Big Match Preview: The U's v Boro

4 January 2019

Derby Day returns...

Tickets…

Tickets are available for Stevenage fans from Abbey Stadium at the following matchday prices:

Adult: £22
Concessions: £15
Under 18s: £12
Under 12s: £7
Under 5s: Free of charge

Tickets are £2 cheaper if bought in-advance from the Club Shop before 5pm on Friday 4th January 2019.

More information can be found here.

Travel...

The Supporters Association coach is making the short trip to Cambridgeshire, departing the Lamex Stadium at 1:00pm. Please arrive with plenty of time to spare as the coach will leave sharpish.

Tickets cost £15 for SA members and non-members. Either book online or contact John Carroll on 01438 814285 after 6pm.

Onto the game...

Stevenage will be looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time since November, after picking up the three points on a thrilling New Year’s Day victory at home to Newport County.

The victory keeps Maamria's men in-touch with the promotion pack, just four points behind the play-off places.

Cambridge United, on the other hand, will hope to wipe Tuesday’s 6-0 defeat at MK Dons from memory by doing the season double over Boro.

Alex Revell, Stevenage’s match-winner last time out, will return to the club whose youth system he graduated from in the year 2000. The forward made 57 appearances for The U’s, scoring 5 goals before moving to Braintree Town in 2004.

Surprisingly, the striker has never come up against his former team, which will likely only add extra incentive for Revell to perform.

One to watch...

Born just up the road from Stevenage in Letchworth Garden City, Jevani Brown will be one to keep an eye on during Saturday’s game after an impressive first half of the season for the U's.

Officials...

Referee: Trevor Kettle

Assistant Referee 1: Stephen Finch

Assistant Referee 2: Ollie Yates

Fourth Official: Kelvin Morton

Form guide...

Two wins from the past three games has seen Stevenage improve their recent form following a difficult December period against some of the division's elite sides.

Meanwhile Cambridge have just one win from their past six games, coming at home to Crawley Town on the back of new Manager's Colin Calderwood appointment.

View from the camp...

Stevenage Manager, Dino Maamria:

“They have got a new manager, Colin Calderwood, he is a very experienced manager and they have had a mixed bag of results. He got a good win against Crawley and they were very good against Lincoln and unlucky not to win the game but obviously he will be very disappointed with Tuesday’s game.

“It will be a difficult test, without a shadow of a doubt. Cambridge have got good players there and I am sure Colin will organise them better defensively and I am sure they will be looking to stop conceding goals. It will be a good game, one we are looking forward to.

“They are in a difficult position because they shouldn’t be there but I am sure they are trying to get out of it and it will be a difficult game.”

Previous meetings...

Stevenage and Cambridge have a fairly even record against each other, with the U's coming out just on top by a singular victory.

It has been a one sided rivalry in recent years though, with Cambridge unbeaten in five meetings between the two sides, winning four. It has also been nine years since Stevenage have won at Abbey stadium.

Boro's last win against the U's came in February 2016 when two goals from Byrom Harrison sunk United in a 2-0 victory at the Lamex Stadium.

Can't make the game?

Live match commentary will be available for UK iFollow subscribers so make sure you sign up to listen to every game. If you are based outside of the UK & Ireland, you can stream the game LIVE!

Make sure you are following our Twitter account throughout the day as we bring you the very latest from Abbey Stadium.

iFollow subscribers will also be able to access full match highlights along with all the post-match reaction on Sunday.

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Match Reports

REPORT: Cambridge 2-0 Stevenage

5 January 2019

Stevenage fell to defeat at the Abbey Stadium once again as two first half Cambridge United goals made the difference on Derby Day..

A poor first half proving costly for Maamria's men as Boro simply took too long to get going and were duly punished by the up-for-it U’s.

An improved showing in the second half followed but Colin Calderwood's crew were able to manage the game and see out his second win in charge.

The Manager named two changes to the side that beat Newport on New Years Day, bringing in Timlin and Revell for Hunt and the suspended Guthrie.

It was another hesitant start from Stevenage as the home side were the first to settle. They should have gone ahead inside six minutes after good play between Halliday and Amoo allowed the Cambridge winger to play the ball across the six yard box for the waiting Maris, only for James-Wildin to get back into position and clear his effort off the line.

Stevenage responded with some positive play inside the Cambridge half but the ball wouldn’t quite fall for a man in red and white as the hosts soon got back on top.

David Amoo was the main danger man and his running down the right created another early chance for the U’s, pulling the ball back to Maris again from the edge of the box whose shot went straight at Farman.

Boro were having to dig in to keep the scores level but when the ball was played into the final third, you could see that there were opportunities in the making for Stevenage. Danny Newton could have found an opener if he were to have directed his header either side of Forde in goal.

Stevenage fans were fearing the worst on 28 minutes when late call-up, Paul Lewis went over in the penalty area, only for referee Trevor Kettle to caution the Cambridge fan for simulation.

It was proving to be a difficult first half for Boro and eventually, Cambridge would make it count. David Amoo running through on goal after 36 minutes before taking it around Farman to finish into an empty net.

With five minutes remaining in the half, Stevenage had another half chance to pull themselves level but the Cambridge defence were on-guard to prevent Kennedy’s cross from finding Revell, after good work from Newton to close down the U’s defence and win the ball high up the pitch.

Just as the whistle was about to blow, Cambridge piled on the misery as Jevani Brown fired through a crowded area to make it 2-0 at half-time.

The Manager made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Sonupe and Campbell-Ryce for Kennedy and Iontton and it appeared to be just what the team needed.

Stevenage’s performance levels increased after the break and Campbell-Ryce in particular was having a big impact down the left. Unfortunately for Boro, the U’s defence were up to the task as the winger swung ball and ball into the penalty area, all cleared away.

Danny Newton sneaked in-between goalkeeper and defender to almost tee-up a teammate but once again Cambridge scrambled to block the route to goal before Sonupe’s shot was eventually deflected out for a corner.

Iberhe could have killed the game with 15 minutes to go as he was played through-on-goal, but Farman was out quick to deny the striker, spreading his body and getting out quickly to make the block.

17 year old scholar Liam Smyth entered the fray with 81 minutes on the clock as Maamria played his final roll of the dice, bringing off centre-back Scott Cuthbert.

Nugent and Newton both have opportunities to cut the deficit inside the remaining minutes but it wasn't to be as a disapointing day ended without the hope of an equaliser and the U's continued their recent dominance over Boro.

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Ticket News

Tickets and Travel: Cambridge United

3 January 2019

On the road for Derby Day…

Stevenage travel to the Abbey Stadium on the first Saturday of the New Year to take on Colin Calderwood’s Cambridge United.

After a disappointing 1-0 defeat to The U’s at the Lamex in September, Boro will look to make amends by picking up three points on their travels in their rivals' backyard.

Save money on the price of your tickets by buying in-advance of the game. Ticket prices rise by £2 if bought from Cambridge on the day.

Adult: £20 (£22 OTD)
Concessions*: £15 (£17 OTD)
Under 18s: £10 (£12 OTD)
Under 12s: £5 (£7)
Under 5s: Free of charge

*Concessions = 64+, Student NUS, Young Adults 18-23

Buy online before midday on Friday 4th January or visit us in the Club Shop before 5pm to pay at the advance rate.

For a comprehensive Away Days guide to Abbey Stadium, click here.

Travel:

The Supporters Association coach is departing the Lamex Stadium at 1:00pm on Saturday so please arrive at the stadium with plenty of time to spare.

Tickets cost £15 for both SA members and non-members.

To book a seat, please call John Carroll on 01438 814285 after 6pm or visit www.sfcsa.co.uk/home/travel.

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Stevenage FC

Standings

Big Match Preview: The U's v Boro

REPORT: Cambridge 2-0 Stevenage

Tickets and Travel: Cambridge United