Promotion hopefuls Stevenage are set to host strugglers Cambridge United at Lamex Stadium on Tuesday in their 12th League One game of the season.
The hosts are in 10th place with 17 points and are just one point from sixth-placed Huddersfield Town, who occupy the division's final promotion playoff spot, while the visitors are second last in 23rd place with four points after 10 matches.
Match preview
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Stevenage beat Mansfield Town 1-0 on Saturday thanks to Jake Young's 32nd-minute free kick, though they were fortunate to not concede considering Mansfield had 12 shots from inside the box, quadruple the figure Stevenage produced.
Manager Alex Revell was delighted with the result and praised his side's performance, saying that his team completely dominated the first half and should have been out of sight by half time.
Revell's team are only three points behind third-placed Wycombe Wanderers, though they are currently averaging fewer points per game this campaign than they managed in 2023-24, a season in which they finished ninth.
The Boro have only scored nine times this season, and while this is the joint second-worst tally in the division, they have only conceded on seven occasions, and this makes them the league's joint second-best defensive side.
Stevenage have won three of their last four games in the third tier by a scoreline of 1-0 in each victory, and they have kept four clean sheets in their five most recent league fixtures.
The hosts have an excellent home record in recent matches given they have won five of their last six League One games at Lamex Stadium, including winning their last three while keeping three clean sheets.
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Opponents Cambridge come into Tuesday's clash having won for the first time this term when they beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 on Saturday.
Cambridge were surprisingly resolute during their win, keeping a clean sheet for the first time in their last 12 matches in all competitions.
Boss Garry Monk said in the aftermath of the victory that while he felt his players deserved to win, he thought that the fact it took so long to earn a win was bizarre given he believes that his side's performances this term have merited better results.
Monk's team have either lost or failed to progress in 11 of their last 13 fixtures, winning and drawing just once, and they have been defeated 11 times in their last 16 games in the third tier.
Cambridge have also lost seven of their most recent eight away matches in League One, and they have lost 11 of their last 13 fixtures on the road in the division.
Team News
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Stevenage have somewhat of an injury crisis at centre-back, with Dan Sweeney, Charlie Goode and Nathan Thompson likely to miss out on Tuesday.
Given the lack of available defenders, the hosts could name an unchanged back four from their win against Mansfield, so expect Kane Smith, Luther James-Wildin, Carl Piergianni and Lewis Freestone to feature.
Louis Thompson and Eli King could start in a double pivot behind attacking midfielder Daniel Phillips and Jamie Reid.
Meanwhile, the visitors will likely be unable to select Shayne Lavery, Gary Gardner and Josh Stokes, though the former two have returned to light training.
Monk could name a similar starting XI to the side that beat Wigan, with centre-backs Jubril Okedina, Michael Morrison and Danny Andrew likely to retain their place in the team.
Korey Smith and Paul Digby are almost certain to start together in midfield, while Ryan Loft, Dan N'Lundulu and Elias Kachunga may start in the forward line.
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Mahoney; Smith, James-Wildin, Piergianni, Freestone; Thompson, King; Roberts, Phillips, Young; Reid
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Reyes; Okedina, Morrison, Andrew; Bennett, Digby, Smith, Brophy; Kachunga, Loft, N'Lundulu
We say: Stevenage 1-0 Cambridge United
Although Cambridge managed to pick up their first win of the season, they have struggled for results away from home, and it is difficult to see them winning two consecutive games.
Additionally, Stevenage have an excellent defensive record, and if they opened the scoring on Tuesday, it would not be surprising if they were to hold onto the lead.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
