Looking to earn maximum points following a draw last time out, Cambridge United will host Burton Albion at the Cledara Abbey Stadium on Saturday afternoon in League One.
The U's have endured a mixed start to the calendar year across all competitions, while the Brewers ended a worrying winless run in their last fixture to ease pressure on their players.
Match preview
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Since exiting the FA Cup at the hands of Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the third-round stage on January 6, Cambridge United have collected a respectable total of four points from their last two League One matchups, drawing 0-0 with Exeter City last weekend and beating Fleetwood Town a fortnight ago.
The U's clash with the Cod Army was a match to remember for supporters at the Abbey Stadium, where former Birmingham City marksman Lyle Foster put the hosts ahead before Promise Omochere levelled the contest for the visitors, but Taylor turned provider in added time to Sullay Kaikai, who rifled in a late winner.
After an inconsistent first half of the campaign, Cambridge currently occupy 14th position in the third-tier standings, five points ahead of 21st-placed Reading in the highest of the relegation spots, but a sizeable 18 points behind Des Buckingham's Oxford United in sixth.
Neil Harris's men have been remarkable at their Cambridgeshire home so far in the 2023-24 season, with 24 of their 31 League One points arriving in front of their home faithful, meaning their record of one win in 12 outings has not thrown them into danger at the wrong end of the division.
Following hit-and-miss spells at Burton and parent club Ipswich Town in the third tier last season, Gassan Ahadme is enjoying life at the Abbey Stadium, making the net ripple on seven occasions in 20 league games, including a brace in the draw with Charlton Athletic on December 9.
Burton Albion recorded their first success of the new calendar year on Tuesday night at the Pirelli Stadium, beating an out-of-sorts Charlton side by two goals, with strikes either side of the half-time break from Mark Helm and John Brayford securing maximum points in the East Midlands.
That victory last time out was Martin Paterson's first since taking the reins at the Brewers earlier this month, and the 36-year-old has been tasked with pushing for the away from danger following four-straight campaigns of mid-table finishes for a club who plied their trade in the Championship from 2016 to 2018.
Saturday's visitors are currently sitting in 15th position in the League One standings, only lying below their opponents this weekend due to Cambridge's superior goal difference, and a win for the Brewers at the Abbey Stadium could hypothetically move them as high as 11th.
After struggling to find regular game time at Birmingham and Blackpool in the early stages of his career, 26-year-old Beryly Lubala is a leading man for Burton, scoring five goals and providing one assist in 20 third-tier matches since switching to the seaside for Staffordshire in the summer.
Last season's meeting between Cambridge and Burton at the Abbey Stadium was a seven-goal thriller which the U's came out of top of, with winger Sam Smith - who now plays for crisis-hit Reading - hitting a sensational hat-trick past Ben Garratt in the Brewers net in August 2022.
Team News
Cambridge are expected to name a similar XI to the one which started the goalless draw at Exeter last weekend, meaning Michael Morrison and Ryan Bennett should be the centre-back pairing.
Elias Kachunga has Premier League and Championship experience from his days at Huddersfield Town, and the 31-year-old is set to play in-behind Taylor on Saturday.
The U's had a very inexperienced bench during their trip to Devon last time out, with 18-year-old pair Greg Sandiford and Brandon Njoku both making the matchday squad.
Burton could make one change to the side which breezed past the Addicks on Tuesday night, with Mason Bennett potentially dropping out of the side to make room for Mustapha Carayol.
Manchester United loanee Joe Hugill was a high-profile addition for the Brewers earlier in the month, and the 20-year-old may keep leading marksman Lubala out of the side once again.
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Stevens; L Bennett, R Bennett, Morrison, Andrew; Digby, Cousins, Kaikai, Kachunga, Brophy; Taylor
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Brayford, Sweeney, Moon; Caprice, Powell, Oshilaja, Seddon; Bennett, Helm, Hugill
We say: Cambridge United 1-0 Burton Albion
Cambridge have returned to a consistency of performance in recent matches and will be confident of collecting maximum points against Burton in this one.
The Brewers were deserved winners over Charlton but have lost their last three away games, and we believe that trend will continue at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
