Score predictions - Cambridge home

Despite the fixture pile up of 8 games in just over a month, the break should have done us good as we were clearly looking leggy prior to the Pompey postponement. We welcome Cambridge to Oakwell next, the side we recorded our biggest away victory of the season against. Despite our home record, the bookies have us as overwhelming 6/11 favourites to return to winning ways in this one having won just 1 of our last 4 and none of our last 3 at home. The U's are best priced at 5/1 to leave Oakwell with all 3 points.


Cambridge are in dreadful form on their travels. They've lost the last 4, conceding 13 goals without reply. Whilst 3 of those defeats were against sides in the promotion mix, the 4-0 defeat at Reading last time out is particularly alarming for the side from the Abbey. Victories over Shrewsbury and Carlisle last month are Cambridge's only wins on their travels in their last 20 in all competitions. They've only won 3 away from home all season, meaning they're the second worst travelling side in the division (Carlisle being the worst). This is a mantle they've taken from Cheltenham, who were the second worst away side in the division prior to their point at Oakwell the weekend before last.


Cambridge's home form is even worse at present, meaning they're sleepwalking towards relegation despite being 3 points clear of Port Vale at present. They've lost 6 and drawn 1 of their last 7, and have won 1 (vs Carlisle) of their last 10. They've only scored twice in those last 7 and have netted just 32 times all season.


Our record vs Cambridge is also quite favourable. We're unbeaten in our last 6, winning our last 5 and have kept a clean sheet in our last 4 vs the U's. We beat them twice last season, with an aggregate scoreline of 5-0 despite spending a good proportion of both games with 10 men. In 11 meetings between the 2 sides at Oakwell, the Reds have won 7, drawn 3 and lost just 1. Overall, the Reds have won half of the meetings either home or away and lost just 5 times, with the most recent defeat being at Cambridge in October 91.


One thing Cambridge will welcome is the potential return of their top scorer Gassan Ahadme. The Moroccan, on loan from Ipswich, has netted 7 times in 21 games for the U's, and is described as "a handful". He made his return as a late sub vs Reading last week having been injured since just before Christmas. Obviously one player doesn't make a team, but Cambridge have taken just 12 points in the 15 games he missed, and he was on a run of 5 goals in 4 games prior to his injury. One worth keeping an eye on, as he's scored reasonably regularly at this level throughout his career.


Referee Simon Mather will be the first official we've 3 times this season. He took charge of our 3-0 home win over Shrewsbury in October, and then our 1-1 draw with Charlton in December. Scoring favourably in the Comparatively Competent League Table, he was the ref who awarded us our first penalty at home in well over a year. He last took charge of Cambridge in October 22, when they fell to a 2-0 home defeat to Derby. He's issued 154 yellows and 10 reds in 29 games this season, though has only issued 1 red card since November.


I can't see past a return to winning ways in this one. The break will have done us good, and personally, I didn't see too much wrong in the draw with Cheltenham aside from poor finishing. Cambridge are in abysmal form, and their record at Oakwell isn't great either. Therefore I'm going for 2-0 Reds, with Cosgrove grabbing a first half brace.

 

Another game we’ll make difficult for ourselves but I’m gonna stay positive and say 3-0 Reds.

 

Cheers @Archey also enjoy reading your previews. Yourself and @paul.d certainly put a lot of research into your posts and is always well received.

 

We’re at home so 2-0 Cambridge

 

1-1

 

3-0 and on to Burton

 

4-1

 

Colliers 5 Swots 1

 

Feeling confident for this, but I think we will concede. 3-1, Cole (if selected from start) at the double, Cosgrove the other

 

2-1 as usual.

 

4-1 Reds.

 

3-1 Reds. Reds.

 

3-0 to Reds
Jalo hatrick

 

Disappointing draw

 

1-1.
Cole hattrick.

 

I was reading a Cambridge forum and some are classing a 2-0 defeat as a "victory"

 

Barnsley 1-176 Cambridge

 

Two more clean sheets to add to the small collection. 3-0 and 3-0 again Monday and we’re right in the thick of the fight for top two

 

How little they know about our timid home form! All that stops from now though. Nine points from our remaining home games and a double-figure return from the aways.

 

I fancy us to win this. 2-0.