Preview: Cambridge United vs. Accrington Stanley - prediction, team news, lineups

Cambridge United are aiming to get back to winning ways in League One on Saturday, when they welcome 13th-placed Accrington Stanley to the Abbey Stadium.

The hosts are currently on a six-game winless run in all competitions, meaning that they have slipped down to 16th spot, while Accrington are looking to record three back-to-back victories for the first time since the beginning of the campaign.

Match preview

© Reuters

Mark Bonner's side had to come from behind twice last weekend, when they travelled to face Burton Albion, coming away from Staffordshire with a 2-2 draw.

After Cambridge had failed to score in their previous three games across all competitions, Harvey Knibbs and Sam Smith's strikes in that outing will give this weekend's home team more belief in the final third.

The U's last four League One matches have all been played away from home, but prior to that run of fixtures on the road, Cambridge were unbeaten in three matches at the Abbey Stadium, form that they will be looking to return to this Saturday.

In this encounter, Bonner's side will be looking to keep their ninth clean sheet of the campaign, especially taking into consideration Accrington's low goal scoring tally on their travels.

© Reuters

John Coleman's side have only netted 12 goals away from home this season, but they will take confidence from their last two matches at the Wham Stadium, looking to emulate those results this weekend.

Accrington were scheduled to face Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, but that match was postponed late in the day on Wednesday due to a waterlogged pitch.

That means that the Owd Reds' last match came on Saturday, when they secured an emphatic 4-1 win against Crewe Alexandra, thanks to a brace from Ross Sykes and second-half goals from Tommy Leigh and Sean McConville.

A win this weekend would put Coleman's side in the best form that they have been in since the start of the campaign, and could see the team move up into the top half of the table.

Saturday's visitors came out on top in the reverse fixture back in gameweek two of the season, with Matt Butcher and Harry Pell securing a 2-1 victory for Accrington.

Team News

© Reuters

Cambridge defender Jack Iredale has not featured for the side since the beginning of this month, and he will remain sidelined due to injury, likely to sit out of the majority of the rest of the season.

Sam Sherring, who is on loan from Bournemouth, has come into the backline in Iredale's absence, and the former will continue to partner fellow 21-year-old Jubril Okedina in the heart of defence.

The hosts will set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Smith continuing to lead the line in the absence of top goalscorer Joe Ironside, who has not played since the middle of January due to injury.

Accrington striker Colby Bishop returned to the starting lineup last time out, and he is expected to continue in the front three alongside Korede Adedoyin and McConville, who provided a hat-trick of assists to add to his goal against Crewe.

Centre-back Sykes also netted twice last weekend, but his defensive roles this weekend are likely to be just as important being away from home, and he will partner Michael Nottingham in the middle of the back four, with the latter adding a lot of experience to the side.

Across the last two matches, there have been five different scorers for Accrington, showing that they have attacking threat from all over the pitch, with midfielders Leigh and Ethan Hamilton also getting themselves on the scoresheet recently.

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Mitov; Dunk, Sherring, Okedina, Williams; May, Digby; Brophy, Hoolahan, Knibbs; Smith

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Savin; Amankwah, Nottingham, Sykes, Clark; Hamilton, Butcher, Leigh; McConville, Bishop, Adedoyin

We say: Cambridge United 1-0 Accrington Stanley

After a run of difficult results away from home, Cambridge are being backed to return to winnings ways this weekend and continue with their fine form on home soil in League One.

Accrington have had two good results on the bounce, but they have not won on the road since the end of November, albeit they have played the majority of their matches on home soil since then, still suggesting that the advantage is with the hosts this weekend.

Previews by email