Match Preview: Blackpool vs U's

5 April 2024

In-form Cambridge United aim to keep the momentum brewing in Sky Bet League One this weekend as they make the trip to the seaside to take on Blackpool at Bloomfield Road…

Buoyed with confidence and fresh from a scintillating Easter period, the aim for the U’s is to make it three successive league victories for the first time this campaign and stretch their already-healthy six-point gap from the bottom four. As for the hosts - who are nine unbeaten at home - they’re out to gain ground on the play-off pack by securing a first win in four.

How to Watch

So far, an impressive set of over 700 U’s fans have secured their ticket to back the U’s up in Lancashire for Saturday’s clash, which begins at 3pm. Sales are available on the day for those who would like to attend.

If you're not travelling to the game, fans in the UK can listen to full match commentary with iFollow or on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, whilst overseas supporters can stream the game live with an iFollow Video Match Pass.

Opposition Focus

Formed back in 1887, the Tangerines have resided at Bloomfield Road since 1901, five years after their application to join the Football League was successful. The 1950s was undoubtedly the golden period for the Lancashire outfit, who were a force in English football after winning the FA Cup Final at the third attempt in 1953, even claiming a best-ever position three years later as they posted a 2nd place finish in the First Division – prompting Stanley Matthews as the inaugural recipient of the Ballon d’Or. Blackpool dropped out of the top tier both in 1967 and 1971 and descended down the divisions over the years, but famously embarked on a Championship play-off success in 2009/10, but despite a brave fight under Ian Holloway their stay in the Premier League lasted the solitary season. A turgid spell meant that the Seasiders were demoted to League Two six years later, but yet again they’ve built from adversity and will hope their spell here in the third tier is a short and sweet one following last season’s relegation.

Organised in a 3-5-2 setup, the Seasiders are a tricky defensive outfit under Neil Critchley, who likes to create moments from the backline and importantly suffocate in the middle of the park with a plethora of exciting talent. Daniel Grimshaw is indispensable between the sticks and has attained 15 clean sheets in total - he should be joined by Matt Pennington, Oliver Casey and Marvin Ekpiteta, who all complement each other with their range of traits. Energetic wingers Jordan Gabriel and CJ Hamilton are tasked with supplying the forwards, whilst Ollie Norburn, Sonny Carey and the diminutive Karamoko Dembele break down and cause havoc in the final third. Up top, Scottish loanee Kyle Joseph knows the level well now, as does Northern Ireland international Shayne Lavery and Jake Beesley, who is on 11 for the season – they will all need to combine in the absence of top scorer Jordan Rhodes.

A resolute start to the season saw Blackpool win their opening game and draw their following three, keeping an impressive four shutouts in a row. Three victories and three defeats followed, but consistency appeared during October as they embarked on a four-game unbeaten run. It proved to be their best spell of 2023, with the side heading into the new year in a decent place, particularly after losing back-to-back games on just one occasion. 2024 started with three successive triumphs, before it was backed up with recent results against promotion rivals as they lost one from six. However, the play-off push has taken a step back recently, with the side unable to secure three points from their previous three and on top of that have bulged the onion bag just once in their last five. Many have steered clear and capitalised, but the sixth spot remains up for grabs between four sides, with Critchley’s squad sitting in 9th with a six-point gap to bridge during their final five.

Form Guide

Cambridge United: DLLWW

Blackpool: DWLLD

United’s Approach

The international break certainly did wonders for the U’s, who built on a professional 0-2 success at Barnsley by registering a thoroughly-deserved 3-1 win against Wigan Athletic to ramp up the confidence and boost their Sky Bet League One safety prospects.

The inspired Gassan Ahadme led by example as he latched onto two excellent deliveries to hand the hosts a healthy two-goal advantage heading into the hour mark, with Will Mannion’s penalty save in the first half helping to protect the lead. The Latics hit back through Martial Godo’s finish, but a delightful free-kick from Danny Andrew near the death ensured a euphoric Easter.

Delighted by the performance, the Head Coach stated: “Nobody can question the level of character and desire – that’s what you need… I’m delighted for the players because they get questioned after those two games. Have they got the character? Are they fighting for the shirt? They’ve answered that in the last two games and I’m sure the fans appreciate that, but they need to continue it. Six points is good, but we need more.”

United were the only side in the bottom nine to claim maximum points on Monday, so the advantage from the bottom four now reads at six points, which remarkably is the same distance they find themselves from 12th too. With a game in hand also under their belt, the aim is to roar towards the finish line as soon as possible, with the 50-point mark the next aim for the rejuvenated U’s.

Team News

It was confirmed on Thursday that United will be without experienced heads in Michael Morrison and Lyle Taylor for the trip due to a knee problem and groin pain respectively, but a potential return for next weekend is on the cards. As for those with long-term injuries, Jack Stevens, Harrison Dunk, Glenn McConnell and Saikou Janneh are scheduled to be back for the final week of the season.

Head-to-Head

Blackpool Wins: 4

Cambridge United Wins: 4

Draws: 4

Down Memory Lane

U’s fans received an early Christmas present in December’s reverse fixture when ten-man Cambridge battled to a come-from-behind 2-1 success against the Tangerines.

An early spell of pressure from the visitors saw them draw first blood through marksman Rhodes’ header, but the U’s showed desire to turn the game on its head courtesy of Elias Kachunga’s finish and Ahadme’s penalty, before navigating a late dismissal well to return to winning ways.

It was a first success against Blackpool since January 1995, when United claimed a topsy-turvy 2-3 win at Saturday’s venue. Nonetheless, they are now three unbeaten after earning a 1-1 and then 0-0 draw during the 2016/17 League Two campaign. The 13th meeting between the outfits will hopefully prove to be a lucky one for Monk’s men, who will hope to be celebrating by the seaside come 5pm.

Officials

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Assistant Referee: Hristo Karaivanov

Assistant Referee: Danny Jarvis

Fourth Official: Scott Jackson

Match Reports

Report: Blackpool 1-0 Cambridge United

6 April 2024

Cambridge United’s two-game winning streak in Sky Bet League One came to an end as Blackpool gained a 1-0 victory at Bloomfield Road…

Following a bright introduction from the hosts, the U’s were pegged back courtesy of Sonny Carey’s fine strike on the half an hour mark. Despite an improved showing after the break, the points were unable to at least be shared as Garry Monk’s men left empty-handed.

Arriving to the seaside in scintillating form following an Easter schedule which saw them creep closer to safety thanks to back-to-back wins, the U’s were buoyed and determined to stretch their already-healthy six-point gap from the bottom four. As for the hosts - who were nine unbeaten at home – they were out to gain ground on the play-off pack by securing a first win in four.

Fresh from the professional victory over Wigan Athletic on Monday, the Head Coach felt there was no need to change a winning formula as he named an unchanged XI and retained the positive 3-4-2-1 setup.

In what was a fast-paced start to the afternoon, the hosts had a good energy in the final third - particularly thanks to the trickery of Karamoko Dembele and CJ Hamilton – but each time the U’s cleared their lines with a real no-nonsense approach.

Having to contend with testing, windy conditions, it took until the 13th minute for the first real chance of note to occur. Gradually building from the back, the Tangerines went close when Sonny Carey teed up Hayden Coulson down the left, whose venomous delivery into the six-yard box was crucially tapped just past the past and out for a corner by a composed Jordan Cousins.

The nature of having to dig in deep remained in what was a tricky opening half an hour to navigate. Neil Critchley’s side had undeniably been on top, but United remained compact and refused to let anything pass.

The U’s could only ride the wave until the 30th minute when Blackpool drew first blood after Dembele played to the path of Carey from 25 yards, who curled a sweet first-time strike past a diving Mannion.

Unable to respond due to the Tangerines’ tempo, they went close to extending their lead on 42 when Carey lashed against the side netting after striker Jake Beesley found him with space inside the area thanks to a strong flick down.

It was a case of holding out for the break and utilising that time to reassess, with Cambridge yet to test Dan Grimshaw due to being pegged back at the other end of the pitch.

Five minutes into the second half, the U’s – who had previously introduced Zeno Ibsen Rossi – went agonisingly close to the leveller. A free-kick was won deep down the left by James Brophy, who showed great endeavour to drive, with Danny Andrew whipping in with pace and power and finding Gassan Ahadme who latched with his body, but it was cleared on the line.

As the match entered its hour mark, Monk’s men were finding more of the ball in the final third, switching play well and overall developing a sense of control, but again the chances were coming few and far between.

As time died down, the changes were ringed as the likes of Elias Kachunga, Macauley Bonne and Adam May all were introduced to the field – and it was two who combined for a golden opportunity on the 80th minute.

Catching the Seasiders out on the counter, Kachunga linked up with Bonne down the left on the break, who returned the favour to the former from close range who nestled against the post before agonisingly bouncing back into play. This only ramped the atmosphere ramped up from the visiting 800 in the corner of Bloomfield Road.

It was a moment the visitors were made to rue as time ran out in Lancashire, with Blackpool holding out to terminate any chance of a third win on the spin. Although they would return home empty-handed, the U’s advantage was only decreased to five points with five big games still to battle out.

Up next, United return to a what’s poised to be a sold-out Abbey Stadium next Saturday (13th April) as Nathan Jones’ Charlton Athletic are the visitors – be sure to back the boys.

Blackpool: Grimshaw, Pennington, Ekpiteta, Casey, Hamilton, Dembele (Virtue, 86’), Byers, Carey, Coulson (Gabriel, 69’) Beesley (Lavery, 62’), Kouassi (Joseph, 69’)

Subs Not Used: O’Donnell, Connolly, Husband

Goalscorers: Carey (30’)

Bookings:

Cambridge United: Mannion, Jobe, R. Bennett (Ibsen Rossi, 46’), Andrew, L. Bennett, Cousins (Lankester, 89’), Digby (May, 77’), Gibbons, Kaikai (Kachunga, 66’), Brophy (Bonne, 76’), Ahadme

Subs Not Used: Chadwick, Okenabirhie

Goalscorers:

Bookings: R. Bennett, Digby

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Attendance: 10,187