Plymouth Argyle 15:00 Cambridge United

Becoming a bun fight now at the top of table, so the wins need to keep a coming.
COYG

Cambridge FC view

A key part in Cambridge United’s four-game winning run has been the ability to be hard to break down.

They have only conceded two goals in their last four games in Sky Bet League Two, a vital factor in being unbeaten in February.

Interim head coach Mark Bonner has made the side compact and defensively strong, quick to get up the pitch and the work of the midfield four protects, the defence allowing very little room in behind.

“We’ve often played with quite a lot of bodies centrally in terms of playing a diamond or three in midfield, and we’ve taken a body out of there which means we have to make sure we’re more compact so we’re blocking their passing lines,” said Bonner.

“It’s definitely been a big thing for us to try to make ourselves harder to beat. The longer we go on playing how we want to play, people will throw things at us to try to cause us problems.”
Bradford opted for a change in formation last week, with a No 10 and two out-and-out wingers, but they found similar problems in fashioning chances as the U’s earned a 2-1 win.

Bonner is anticipating a different test again  at Plymouth Argyle.

“We will play against a team this weekend that are highly-possession based, that get real width in their team and get lots of numbers in attacking areas,” he said.

“It’s going to test us like no other game has so far. They will test our compactness and our way of defending, so we will have to make sure we’re ready for it, can adapt in the game and maintain possession for as long as possible so they are on the defending foot as much as we can make it. But we know how tough a task that will be.”

It has not been a case of piling the bodies into the box to defend though, it has been making sure that the structure has been put in place.

The compact nature has therefore stood out, which in turn has made them hard to beat.

“Lots of goals are scored off crosses, lots of goals are scored off set-plays and lots of goals are scored off second-phase attacks, so if you spend the game in your penalty box, inviting crosses and unable to stop them, overloaded in a wide area, you just put your back four under needless pressure,” said Bonner.

“Sometimes it’s not the first move that gets you, it’s just the sustained periods of pressure that can really cause you a problem.”

But, overall, it is matter of making sure that the basics are done properly.

“It’s all well and good saying it’s simple and we’ve just put players in the right positions but, ultimately, wherever you put them, players have got to work with a real intensity, aggression and desire to defend in order for it to work,” said Bonner.

“It’s not me changing the shape of the team, it’s the players being ultimately that committed to make that happen and they’re going to have to do that this weekend.”

Cambridge are on a run of four straight wins which followed a sequence of just one point from six games. The U's occupy 12th place in League Two and have an away record of won five games, drawn five and lost seven.

Lowe View on Cambridge

Ahead  of Argyle’s  clash with Cambridge United at Home Park on Saturday, boss Ryan Lowe was keen to highlight how they could prove tough opposition but insisted the correct preparation will set his side on the right path.

“It’s a big game for us and a game that we feel where we need to make sure we’re right on it because they’re no mugs – they’ve turned a corner recently,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re on it and I’m sure we will be.”

After a draw at Moss Rose against Macclesfield Town on Tuesday, it is often a case of managing the workload in a hectic spell of fixtures.

“We needed a little bit more [at Macclesfield on Tuesday], we asked for that at half-time – and they did it and put bodies on the line, so fair play to them,” said Ryan. “I think, coming away from Macclesfield, when you reflect on it, we were happy with the point.

“We know we can’t put too much into their legs at this stage of the season. Part of their bodies are still recovering from Tuesday, so we’ll minimise any risk by not putting too much into them. We have to make sure that you’re ready for Saturday afternoon. At this stage of the season, there isn’t much you can do with them, it’s just the basic, tactical stuff, such as awareness.

“The lads are fit, they’ve been fit from pre-season right the way to now. It’s just about ticking them over now.”

As a fellow former player just beginning his journey into management, Ryan has huge respect for his opposite number this Saturday, interim head coach at Cambridge Mark Bonner, who has won four games on the trot.

“Mark [Bonner] has done a fantastic job since he has gone in there as Caretaker manager, fair play to him,” said Ryan. “He’s got them playing the right way, they’re the most in-form team – winning four in a row. They’re coming here as a winning side.

“They beat us at their place, where we weren’t quite at our best on that day, they’ll take positives from that, just like we take positives from our wins.

“We wish him [Bonner] all the best after Saturday because he’s another young manager learning his trade. As a young manager myself, I think he should be given the opportunity to take the club going forward because of how well he has done.”

I hope Josh Grant is  back, no news how the injuries is progressing

I going for a hard 1 - nil win

Sorry I was late with this one

i really hope this armed forces game isnt treated as another rememberance sunday

Fancy us today even though Cambridge have been playing well of late and there defence have been quite solid of late ..Iam going 3-1 to us

1-1 light drizzle. Outrageous conditions out there, call it off I say.

Tough game this, i'm going for the draw.

Punchdrunk wrote:

1-1 light drizzle. Outrageous conditions out there, call it off I say.

RegGreen wrote:

Fancy us today even though Cambridge have been playing well of late and there defence have been quite solid of late ..Iam going 3-1 to us

Same here but what do I know?

Tippy tappy shite, stonewall pen for Cambridge ref bottled it.

Sawyer had a shot on target!
Agree about the tippy tappy stuff.
Radio Devon commentary today is absolutely alwful.

Crewe top, city sliding we need to win.

No shots on target FFS Argyle sort it ait.

From what I can hear, Argo need a kick up the arse, Cooper and Hardie on right now Macfazdean and Edwards off - it needs something ffs!

Well that was fookin rubbish. Yet again we could have been in the autos. City lost but to be fair Northampton look like they'll finish strong. Grrrrr.

Disappointing, two points out of a possible six. Hmmmm!

Absolutely terrible, toothless and clueless up front, no creativity in midfield, shaky at the back, unimpressed with Bakinson, luckily Cambridge were uber terrible. On that performance we'll be lucky to make the playoffs. It's the most frustrating brand of football I've seen at HP for many years, trying to pass the ball into the net.....SHOOOOOT FFS!

Tgwu wrote:

DO NOT FORGET FREE BUSES ARE RUNNING TODAY BY TALLY hO

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As if the football wasn't bad enough, a look at "the match day experience" timetable and the Chairman's comments about using "analytics" for player recruitment convinces me Hallett is determined to fully Americanise the Club.

Moneyball here we come!

But can Brad Pitt do a scouse accent for the movie?

I think it says it all, that for all his playmaking Mayor has only scored once this season.

Earwegoagain wrote:

Punchdrunk wrote:

1-1 light drizzle. Outrageous conditions out there, call it off I say.

shes not still banging on about that is she?

That was the most uninspiring, dull, toothless game I've seen all season. Without a doubt.

Literally cant think of anything more to say.

its easy to sum up this game both teams were shit. barely any real attempts at goal both teams cancelled each other out tactics wise which you would have thought ryan would have changed the system a tad second half to see how that went but no more of the same. crossing was woeful, passing was wayward at times, why we keep pumping balls into the box when we have dwarfs up there and not the kind snow white bangs or like that bullied kid in the news who apparently coned everyone  if twitter is to be believed but none the less dwarfs who never get on the end of them, stewards excelled themselves today by pissing off the blocs 3-4 not sure what happend but it was enough to get them upset.

overall this result for the standard of football was just, lowe needs to get a few of the players by the scruff of the neck as many under performed today like on tuesday and we are in the business end of the season we cant afford to slip up. If we miss out on the automatics i cant see this team winning the playoffs. Josh Grant is back at chelsea being assessed and treated for a calf injury hopefully its not serious.

The tippy tappy shite is fine when we win, but its dull as fook if we dont. Needed a quality striker in the jan window but apparently the stats say we dont need one

sufferedsince 68 wrote:

The tippy tappy shite is fine when we win, but its dull as fook if we dont. Needed a quality striker in the jan window but apparently the stats say we dont need one

we got one in Hardie but for whatever reason ryan prefers to keep playing byron moore there when he should be on the wing.