MX23RW : Thursday, October 3 00:50:32| >> :600:238477:238477:
[monks data]
Cambridge United
League One | Gameweek 40
Apr 7, 2023 at 3pm UK
Abbey Stadium
Fleetwood Town

Cambridge
2 - 1
Fleetwood

Lankester (3'), Smith (57' pen.)
Smith (69'), Mitov (90+4'), McGrandles (90+2'), Morrison (90+6')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Quitirna (82')
Brown (0'), Rooney (68'), Wiredu (69'), Earl (74'), Marriott (90+6')

Preview: Cambridge United vs. Fleetwood Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's League One clash between Cambridge United and Fleetwood Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Cambridge United's battle to escape the League One relegation zone will continue on Friday afternoon when they welcome Fleetwood Town to Cambridgeshire.

The home side are currently 23rd in the table, five points from the safety of 20th position, while Fleetwood occupy 13th, boasting 50 points from their 39 league games this term.


Match preview

Cambridge United coach Mark Bonner on January 8, 2022© Reuters

Cambridge earned promotion from League Two in 2020-21 and finished 16th in the third tier last term, but they are currently in a relegation scrap heading towards the final straight.

Mark Bonner's side have picked up 33 points from their 38 league games this season, which has left them in 23rd position, five points from 20th-placed Oxford United on the same number of matches.

Cambridge will enter this match off the back of a morale-boosting win over Port Vale on Saturday, which was actually their first success in the league since the middle of February.

Bonner's team took the lead last time out through Sam Smith, before Lloyd Jones added a second shortly after, with the strugglers recording a 2-0 victory in Staffordshire.

Cambridge will now be bidding to build on that success, but they have only managed six home league victories this season, and Fleetwood have been relatively strong on their travels, claiming 25 points from 19 matches.

Fleetwood Town's Cian Hayes is shown a red card by referee Dean Whitestone on March 1, 2023© Reuters

Fleetwood have been present in the third tier of English football since 2014, twice losing in the semi-finals of the playoffs during that period, but they were 20th last term, only surviving relegation on goal difference.

As a result, it has been an improved campaign for the Cods, who have picked up 50 points from their 39 league matches to sit comfortably in the middle of the table.

Scott Brown's side are 13th, 15 points clear of the bottom three, while they are 14 off the playoffs, so it does appear almost certain that the club will again play League One football next term.

Fleetwood are now unbeaten in their last four in the league, winning two of their last three in the process, although they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Exeter City on Saturday.

The Fishermen were 1-0 winners over Cambridge when the two sides locked horns for the reverse match on February 21, with Shaun Rooney's late goal proving to be the difference between the teams.

Cambridge United League One form:

Fleetwood Town League One form:


Team News

Cambridge United's Harvey Knibbs is fouled by Newcastle United's Matt Ritchie on January 8, 2022© Reuters

Harvey Knibbs impressed off the bench in Cambridge's win over Port Vale at the weekend, so the 23-year-old could now come into the starting XI for Friday's contest.

Head coach Bonner will need to assess the fitness of his players ahead of this match, but there are no fresh concerns at this stage, so it would not be a surprise to see largely the same side here.

Smith notched his seventh league goal of the campaign in Saturday's success, and the 25-year-old should retain his spot in the final third of the field for the home team.

As for Fleetwood, head coach Brown is likely to make a couple of changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Exeter last time out.

Corrie Ndaba and Daniel Batty could come into the starting side, but there will again be spots in the final third of the field for Jack Marriott and Jayden Stockley.

Marriott netted a brace in the draw with Exeter, while Stockley has scored twice in the league since arriving from Charlton Athletic at the start of February.

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Mannion; R Bennett, L Bennett, Jones, Dunk; McGrandles, Digby; Brophy, Lankester, Knibbs; Smith

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Holgate, Sarpong-Wiredu, Earl; Rooney, Ndaba, Warrington, Vela, Batty; Marriott, Stockley


SM words green background

We say: Cambridge United 1-1 Fleetwood Town

Two of the last three meetings between these two sides have finished in draws, and we are predicting another stalemate on Friday afternoon. Cambridge were excellent against Port Vale last time out and will fancy their chances of avoiding defeat in front of their own supporters here.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


ID:510660:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect10390:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher on February 5, 2022
Read Next:
Saturday's League One predictions including Plymouth vs. Forest Green
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham8710178922
2Wrexham9522147717
3Mansfield TownMansfield85211511417
4Stockport CountyStockport8431137615
5Lincoln CityLincoln8431137615
6Blackpool94321714315
7Barnsley94321513215
8Wycombe WanderersWycombe84221613314
9Stevenage942375214
10Exeter CityExeter841396313
11Bolton WanderersBolton84131313013
12Reading84131212013
13Charlton AthleticCharlton941499013
14Wigan AthleticWigan933395412
15Huddersfield TownHuddersfield94051211112
16Peterborough UnitedPeterborough93241417-311
17Rotherham UnitedRotherham9243710-310
18Bristol Rovers93151015-510
19Northampton TownNorthampton82241013-38
20Leyton Orient9225912-38
21Crawley TownCrawley8215512-77
22Burton Albion8044916-74
23Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury9117615-94
24Cambridge UnitedCambridge8017616-101


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!