Cambridge United play host to Northampton Town on Saturday afternoon knowing that only a win will do as they bid to avoid relegation.
At a time when the home side sit 12 points adrift of safety in the League One table, Northampton are 19th and looking to pull further clear of the drop zone.
Match preview
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On the back of Neil Harris‘s return, Cambridge supporters would have felt optimistic that a sustained survival bid could be put together.
Despite winning his first two matches at the helm, Harris has witnessed Cambridge accumulate just one point from their following five encounters.
That came in their last fixture at Barnsley, the home side scoring a last-gasp equaliser to deny Cambridge two points that would have kick-started their push for 20th spot.
Instead, Cambridge now have just eight matches to make up a 12-point deficit, it clear that only victories will do in the short term to put the above them under any kind of pressure.
Although Cambridge have been a far tighter defensive unit under Harris with just six goals being conceded in seven games, you have to go back to January 25 for the last time that they netted more than twice in a match.
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Meanwhile, a fellow recently-appointed manager in Kevin Nolan is currently delivering at Northampton in what is his first senior job in over six years.
Five wins and six draws have come from his 17 matches to move the Cobblers six points clear of the relegation zone, albeit having suffered defeat last time out.
Blackpool ran out comfortable 2-0 victors at the Sixfields Stadium to end Northampton’s four-game unbeaten streak in the third tier.
Northampton had previously held leaders Birmingham City to a 1-1 draw, highlighting the progress that they have made under Nolan, and that particularly rings true on their travels with three wins coming from their last six away contests.
Team News
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Barring any injury issues, Harris may see no reason to tinker with a Cambridge XI that almost beat Barnsley at Oakwell last time out.
The versatile James Brophy netted his first goal of the campaign from the left flank, young loanee Dom Ballard chipping in with the assist as he continues to get the nod in attack.
Sullay Kaikai and Dan Nlundulu are alternatives to come into the final third.
Nolan made two changes to his backline at half time against Blackpool, Luke Mbete and Timothy Eyoma being introduced to the defensive three.
Providing that he does not over-react to that defeat, that could prove to be the only two alterations with continuity likely to be his preference, key man Cameron McGeehan expected to remain on the right side of an attacking three.
Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Bishop; Gibbons, Morrison, Watts, Malone; Stevenson, Digby; Stokes, Kachunga, Brophy; Ballard
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Burge; Mbete, Dyche, Eyoma; Hoskins, Perry, Taylor, Pinnock; McGeehan, Costelloe, Roberts
We say: Cambridge United 1-1 Northampton Town
There will be an interesting dynamic to this contest, Cambridge needing to throw caution to the wind to give themselves any chance of staying up. However, we feel that a more conservative approach from the visitors will lead to a low-scoring share of the spoils.
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