Match preview: U – Port Vale – News

Cambridge United are aiming to immediately return to winning ways in Sky Bet League One this weekend when Port Vale’s strong starting XI head to Abbey Stadium…

The hosts are looking to add further consistency to their results with a fourth win in five on home soil to return to the top echelons of the division. In their own way, this is an equally resurgent Valiants side who are level on points at the top of the table.

How to watch

Quickly approaching a full crowd, hurry to secure your seat for Saturday’s meeting, which begins at 3:00 p.m.

The Newmarket Road End Main and Main Stands have sold out and seats are now only available in the Intelligent Membrane Habbin Stands. North Hubbin has approximately less than 100 tickets left, while South Hubbin currently still has a decent number of seats yet to be snapped up.

Be sure to turn on notifications for the ticket office. Twitter account for all the latest sales related updates.

Oppositional focus

Following their formation in 1876, Vale oscillated between the Football League and the Midland League after a sticky patch almost forced them into oblivion. Over time, they continued to add to their impressive trophy list, which now includes four third-tier trophies, six fourth-tier trophies and two EFL trophies, won in 1993 and 2001. There was a yo-yo between the two divisions, but the appointment of Darrell Clarke was an inspiration as he led the team to play-off triumph at the fifth attempt. Now under the tutelage of Andy Crosby, there is good spirit at the well-run club and they are keen to continue defying the odds.

Adopting a 3-4-2-1 formation, the Valiants’ setup is impeccable, with every member of the squad crucial to the system. Connor Ripley is a superb shot stopper and penalty stopper at this level, while long-time club legend Nathan Smith is a cog in the defense alongside Alex Iacovitti, Lewis Cass and most recently Crystal Palace loanee Kofi Ballmer. Creative spark Conor Grant and Mitchell Clarke occupy the flanks, while youngster Ollie Arblaster forms a strong partnership with Fanso Ojo in the centre. Ben Garrity is used further in attack along with Tottenham Hotspur’s Alfie Devine, who supplies and works in partnership with batting ram James Wilson.

In contrast to their recent form, the Valiants had the world on their shoulders back in the first round when they were demolished 7-0 at Barnsley. It fueled them for a six-game unbeaten run as they impressively defeated Reading 1-0 and stumped fellow newcomers Blackpool. A topsy-turvy day in London ended with a 2-3 win at Charlton Athletic before they continued their exploits with second-half triumphs over Carlisle United, Oxford United and Northampton Town to extend their winning run to four games . This was abandoned in midweek as Burton Albion returned home with a 2–3 success. Despite this, they can boast 3^district position – one of the best in the division – and are desperate to climb to the top at 17:00, although no team has done more than them in League One.

Form Guides

Cambridge United: VLVLL

Port Vale: WWWWL

United’s approach

Determined to match their promising levels of performance and some consistency in their results, United will be looking to bounce back from a narrow 2-1 defeat to recently relegated Wigan Athletic last time out.

Despite posing a threat and having some clear-cut chances, the Men in Amber had to contend with heavy Latics pressure throughout the 90 minutes. Moments after the hosts broke the deadlock thanks to a Stephen Humphreys curler, Telo Aasgaard scored with a close-range strike – a shot that knocked the stuffing out of the U’s. Although Fejiri Okenabirye restored parity from the penalty spot, his side were unable to snatch any of the spoils at the death after a barrage of pressure.

Disappointed but ultimately encouraged by the bid, Mark Bonner said: “I was really pleased with the way we started both halves and the way we finished, chasing the game… We did really well, we created chances but we were too scrappy with them.” .

This was another game in which the U team were extremely competitive and on a different day might have earned their share of the spoils. Seated content at 11^th, and are just one point away from the playoffs: the fact they’ve scored in every game but one means they can match anyone. The challenge now is to secure a fourth home win from five, which will give them confidence that they can continue and end their six-game winning-loss streak.

Quick Quotes

Bonner on the Valiants: “They’re a very, very good team, without a doubt, playing a style that’s a little different from what they’ve been doing… I’ve been very impressed with them.”

Bonner on the goalscoring: “We know we have seven or eight attacking players who can certainly contribute to goals. We have midfielders who can score – we’ve seen that – and I think we can be a threat in set-piece situations. I think this team has a lot of goals.”

Bonner on the CB5 advantage: “Obviously this is a place where we want to make it difficult for teams to get into – I think the atmosphere helps us a lot. We’ve played some really good games at home and we want to do that again this weekend.”

Team news

In his latest pre-match presser, the head coach confirmed that Jack Stevens is expected to return to training next week, but he remains hopeful that Brandon Haunstrup, Jordan Cousins ​​and Saiku Janneh will return for the busy early October schedule. In another match, Harrison Dunk is ruled out with a knee injury.

Simultaneously

Cambridge United wins: 10

Port Vale wins: 12

Draws: 2

Down memory lane

If you had to pinpoint the moment when the U’s fortunes changed in their great attempt to save themselves at the end of last season, many would recall April’s clash at Burslem, when the visitors returned home with a morale-boosting 2-0 triumph.

In one of their best performances of the 2022/23 season, Bonner’s men enjoyed an impressive away record and a six-game winless run thanks to quick strikes from Sam Smith and Lloyd Jones in the second half.

More than pleased with the performance, the head coach praised: “I am absolutely delighted with the level of performance and the result. It breathes a little life and confidence into everyone, which we so desperately need.”

It ensured three points apiece for the season after Vale secured a 1-0 win in the October match – their only win over United in their previous four meetings after they conceded the decisive double in their title-winning 2020/21 season. Remarkably, both teams have gotten on the scoresheet once in 11 times, with no previous 15 draws going back to August 1993.

Officials

Judges: Christopher Pollard

Assistant referee: Daniel Bonniwell

Assistant referee: David Harrison

Fourth judge: Daniel Cook