a lead which that showed little signs of surrendering in Gloucestershire.
Reflecting on the manner of the defeat, Garry Monk said: “We had a really good first half. We were in control of the game and, if anything, we should have added to the goal we scored. The most disappointing thing, not just the result, was we got out battled. That’s not something we’ve had to throw on the players this season. We’ve lost games but we haven’t lost a game through a lack of battle.”
In spite of defeat, Cambridge will rightly find the positives from an evening where they strengthened the options at their disposal - thanks to minutes in the tank for Stokes and Emmanuel Longelo – who will add to an attack still on a high following the comprehensive victory against Shrewsbury Town. With four points the current gap from safety, it’ll be another stern challenge against a potential title-chaser, but one they’ll relish.
Form Guide
- 26/11/2024 – Cambridge United 1-1 Bolton Wanderers – Sky Bet League One
- 30/11/2024 – Cambridge United 1-2 Wigan Athletic – Emirates FA Cup Second Round
- 03/12/2024 – Reading 3-0 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 07/12/2024 – Cambridge United 4-1 Shrewsbury Town – Sky Bet League One
- 10/12/2024 – Cheltenham Town 2-1 Cambridge United – Vertu Trophy Round of 32
Team News
The Head Coach confirmed that everyone came through the previous two matches unscathed, so will be available for selection. The squad will be bolstered by Sullay Kaikai’s availability, while fellow winger Taylor Richards is also back in full training. Elsewhere, Gary Gardner could return to some form of training by the end of next week.
Head-to-Head
- Wrexham Wins: 22
- Cambridge United Wins: 14
- Draws: 14
Last Time We Met
Tuesday 18th February 2014 – Cambridge United 0-0 Wrexham – Conference Premier
It’s been a meteoric rise for both outfits since our last meeting 10 years ago, when a crowd of 2,231 witnessed a stalemate between Richard Money’s and Andy Morrell’s promotion hopefuls at CB5. It was an uninspiring evening for the U’s, who edged the first half but couldn’t improve after the break as the clean sheets were preserved, putting the hosts eight points behind Luton Town in the title race. The line-up that night: Norris, Roberts, Miller, Coulson, Taylor, Hughes, Champion, Berry, Donaldson, Elliott, Bird.
Boot in Both Camps
Towering 6’4” central defender Blaine Hudson first cut his teeth with Norwich City before joining the U’s in 2009 and tallying just shy of 40 appearances on top of loan moves to Cambridge City, Billericay and Welling United during a six-year spell. Departing CB5 following their promotion to the Football League, he switched borders to represent the Red Dragons and Chester – proving to be assuring on the ball and a force in the air. Since 2017, the 33-year-old has plied his trade with Welsh giants The New Saints, where he’s made 200 appearances, won the Premier League five times and is currently attempting to steer the side into the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League.
Officials
- Referee: Scott Oldham
- Assistant Referee: Christopher Husband
- Assistant Referee: Kevin Morris
- Fourth Official: Stuart Morland
