PREVIEW: Cambridge United v Luton Town

Cambridge United’s season has begun to peter out somewhat in the last few weeks, after an indifferent run of form, writes Mike Simmonds.

The U’s had looked like they could possibly threaten to join the race for the play-offs after a fine run of form between November and January saw them win six, draw four and lose just two games.

But then February came and they lost four in a row, before recovering to win three, draw two and lose two of their last seven matches.

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In that sequence, United went to promotion hopefuls Grimsby Town and won 1-0, but their home record has been suspect recently with a 1-1 draw with Ebsfleet and defeats by Hereford, Alfreton and Nuneaton since January.

Prior to Luton’s trip, Cambridge were 12 points off the top five, but with just six matches left, have little chance of making up the ground.

Boss Richard Money took to a press conference this month to question the attitude of the club’s support and local media towards the U’s.

Reminiscent of an interview he gave while at Luton, he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: “The biggest challenge from now until the beginning of next season is to turn all the cynicism and mockery into a positive atmosphere.

“Without it, life becomes difficult.

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“It is reflected in the cynicism - and the mockery in some cases - that there is around the football club by people who think they know what’s going on but have a lack of understanding.

“The biggest challenge is to turn that into a positive.”

“We have a philosophy and a plan and we feel like we can work it properly.

“But the first part of that is that everybody is on the same page.

“We can’t let those dissenting voices, those people who are able to get to a significant group of people, we can’t let them get negative.

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“Because if we do, they can very quickly turn the majority negative in the same way.”

The U’s have also been hit by the shock departure of top scorer Michael Gash to league leaders Kidderminster Harriers on loan with a view to a permanent move.

Gash had netted 13 Blue Square Bet Premier goals and has since bagged five in five for Harriers, but Cambridge’s director of football Jez George said the deal made sense.

Speaking to the media, he said: “Once you have a player with only seven or eight weeks left on his contract you have to be pragmatic.

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“Realistically the overall package is one that is good for us.”

“It became evident the financial package he was looking for wasn’t one we would be able to meet and the negotiations have sort of petered out a little bit.

“In the last few days, he made it clear to us he wanted to go to Kidderminster. The way football works now, although he’s a contracted player for us he knows of outside interest as quickly as we do.

“There is a loan fee involved, a payment up front and further payments depending on what Kidderminster do over the rest of the season.”

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Cambridge did take young Harriers striker Nathan Blissett on loan, who scored once in four games for U’s, while there was better news as leading scorer Tom Elliott penned a new deal at the club until the summer of 2015 as did fellow striker Liam Hughes.

United also brought in highly rated Charlton goalkeeper Nick Pope until the end of the season, while Northern Ireland international winger Johnny Gorman, who came through the academies of Manchester United and Manchester City joined on loan from Wolves too.

The signing of Gorman saw Jonathan Hedge, an England C international, move to Southport until the end of the campaign.

Team news: Hatters made it public they would be releasing six players this week with Stuart Fleetwood, Janos Kovacs, Greg Taylor, James Dance, Scott Neilson and Alasan Ann not being offered new deals.

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Alex Lawless misses out again with injury, while Ronnie Henry will only play if needed as he requires a hernia operation, leaving just Danny Spiller and Garry Richards as long-term injuries.

For United, Nick Pope will continue in goal and Nathan Blissett is set to return to Kidderminster following the end of his loan spell after Easter.

Man in the middle: Charles Breakspear. Official has shown 72 yellows and five reds in 20 Conference games this season.

First time he has taken Luton, but it will be his second visit to Cambridge as he took charge of the 2-1 defeat to Dartford, while also reffed the U’s in a 2-1 win at Telford

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Top BSBP scorer: U’s – Tom Elliott (13). Hatters – Andre Gray (11).

In charge: Richard Money. Manager who is very well known to Town fans after managing the club from October 2009, before leaving in March 2011.

Had a high profile bust up with Luton supporters at Tamworth in his last season and was replaced by Gary Brabin after a defeat at Southport.

Was linked with a host of jobs before taking the head coach position at The Abbey Stadium on October 4, 2012.

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The 57-year-old started life as a defender with Scunthorpe United, before playing for Liverpool, Luton (49 appearances, one goal), Portsmouth and Fulham during the 1970s and 1980s.

While at Liverpool, he was an unused substitute in the 1981 European Cup Final, having played in the semi-final.

Became caretaker player/manager of Scunthorpe at the end of his playing career and was youth coach at Aston Villa before returning to Scunthorpe to become manager.

From there, he was coach at Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, before spells as academy director and first team coach at Coventry City.

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Has experience all round the globe as took charge of Swedish clubs AIK and Västerås SK, while coached in Australia at Newcastle United Jets.

Returned to England in May 2006 as Walsall boss, before being appointed Newcastle United’s academy director in June 2008 and then joining Kenilworth Road.

View from the opposition: Head coach Richard Money: “It’s very difficult for me to explain to people just the intensity of every game they (Luton) play in.

“I know people at Mansfield, Wrexham or whoever else may well think it’s the same for them, but it isn’t.

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“That’s the reality, however I do think at the moment they’re in a situation where the manager has decided he’s going to look at his squad for next season and maybe some of the pressure has gone away a little bit.

“But let’s be clear about one thing – on their day, they’re still the best team in this league.

“They’ve spent the money and you wouldn’t argue they’ve got some of the best players in the league, so it makes them dangerous opponents for the weekend.”

Money added he would take no personal satisfaction if United beat Luton, saying: “I think people from the outside would probably think that’s the case, but I really couldn’t care less, it’s three points, it doesn’t matter any more than that to me.”

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One to watch: Tom Elliott - striker who started his career at Leeds, but never really broke through at Elland Road and had loan spells with Macclesfield, Bury and Rotherham.

Joined Hamilton on a free and then Stockport County, before moving to Cambridge in May last year.

Proved an instant hit with U’s fans, scoring five in his first four games and has bagged 13 in total this season, including a hat-trick at Ebbsfleet, although has only netted twice in his last nine games.

Friendly faces: Hatter striker Scott Rendell had two prolific spells at Cambridge. First joined the club from Crawley Town in August 2007, scoring 19 goals in 32 games, before moving to Peterborough.

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Returned to the Abbey on loan in November 2008 and netted a further 15 times in 28 games.

Defender Simon Ainge spent a period on loan with Cambridge during the 2008-09 season, playing twice, as did Dan Walker last season, where he featured six times.

Apart from U’s boss Richard Money, Rossi Jarvis made over 50 appearances for Luton, scoring five times in his two year stint, joining from Norwich on a free in July 2008 and them moving on to Barnet in July 2010.

Meanwhile, winger Robbie Willmott played in last seasons play-off final defeat to York, before being released and ending up back at his former club. He played 67 times for Town, netting 15 goals and has made 20 appearances for United this season, but was out of favour under Money and joined Newport on loan.

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We’ve got form: Hatters haven’t lost in the league at Cambridge since the 2-1 defeat in League Two back in October 2000.

On that day, Hatters took the lead through Mark Stein on 13 minutes, before Matthew Spring was dismissed in the 33rd minute.

Cambridge hit back after the break as Tom Youngs (54) and Zema Abbey (79) were on target on target to complete the turnaround.

In total Luton have travelled to United 10 times in the league, winning three, drawing five and losing two. They have scored 16 times and conceded 15.

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Town also won 2-0 at Cambridge in the FA Cup this season, when Andre Gray and Jon Shaw scored.

Last time out: Luton were held to a 1-1 draw in the league last season. Town toook the lead on 18 minutes through Stuart Fleetwood before Liam Hughes equalised in the 77th minute.

Hatters: Kevin Pilkington, George Pilkington, Jake Howells, Curtis Osano, Jamie Hand (Adam Watkins 84), Janos Kovacs, Greg Taylor, Alex Lawless, James Dance (Ryan Brunt 78), Stuart Fleetwood, Aaron O’Connor.

Subs not used: Mark Tyler, Robbie Willmott, John Paul Kissock.

Attendance: 4,796.

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