Two sides that are battling against relegation from League One in 2024-25 are set to clash at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday afternoon when Cambridge United host Bristol Rovers.
The hosts are 23rd in the table with 17 points from their opening 23 fixtures, while the visitors are 20th in the standings with 22 points from their first 23 games.
Match preview
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Cambridge United initially enjoyed a strong first season in League One after earning promotion from the fourth tier in 2020-21, going on to finish 14th in the table and 18 points clear of the drop zone in 2021-22.
However, they have fallen significantly down the table in the following two and a half seasons, narrowly surviving in 2022-23 in 20th place with 46 points, just a point above the drop, and placing 18th in 2022-23, just four points above the relegation zone.
Cambridge's struggles have continued in the first half of this campaign, heading into their 24th matchday of the season sitting 23rd in the table with just 17 points from 23 games, after four wins, five draws and 14 losses.
That leaves Garry Monk's side just three points above bottom-placed Burton Albion and trailing 20th-placed Bristol Rovers by five points, a gap to safety that Cambridge will be eager to close in the remainder of the term.
They head into this match in search of their first win in six games, having endured five defeats and one draw during that stretch, including four consecutive losses with an aggregate score of 11-2 in their most recent outings.
A victory against Bristol Rovers could prove vital in their survival attempts, with the visitors occupying 20th-place, leaving this one as a crucial relegation six-pointer at the halfway point of the season.
The visitors are enduring a disappointing campaign compared to their finishes in the last two years in League One, having finished 17th in 2022-23, their first year back in League One following promotion the prior year, and climbing to 15th in 2023-24.
Their poor start to the campaign, which saw Bristol Rovers win six, draw three and lose 10 of their opening 19, resulted in the sacking of Matt Taylor, but they have failed to improve under interim manager David Horseman and new boss Inigo Calderon.
They have drawn one and lost three of their last four matches, leaving Calderon still searching for his first win at the club, and the Spaniard will be desperate to take all three points in this one with the relegation zone looming large.
Team News
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Elias Kachunga became Cambridge's outright top scorer in the league with his fifth goal of the term last time out, his fourth in his last six appearances, and the hosts will be hoping the striker can make the difference here.
Elsewhere, despite losing to Reading in that match, aspects of the performance would have encouraged Monk, meaning the manager could name a similar side for this one.
As for the visitors, Promise Omochere came off injured in the 22nd minute of their 3-2 loss to Leyton Orient, meaning Chris Martin, who came on to score twice in that game, is likely to start here.
Jamie Lindsay could also make a return to the starting 11 after the midfielder served a one-game suspension in the last outing following his red card against Stevenage.
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Stevens; Okedina, Morrison, Andrew; Bennett, Cousins, Smith, Brophy; Stokes; N'Lundulu, Kachunga
Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Moore, Taylor, Wilson, Sousa; Hutchinson, Ward; Thomas, McCormick, O'Donkor; Martin
We say: Cambridge United 1-1 Bristol Rovers
Both sides are struggling at the bottom of the table at the midway point of the season, and with both desperate to avoid defeat in this crucial relegation six-pointer, we believe this one will end all square.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
