Cambridge United

vs

Grimsby Town

Preview

Cambridge United

• Neil Harris has got this Cambridge United side playing in a way which suits the players available to him, typically a compact 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-2-1 system, which allows them to control the tempo and dictate play through their double-pivot.
• United build play through the midfield and play with a consistent tempo before switching to high-intensity when they turn it over and hit in transition.
• Cambridge’s recent form has been a little patchy, W1, D3, L1 in their last 5, but they battered Notts County 4-0 in their most recent home game before following up with a 0-0 away draw at Bromley.

Grimsby Town

• David Artell has Grimsby Town playing with plenty of energy in the midfield and plenty of structure in their 4-1-4-1 system, a single-pivot system that should allow their midfielders to get on the ball.
• Grimsby Town are in their best form of the season and have won 3 of their last 5, including an emphatic 4-1 win away at Gillingham.

Head-to-Head

• Cambridge United have conceded only 13 goals in 21 home games, while Grimsby Town have conceded 26 goals in 21 away games.
• In the last two League Two head-to-heads, Grimsby Town have won once and drawn once, Cambridge United have not won.

Key Players

• Ben Knight has been their most reliable attacker, netting 9 goals in 33 appearances in League Two, and James Gibbons has chipped in with 2 in their last 5, supporting the attack from a deeper role.
• Jaze Kabia is the best striker in the Grimsby Town side with 14 goals in 42 League Two appearances.

Betting Insights

• Cambridge United are the favourite at 1.76, Grimsby Town are 4.09 and the draw is 3.84.
• The under 2.5 goals market is a good bet at 1.77 as both teams are not natural goal-scorers and both are disciplined in their structure.

Prediction

• The clash of these two different midfield structures, where Cambridge’s double pivot should be better at controlling the tempo while Grimsby’s single pivot is better at compactness, will be key.
• Cambridge are the better team and I think they’ll nick it at home, they can do that by being more positive in the game in the second half and getting the decisive goal.