City will return to Sincil Bank on the weekend to face struggling Cambridge United, hoping to gain a third win in 2025.
Cambridge United Form
Cambridge United, currently sitting at the bottom of the League One table, haven’t had the greatest of seasons to date. The U’s have been flirting with relegation over the last few years, steering clear of the bottom four by only six points last term. Despite being towards the foot of the table for most of the season, Garry Monk has stayed in charge at the Abbey, with him being the only constant in troubled times for United.
The U’s kicked off their 24/25 campaign with a 2-0 defeat away at Stockport, which was the beginning of a nine-game winless streak for Cambridge. Their dire early season form saw them emerge as relegation candidates, as their campaign was beginning to look unsalvageable. However, following a 2-0 win at home to Wigan Athletic, Cambridge United were starting to show green shoots of form. Within the U’s next eight matches, they only lost twice, and picked up four wins along the way.
United’s resurgence in the league saw them shoot up to 21st position, closing the gap to safety to two points. The U’s good run of form did not continue though, as after a 2-2 draw at Wrexham, Cambridge lost five on the bounce.
Recently, Cambridge have picked up five points from four games, which isn’t a terrible return for bottom of the league. A 2-2 draw at the Toughsheet against Bolton was followed by an impressive 3-2 win against Mansfield, and once again the U’s edged towards safety. Unfortunately for United though, Burton Albion have gone on a five game unbeaten streak and Shrewsbury have picked up six points from twelve, so despite improving results, they still are rooted to the bottom of the table on 22 points.
Cambridge United Tactics
Setting up in a 3-4-3 formation, The U’s, similarly to the Imps, tend to hit long balls up towards their forwards. Ryan Loft and former Imp Dan Nlundulu are the usual target men, with Shane Lavery often in and around the team to support them. Elias Kachunga and Josh Stokes provide width in the team, with the pair chipping in with nine goals this season.
Cambridge United’s biggest source of goals this season have come from set pieces, with the club netting 11 as a result of a dead ball movement. The U’s do create a good amount of goalscoring opportunities, producing a xG of 32.4 this season, which ranks 14th in the League One table, two places above Lincoln.
Credit Graham Burrell
Match Referee
REFEREE : Steven Copeland
Linesmen: Matthew Sowerby and Bradley Hall
Fourth Official: Seb Stockbridge
This weekend’s referee is new to the League One scene, having never officiated in the third tier before. Copeland has also never overseen a Lincoln game, but he was the fourth official when we drew 1-1 with Carlisle United at Sincil Bank last year. Over the last 12 months, Copeland has refereed 23 games, including 3 League Two games and 11 National League games. Across these 23 matches, he has handed out 11 yellow cards and no red cards.
Previous Meetings
City have had Cambridge United’s number on recent occasions, winning, and not conceding in all of our last three meetings. Since our last loss in 2022 at the Abbey, City have not let in a goal against the U’s in over 360 minutes. Our last encounter at Sincil Bank was an enjoyable one for the Imps, thrashing Garry Monk’s 6-0.
Earlier on in the season, Lincoln got one over Cambridge United, beating the U’s 2-0 at the Abbey courtesy of Freddie Draper and Bailey Cadamarteri.
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