Cambridge United and Walsall, both pushing hard for promotion from League Two, are set to meet on New Year’s Day.
The home side sits eighth with 38 points, just missing out on the playoff spots due to goal difference, while Walsall are up third with 43 points from 23 games.
Match preview
Cambridge United dropped down from League One after four seasons last year, and this season they’re aiming to bounce straight back up.
Neil Harris took over in February 2025 and has had a solid start to the 2025-26 campaign – winning 10, drawing eight, and losing only five of their 23 league matches so far, which puts them eighth with 38 points.
The U’s have been strong recently in League Two too, going unbeaten in their last nine league games with four wins and five draws during that stretch.
Since the five teams above them all slipped up last time out, Cambridge have caught up with Chesterfield in seventh place on points and narrowed the gap to third-place Walsall to just five points.
Harris will be hoping his team can keep this good run going into the new year by grabbing all three points and moving into a playoff spot closer to Walsall.
Confidence is high at Cambridge thanks to their recent form as well as the fact that Walsall’s eight-game unbeaten streak ended badly earlier this week.
The Saddlers lost 2-1 at Oldham Athletic after conceding a late winner in the 96th minute from Kian Harratt.
This defeat is only their sixth loss this season; they’ve also collected 13 wins and four draws for a total of 43 points which keeps them third halfway through the season.
Mat Sadler took charge in April 2023 and nearly got Walsall promoted last season when they led by fifteen points over third place at January’s end-but then went winless for thirteen games and slipped into playoffs right at the end.
They lost the playoff final 1-0 against Wimbledon, so Sadler and his squad are keen to make things right this time around by securing promotion back to League One.
The first half of this campaign looks promising since Walsall remain inside automatic promotion places; avoiding another slump is key if they want success now.
Sadler will want an instant bounce-back after losing earlier this week but history isn’t on their side here – they haven’t beaten Cambridge in any of their last three meetings.
Cambridge United League Two form:
Cambridge United form (all competitions):
Walsall League Two form:
Walsall form (all competitions):
Team News
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Cambridge United came away with a narrow win over Chesterfield earlier this week extending their unbeaten streak to nine games which might mean Harris sticks with the same starting lineup. Shane Mc Loughlin scored that game’s winner; he should stay alongside Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and George Hoddle in midfield. Sadler may shake things up following that recent defeat ending their unbeaten run across competitions. Priestley Farquharson got injured during that match so Rico Browne could step in while Aaron Pressley or Charlie Lakin might get starts too. Cambridge United possible starting lineup: Eastwood; Bennett, Jobe, Watts, Gibbons; Brophy, Mc Loughlin, Hoddle, Mpanzu, Kaikai; Appere Walsall possible starting lineup: Roberts; Browne, Flint, Weir; Barrett, Lakin, Comley, Clarke, Harper; Kanu, Pressley
Our prediction: Cambridge United 2-1 Walsall
Cambridge have been tough at home lately-they’ve lost only once there all season-and they’re riding a nice unbeaten streak overall plus have won each of their last three clashes against Walsall. We’re backing Cambridge here. For detailed stats about probable scores or outcomes for this game please click here.
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