League 1 - Ipswich Town vs Cambridge United Preview & Matchday Thread
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 8:42 pm
Ipswich Town v Cambridge United
Saturday 2nd April 2022 – 15:00
Portman Road
Pre-Match Thoughts - Mike
One Down, Six To Go !..........
Winning the final Seven games of the season was never going to be easy, in fact it's highly unlikely but following the impressive victory over a bang average Plymouth Argyle the dream is still very much alive, for now ! The gap is now down to Five points but most of our play off rivals have a game in hand so we are still very much up against it.
The solitary goal victory over Plymouth was aa comprehensive as a 1-0 win can be, the first half in particular saw Town in the ascendancy throughout and we should really have had the game put to bed by half time. Our captain fantastic is showing us what a pivotal and inspirational leader he is and boy are we lucky to have him, how fitting was it that on a day when he was superb it was he who got the winning goal after benefitting from some superb work by James Norwood who somehow got his cross in for Morsy to tap home.
While the second half was less one sided it was still Town, and only Town that ever really looked like scoring and quite how POTS Wes Burns didn't get the second with time ticking down is beyond me, it was easier to score but on this occasion it was not to be, thankfully we didn't live to regret our failings in front of goal.
What is that now, Twelve clean in Seventeen games under Kieran McKenna? Remarkable is the only word for it and it's credit to the whole team for such a proud record, the loss of George Edmundson was feared by some but Cameron Burgess has slipped into the back Three effortlessly and has been superb, along with Janoi Donacien and a totally rejuvenated Luke Woolfenden we have a defence that rarely even looks like being breached in open play.
If things are looking good on the pitch what can we say about events going on off it ? Mark Ashton and co just keep on giving us upbeat news about the clubs plans and intentions and with the promise of other news to come which cannot be divulged yet its all very exciting times for us Town fans, it looks like no stone is going to be unturned in their quest to return the glory days to Portman Road, its been a long time coming and hopefully it all comes off but so far we have no reason to doubt them. Whether it be the new pitch, PA System, new dugouts, purchase of land, new Town TV station, the promise of more squad investment or whatever you cannot help but be impressed with the vision and direction of the owners and board. Add to that the freezing of season ticket prices is a fantastic gesture in such difficult times and I can see us going from 13k to 18k minimum in season ticket sales, I hope I'm right.
The next game sees Town at home again, this time Cambridge United provide the opposition, they currently are finding goals very hard to come by with a single goal in their last Five outings and couple that with Towns miserly defence this can surely only end one way, they did however have an impressive win over Plymouth themselves a few weeks back so complacency must not be allowed to creep in.
I can't see beyond another Town win here and yet another clean sheet, I also have a feeling we may just find our shooting boots in this one so I am expecting a few goals, with other teams playing each other the gap could well be reduced further as we keep the distant dream alive. 3-0 Town win. Keep the faith. COYB'S.
The Opposition – Cambridge United
The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United, named after the Abbey district of Cambridge. A club called Cambridge United existed in Cambridge from 1909, but it was not linked to the club that exists today. The club played in local amateur leagues for many of its early years, moving from ground to ground around Cambridge (see Stadium below) before settling at the Abbey Stadium. In 1949 the club turned professional, and changed its name to Cambridge United in 1951. They played in the Eastern Counties League until finishing as runners-up in 1957–58, which saw them promoted to the Southern League. Three years later, Cambridge United reached the Premier Division of the Southern League.
After election to the Football League in 1970, to replace Bradford (Park Avenue), the club was promoted from the Fourth Division after three seasons, but went straight back down.
Following the appointment of Ron Atkinson as manager, Cambridge won successive promotions which took them into the Second Division in 1978 – a mere eight years after joining the Football League. Atkinson had gone to West Bromwich Albion, a First Division club, in January 1978, and was succeeded by John Docherty, who oversaw the second promotion.
Cambridge peaked at eighth place in the Second Division in 1980. However, a terrible season in 1983–84 (setting a league record for most successive games without a win, 31, which was surpassed by Derby County in 2008) was followed by a further relegation in 1984–85 (equalling the then league record for most losses in a season, 33). These successive relegations, which also had a negative effect on the club's attendances as well as its finances, placed Cambridge back in the Fourth Division, the lowest professional league in English football at the time. They had to apply for re-election in their first season back in the Fourth Division, and promotion would not be achieved for another four years.
The early 1990s was the U's most successful period. Soon after the appointment of new manager John Beck, the club won the first ever appearance as a professional club at Wembley Stadium, the Fourth Division playoff final in May 1990, which secured promotion to the Third Division – the club's first promotion for 12 years. Dion Dublin scored the only goal in a game against Chesterfield. Under Beck, United gained promotion from the Fourth Division and had already reached the FA Cup quarter finals in 1990, and reached them again a year later, and winning the Third Division in 1991. United reached the play-offs in 1992, after finishing 5th in the Second Division, but failed in their bid to become founder members of the Premier League. This was the club's highest final league placing to date. The following season the club sacked John Beck and were relegated from the new First Division. Further relegation followed two seasons later. United returned to Division Two but were relegated in 2002 despite a successful run in the Football League Trophy which saw them reach the final which they lost 1–4 to Blackpool at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
In 2005, after 35 years in the Football League, Cambridge United were relegated into the Football Conference. This brought with it financial difficulties and the club filed for administration on 29 April. On 22 July 2005 the club came out of administration with a deal being struck with HM Revenue and Customs at the eleventh hour after the intervention of then sports minister Richard Caborn. Cambridge had sold their Abbey Stadium home earlier in the season for £1.9 million to keep the club afloat.
On the eve of the 2006–07 season, it was announced that former Norwich City striker Lee Power would be the club's new chairman taking over from Brian Attmore's caretaking reign. Johnny Hon was also to rejoin the board as vice-chairman after John Howard's resignation on conflict of interests grounds (owing to his ownership of Bideawhile 445 Ltd, United's landlords). Jimmy Quinn was appointed manager soon after Power took charge and, after a difficult settling-in period which included a humiliating 5–0 loss to local rivals Histon, he guided Cambridge United away from another possible relegation by achieving five wins from their last seven games of the season.
After signing several respected and experienced players at the non-league level in the following close season Quinn led Cambridge to their then longest ever unbeaten start to a season (2007–08), which stretched to twelve games. Off the field, United reported several major sponsorship deals which seemed to point towards increased financial security. Halfway through the season the chairman, Lee Power, resigned. He was replaced by Wayne Purser. United finished the season in 2nd place, qualifying for the play-offs. They beat Burton Albion in the semi-final, 4–3 on aggregate, but lost 1–0 to Exeter City in the final, played at Wembley Stadium.
Following the play-off defeat many players left the club, culminating in the departure of manager Jimmy Quinn. Quinn was succeeded by former Southport manager Gary Brabin, who appointed Paul Carden as player-assistant manager. United finished the 2008–09 season again 2nd in the league, and also again reached the play-off final, overturning a 3–1 deficit to beat Stevenage Borough 4–3 on aggregate in the semi-final; however, they were beaten again at Wembley Stadium, 2–0 by Torquay United. Brabin was named as the Conference's Manager of the Season, but was sacked in the close-season after reportedly falling out with the chairman. He was replaced by Martin Ling, who resigned just eight days into the job, before the start of the 2009–10 season and was followed days later by chairman George Rolls. The new board re-appointed Ling as manager the following week.
Cambridge finished Ling's first season in 10th place – not enough for a playoff place. The following season, on 6 January 2011, with Cambridge in a similar position to where they finished the previous season, the club's owners put the club up for sale citing the need for new funds to take the club forward. Despite interest being expressed from a number of parties, no new owner has yet been found. Later the same month, the club's landlords Grosvenor Group revealed the plans for a new community stadium, including potential new locations both within the city and outside it. At the start of 2011 Martin Ling was removed from his position as manager and replaced on a temporary basis by CRC manager Jez George. He managed to steer the club towards safety, finishing 17th, which led to George's role being made permanent. After having rebuilt the squad with players from the club's youth system and with astute signings in Harrison Dunk and Tom Shaw, George managed to lead Cambridge to a 9th-place finish, a huge improvement on their previous season. As well as the league, Jez George also took Cambridge to the quarter-final of the FA Trophy (which was the furthest they had reached at the time), but lost 2–1 at home to minnows, Wealdstone. Eleven games into the following season Jez George became Director of Football, and Richard Money was announced as the new head coach of the club. The club spent much of the season in mid-table, finishing in 14th position with 59 points.
The squad was greatly revamped, and United started 2013–14 with a record-breaking 16 games unbeaten. Cambridge finished the season in second place, qualifying for the play-offs. After beating FC Halifax Town 2–1, on aggregate, in the semi-final, they won 2–1 against Gateshead in the final, held at Wembley Stadium, gaining promotion back to the Football League after a nine-year absence. The club also reached their first FA Trophy final, held at Wembley Stadium, where they beat Gosport Borough 4–0.
Cambridge finished 19th with 51 points, 10 points above the relegation zone. The following season started poorly, and Richard Money was sacked in November 2015, to be replaced by Shaun Derry the same month. A six-match unbeaten run saw Derry win the League Two Manager of the Month award for December 2015, and the U's finished the league in 9th place with 68 points. They finished 2016–17 season in 11th place, in a season that took in extended runs of both good and poor form. Derry was dismissed in February 2018 and was replaced on a permanent basis by his assistant, Joe Dunne, on the final day of 2017–18.
Cambridge started 2018–19 poorly, and manager Dunne was dismissed after 20 games with the club in 21st place. Colin Calderwood was appointed as his replacement in December 2018. Cambridge's second half under Calderwood was more successful, however, they could only finish in 21st place, only six points clear of the relegation zone. Following a successful start to the 2019–20 season, Calderwood was offered a new contract. However, after three heavy defeats in one month, Calderwood was sacked following a 4–0 defeat to Salford City. With the U's in 18th place, Calderwood's assistant manager Mark Bonner was placed in temporary charge until the end of the season. Under Bonner, Cambridge won four from their final seven matches before the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the season. Final league positions were decided on a points per game basis with Cambridge finishing in 16th place. This good form resulted in Bonner being handed the permanent role of head coach. During the 2020–21 season, Bonner guided Cambridge to promotion from League Two as runners-up after seven seasons in that division. Promotion was clinched on the final day with an emphatic 3–0 victory over Grimsby Town. Following this success, Bonner was handed a new three-year contract.
The Manager – Mark Bonner
Form Guide
Ipswich Last 5 Matches – Currently in 9th place with 64 points
5 Mar Fleetwood 0 - 2 Ipswich Town
8 Mar Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Lincoln City
12 Mar Ipswich Town 0 - 0 Portsmouth
19 Mar Oxford Utd 1 - 1 Ipswich Town
26 Mar Ipswich Town 1 - 0 Plymouth
Cambridge United Last 5 Matches – Currently in 16th place with 48 points
1 Mar Wycombe 3 - 0 Cambridge Utd
5 Mar Cambridge Utd 0 - 0 Shrewsbury
12 Mar Sheffield Wed 6 - 0 Cambridge Utd
19 Mar Cambridge Utd 0 - 1 Milton Keynes
26 Mar AFC Wimbledon 0 - 1 Cambridge Utd
Match Referee – Craig Hicks
IPSWICH TOWN 2 CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0