Pre match insight : Cambridge United vs Exeter City

The U’s take on a struggling Exeter City side who have all the momentum in their favour following a narrow loss to Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the FA cup. The Grecians sit in 18th place with 32 points and without a win in the league since boxing day. The U’s sit dead bottom after being on the end of a thrashing away in Birmingham. Monk’s men will be desperate to turn that result around with all 3 points on Saturday. Avoiding relegation seems the task at hand for both sides so a cagey, scrappy game is to be expected.

Exeter fans will be hoping to see less building out from the back as one fan called it ‘frustrating’ and others calling it ‘embarrassing’. Against a Cambridge United side who sit 22nd in League One based on average possession with 43.7%. However, Exeter sit 6th in the same rankings, averaging 53% possession. Possession doesn’t have a direct link with goals scored as Exter have only scored 3 more goals with 9.3% more of the ball. Exeter will look to get Magennis involved throughout the game if they are struggling to build out from the back. The former Aberdeen, Hull and Wigan striker has netted 10 times in all competitions this season and getting 3 assists. He will be a clear threat for the U’s defense who has conceded 1.8 goals per game in League One with only fellow Cambridgeshire side Peterborough United conceding more per game. Exeter average more goals per game however have overachieved either expected goals tremendously. Exeter have scored 33 goals with an expected goals (xg) of 27.6. On the contrast Cambridge United have scored 30 goals with an xg of 32.9. This further highlights the struggles the U’s have going forward.

We predict a 1-1 draw with Stokes taking the lead in the first 25 minutes. However Magennis will score a header in the 70th minute. We believe it will be a cagey, defensive game with United sitting back and allowing Exeter to keep the ball. Hopefully we are wrong and the side in amber can come away with all 3 points.