All you need to know ahead of tonight's top-of-the-table clash
WHO? Cambridge United, the league’s second place team who have been jostling for the one automatic promotion place with the Town all season. They have enjoyed an excellent season and have justified pundits’ dark horse tags.
EX-FACTOR. United have former Town boss Richard Money at the helm, and he is assisted by another ex-Hatter in Alan Neilson. The U’s also have another former Town men in their ranks in the shape of defender Greg Taylor. Matthew Barnes-Homer, who joined the U’s this season has recently left the Abbey to join Tamworth on loan.
DOUBLE DELIGHT. United might be trailing the Town in the league at the minute but the U’s have a game in hand to keep them well in contention in the race for the title. Furthermore the U’s have a date at Wembley to look forward to later this month. United will be aiming for a promotion/FA Trophy double when they take on Skrill South’s bottom club Gosport Borough on 23rd March.
SELL OUT. Town supporters were quick to snap up the 1,800 initial allocation for tickets for the game with 1,500 being sold on one particular day alone when they went on sale to season ticket holders. An additional allocation for 450 tickets were made available and they were sold as quickly as you could say “top-of-the-table clash”.
LIVE FEED. The bars at Kenilworth Road will be open this evening for a live feed of the game. For further information click here.
FORTRESS ABBEY. Cambridge’s success this term has been built on solid foundations at home. Money’s men won their first 12 matches at the Abbey Stadium this term. However, their 100 per cent home record was ended by Grimsby last month before Alfreton also won at the Abbey. United then drew 0-0 with Wrexham but won their last home game 5-1 against Kidderminster, recovering from a goal down. United have conceded just six goals at home in the league this term.
RECENT FORM. The Town have won eight of their last 10 league matches, conceding just twice, whilst United have lost four of their last six league games.
DID YOU KNOW? When the Hatters last lost a league game, at Wrexham in September, Cambridge were 10 points clear of the Town in the Skrill Premier table.
HELLO AGAIN. The meeting with the U’s will be the fourth this season. The two sides grabbed a point each in a goalless draw at Kenilworth Road in August before being paired in the third round of the FA Trophy this year. A 2-2 draw at the Abbey was followed by a 1-0 for United in the replay.
HEAD2HEAD. The Town have won more games than Cambridge in the overall head-to-head record between the two clubs but it is actually the draw which is the most common result. The Town have won nine to Cambridge’s six, but 14 of the 29 meetings have ended all square. The Town won at the Abbey last season in an FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie but their last league win came in an incredible 4-3 victory in September 2009. Trailing 2-0 and a man down following Liam Hatch’s red card, the Hatters stormed back with two goals from Kevin Gallen, one from Rossi Jarvis and Jake Howells’ first senior goal.
STILL SAYS: “Cambridge would maybe think they have to win it to give them the best opportunity of winning the league. All I want to do is win the league. Whether I do or don't beat Cambridge is of little interest to me in the whole scheme of things.”
LIVE & DIRECT. We’ll have all the news as it happens from Cambridge. Pre-match build-up, team news, live text and audio commentary, a report, reaction, photographs and interviews. Remember to keep it lutontown.co.uk, Hatters Player and check out our ever-growing Facebook and Twitter feeds. And keep an eye on our Instagram, Vine and YouTube accounts too for good measure #COYH.