Cambridge United could see their four-year run in League One come to an end if they lose at home to Leyton Orient this Easter Monday at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.
Neil Harris’s squad will drop down a division with a defeat if other results don’t go their way, while the visitors are fighting hard in a tight battle for the last playoff spot.
Match preview
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It’s unclear if it’s too late for Cambridge, but there’s still some fight left in Harris’s team, as shown by their impressive win over playoff hopefuls Huddersfield Town on Good Friday.
The Terriers’ Josh Koroma looked like he’d snatched a point by equalizing with just one minute left of regular time after James Brophy gave Cambridge the lead, but then substitute Sullay Kaikai scored in injury time thanks to an assist from Brophy, securing all three points for the U’s.
With two wins from their last three games and just one loss in six League One matches, Cambridge – who only needed two shots on target to score twice on Friday – still have a mathematical chance to escape relegation. However, they’re five points behind Burton Albion in 20th place, so their fate isn’t fully under their control.
If Cambridge loses and Burton – who have a game in hand – win on Easter Monday, then Cambridge will be heading down to League Two next season. At least the U’s can take some comfort knowing that Burton face champions Birmingham City next.
The Amber Army won’t be cheered up by their side’s five-match winless streak at home or the fact that they’ve kept just one clean sheet in 15 league games at Cledara Abbey Stadium – even though that shutout came against another playoff contender, Stockport County.
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Leyton Orient aren’t here to give any freebies either. Richie Wellens’s squad is wrapped up in an exciting five-team battle for that final top-six spot and has found its scoring touch right when it counts most.
After wins of 3-2 against Mansfield Town and 3-1 over Crawley Town recently, Leyton Orient were involved in a thrilling seven-goal game against Barnsley on Good Friday. They managed an incredible comeback from being 2-0 and later 3-1 down to eventually win 4-3 at home.
Charlie Kelman hit his 20th league goal of the season on April 18, but it was Leyton Orient’s defenders who really shone as Ethan Galbraith, Sean Clare and Omar Beckles helped turn things around quickly during those six frantic minutes when Orient went from trailing 3-1 to leading 4-3.
Sitting sixth now, Leyton Orient edge Reading on goal difference and lead Bolton Wanderers by three points. But Huddersfield and Blackpool are still very much part of this race too. So keeping up this excellent scoring run is key for Wellens’s men as they approach the season’s final stretch.
Leyton Orient have also been solid against Cambridge lately; they’ve won each of their last three meetings with identical 2-0 scores. Plus, it’s been since April 2017 that Leyton haven’t scored against these East Anglian rivals.
Cambridge United League One form:
Leyton Orient League One form:
Team News
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No new injury worries popped up for Harris’s side after beating Huddersfield on Good Friday. However, experienced left-back Scott Malone missed out due to a recent hip problem and probably won’t play again on Monday either.
Malone remains sidelined along with Shayne Lavery who has been out long-term with a hamstring issue. On the plus side Paul Digby returned to midfield action against Huddersfield following his own absence while Nathan Bishop and Jubril Okedina are close to coming back as well.
The hosts – like all EFL teams – will check every player carefully given how tight the Easter schedule is. Most starters from Friday should keep their places though except possibly Kaikai replacing Elias Kachunga out wide on the right wing due to his heroics last match.
Leyton Orient boss Wellens might need to make changes too because Dan Agyei was taken off injured during second half action versus Barnsley. His exact condition is unknown yet but Dilan Markanday or Azeem Abdulai could step up if needed. The visitors’ only other concern is backup goalkeeper Sam Howes who mostly plays second fiddle anyway behind Tottenham loanee Josh Keeley.
Tottenham’s Jamie Donley impressed again with two assists during that crazy Barnsley game while Wellens made a smart halftime switch swapping captain Darren Pratley for Sean Clare – which paid off big time-so we might see him start this time alongside Galbraith moving into midfield instead of Pratley stepping aside early here.
Cambridge United possible starting lineup: Stevens; Bennett, Morrison, Watts, Gibbons; Digby, Stevenson; Kaikai, Stokes, Brophy; Ballard
Leyton Orient possible starting lineup: Keeley; Clare, Beckles, Edmonds-Green, Currie; Brown, Galbraith; Williams, Donley, Markanday; Kelman
Our Prediction: Cambridge United 1-3 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient tends to fight fire with fire upfront thanks largely to talents like Donley and Kelman-the division’s top scorer-in attack zones where they really shine.
This strong offensive style makes us favor Wellens’s team continuing its hot streak over struggling home side Cambridge who’ve shown grit recently but remain shaky at home overall. Still though, the U’s can keep hope alive if Birmingham does what it needs versus Burton while Bristol Rovers (21st) fail against Stevenage next door.
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