Cambridge United welcome Port Vale to the Abbey Stadium this Saturday in a big weekend of League One football. The two sides both sit in the top half of the table but will be looking to push themselves even further up the table.
Cambridge currently sit 11th in League One after seven games. With four wins and three losses, Cambridge have 12 points, just one point adrift of the Play-off places.
In the last five games in all competitions, Cambridge have two wins and three losses. Fejiri Okenabirhie and Sullay Kaikai were both on the scoresheet late on, with Kaikai’s goal coming in the 96th minute for the 2 - 0 win for The Us against Bristol Rovers. However, the trip to Leyton Orient was less successful. Shaq Forde and Theo Archibald both scored to give Leyton Orient the 2 - 0 win.
Okenabirhie was on the scoresheet yet again for Cambridge, this time against Reading. In a game where Cambridge had only 41% of the possession, this was the only goal in the 1 - 0 win. The Us then faced Peterborough in the Football League Trophy. Jadel Katongo and Ephron Mason-Clarke both scored in the 2 - 0 win for Cambridge.
Most recently Cambridge faced Wigan where Stephen Humphrys and Thelo Aasgaard put Wigan in a 2 - 0 lead in the second half. Okenabirhie converted a penalty, but it wasn’t enough as Wigan won 2 - 1.
Port Vale, on the other hand, sit in third in League One. Having played one more game, Port Vale have five wins, one draw and two losses in eight games. This leaves The Valiants on 16 points, equal on points with league leaders Portsmouth, though Port Vale’s goal difference is vastly inferior.
In their last five games in all competitions, Port Vale have three wins, one draw and one loss. In the Second round of the League Cup Port Vale played out a 0 - 0 draw with Crewe Alexandra, sending the tie to penalties. With Oliver Arblaster and James Wilson converting their penalties and Crewe missing all of their penalties, The Valiants took the 2 - 0 win. Alex Iacovitti opened the scoring against Oxford United late on, and an equaliser from Greg Leigh in the 93rd minute suggested it would end in a share of points. However, Alfie Devine popped up with a 99th minute penalty for the 2 - 1 win with Oxford finishing with just nine men.
In the Football League Trophy, Ben Garrity scored the only goal in the 1 - 0 win over Crewe who ended the game with ten men as Ryan Cooney was sent off in the 98th minute. Garrity was once again on the scoresheet against Northampton Town, giving Port Vale the 1 - 0 win.
Most recently Port Vale hosted Burton Albion. Garrity and Arblaster both scored for The Valiants but goals from Beryly Lubala, Steve Seddon and Kwadwo Baah gave Burton the 3 - 2 win.
Cambridge and Port Vale have met just 24 times in their histories, with the first meeting coming back in 1973. Port Vale have a marginal advantage with 12 wins in comparison to Cambridge’s ten wins. A draw is not very common in this fixture, with only two, happening back in 1978 and 1993.