Cambridge United face Northampton Town at Abbey Stadium on Tuesday night in an EFL Trophy Group South fixture. Kick-off is at 19:00 UK time as the U's look to build on a strong start to the season.
Neil Harris's side are sixth in League One with 13 points from eight games. They are unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions. That run includes a 4-1 victory over Gillingham in the EFL Trophy last month. The team drew 1-1 with AFC Wimbledon in their most recent league outing.
Recent form and squad
Cambridge United's recent results show a resilient side. After the Wimbledon draw, they beat Gillingham 4-1 in this competition. Before that came a 1-1 draw at Oxford United, a 2-1 home win over Reading, and a 2-2 draw at Burton Albion. The starting lineup from the Wimbledon game featured a 3-4-2-1 shape with Jack Eastwood in goal and Zak Bradshaw among the scorers. The squad is expected to see rotation for this cup tie, with several players pushing for inclusion after recent performances.
Opponent's record
Northampton Town arrive with a mixed bag of results. They lost 2-0 at Shrewsbury Town in their last match. Prior to that they recorded a 1-0 home win over Newport County and draws with Crawley Town and Gillingham. Their last starting eleven used a 4-4-2 formation. Manager Jon Brady is also likely to rotate his squad, with the EFL Trophy providing an opportunity for fringe players to stake a claim for regular League One action.
Historical advantage
Cambridge United have a perfect record against Northampton Town in previous meetings. The U's have scored in every encounter and have never failed to find the net. This historical edge provides a psychological boost ahead of the group stage clash. The two sides last met in a competitive fixture during the 2019-20 season, with Cambridge securing a victory on that occasion as well.
The match represents the second of three group stage games in the EFL Trophy Southern Section. A positive result would strengthen Cambridge United's position to qualify for the knockout stages. The team's immediate focus returns to League One action after this cup tie. They host Blackpool at Abbey Stadium on Saturday, 10 October. Blackpool currently sit 15th in the table. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
