Cambridge United will be looking to reduce the gap to safety in the Sky Bet League One table by making it three unbeaten at the Cledara Abbey Stadium this weekend when Exeter City make the long journey…
How to Watch
Tickets are selling fast for Saturday’s encounter in CB5, with the televised match kicking off at the earlier time of 12:30pm.
Buy your tickets online at cufctickets.com, over the phone by calling 01223 566500 (option 1) or by visiting the Ticket Office. All prices increase by £2 when buying in-person on the day.
Fans in the UK who are unable to attend can get behind the team from the comfort of their own home, with the action being shown live on Sky Sports+. Elsewhere, overseas supporters can also stream the game live on CUFC TV.
Opposition Focus
Starting out in 1901 as St Sidwell’s United, the Grecians earned their Football League bow in 1920 following an invitation to join and have not looked back. A stable outfit fluctuating between the Third and Fourth Division throughout the decades, they found themselves in the Conference Premier at the start of the millennium, but successive promotions between 2008 to 2009 saw them rise to the third tier. Most recently, they were very much part of the League Two furniture, but their 10th attempt paid dividends when Matt Taylor put things right via the play-offs in 2021/22. Respectable rankings of 14th and 13th have seen City comfortably avoid the drop, and with the ambitious Gary Caldwell at the helm, who has helped strengthen and gain momentum – particularly with their recent Emirates FA Cup run – the task is to preserve their status once more.
A recent sticky patch means that Exeter make the mammoth trek determined to return to winning ways, with the side looming in 18th with a five-point gap from the bottom four. After losing three of their first five fixtures in 2024/25, they found their feet by registering 13 points from a possible 15 heading into October to bolster momentum. One victory from nine followed, with an improved Christmas showing as they dispatched Burton Albion and Bristol Rovers, but that’s proven to be their last win as the Grecians are in the middle of an eight-match winless run - where they’ve shipped 13 in their previous three.
Caldwell will be determined to rekindle the defensive solidity from the first half of the season but should retain his 3-4-2-1 shape. Loan goalkeeper Joe Whitworth has helped himself to nine clean sheets and has a promising future between the sticks, whilst regular names at the back include Jack McMillan, Pierce Sweeney and new recruits Angus MacDonald and Ed Turns. Snatched up by Gateshead in the summer, Edward Francis has been integral in the middle of the park, with 17-year-old Jake Richards impressing and Ryan Woods linking up well with wide options Ilmari Niskanen and Vincent Harper. Fan favourite Demetri Mitchell and the returning Ryan Trevitt are exciting on the ball and will be out to supply lone striker Josh Magennis – a Northern Ireland international full of confidence after bagging a brace against Nottingham Forest in their midweek penalty defeat.
Form Guide
- 21/01/2025 – Peterborough United 1-1 Exeter City – Sky Bet League One
- 25/01/2025 – Exeter City 1-3 Blackpool – Sky Bet League One
- 28/01/2025 – Exeter City 2-6 Leyton Orient – Sky Bet League One
- 01/02/2025 – Stevenage 4-1 Exeter City – Sky Bet League One
- 11/02/2025 – Exeter City 2-2 Nottingham Forest (2-4p) – Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
The Amber Angle
A testing night at St Andrew’s meant the U’s were unable to frustrate league leaders Birmingham City in midweek, who cruised to a comprehensive 4-0 triumph.
Up against it from the get-go, a penalty mid-way through the first half from Jay Stansfield opened the floodgates for the hosts, with an own goal and a Kieran Dowell strike securing a healthy lead going into the break. One-way traffic continued, with Nathan Bishop saving Stansfield’s second attempt from the spot, but substitute Luke Harris sealed the damage late on to show a real gulf between the sides.
Assessing a tough evening, Garry Monk stated: “I’ve said to the boys this game tonight won’t define the outcome of the season. I said at half-time it was important to see us getting amongst it, causing some problems, being more physical and showing less respect. It was important to show all of that and then take that into the game at the weekend.”
Stressing the importance of utilising home advantage and taking points from those who are also in the dogfight, the Head Coach said: “What will define our season will be these home games coming up – all of them. And then it will be the games like Crawley away, Burton away and Shrewsbury away, that’s what’s going to dictate the season.”
Form Guide
- 25/01/2025 – Cambridge United 3-2 Mansfield Town – Sky Bet League One
- 28/01/2025 – Rotherham United 2-1 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 01/02/2025 – Cambridge United 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers – Sky Bet League One
- 08/02/2025 – Lincoln City 1-1 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
- 11/02/2025 – Birmingham City 4-0 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
Head-to-Head
- Cambridge United Wins: 32
- Exeter City Wins: 27
- Draws: 14
Last Time We Met
Saturday 5th October 2024 – Exeter City 1-0 Cambridge United – Sky Bet League One
The sides last pitted their wits back in early October – just prior to the international break – which saw United stretch their winless run to the campaign to nine matches as Ryan Woods’ well-struck attempt in the first half helped the Grecians edge out a slender 1-0 victory, who needed to dig in to resist an improved showing after the break from the travellers. The line-up on that afternoon: Reyes, Okedina, Morrison, Andrew, Bennett, Digby, Smith, Gibbons, Kachunga, Loft, Nlundulu.
Officials
- Referee: Carl Brook
- Assistant Referee: Damith Bandara
- Assistant Referee: Jonathon Block
- Fourth Official: Paul Howard