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With leaders Newport not playing this weekend, Cambridge United can return to the top of League Two with a win against newly promoted Barrow.
The U’s were tipped for a mid-table finish this season, having not finished higher than ninth since their Football League return in 2014. The likes of Shaun Derry, Joe Dunne and Colin Calderwood have all tried to guide them to promotion, but in recent seasons they’ve been nearer to dropping back down to the National League.
The permanent appointment of Mark Bonner back in March was largely met with groans from the fans, with many frustrated that the club had made an internal appointment instead of bringing in a proven and reputable manager such as Paul Tisdale.
However, Bonner has proven all the doubters wrong so far. The U’s have won seven of their opening 11 league games, claiming the scalps of the likes of Carlisle, Newport and Salford. They’ve scored 24 goals, the most out of any team in England’s top four leagues, helped by two 5-0 away wins against Morecambe and Scunthorpe.
Paul Mullin has been at the heart of Bonner’s Cambridge team. The former Tranmere Rovers striker had a loan spell at The Abbey last season, before returning on a permanent basis this summer. The 26-year-old has scored 12 goals so far this campaign, picking up the League Two Player of the Month award for October.
He’s been helped massively by the players around him. Many of whom have upped their game from last season, while their new signings have hit the ground running.
Perhaps the best example is Norwich legend Wes Hoolahan, who joined the U’s this summer after having a trial the previous season. While the 38-year-old hasn’t featured in every game this season, he’s still notched up four assists and created 16 chances.
Cambridge will face a visit from a Barrow side sitting 18th in the table, having only picked up two wins this season against Mansfield and Bradford. This perhaps isn’t a surprise. The Bluebirds were promoted to the Football League as National League champions under Ian Evatt, who subsequently left to take over Bolton. They faced the transition into League Two without the man who led them there, which can be very tough.
However, David Dunn has made his side hard to beat. Barrow have earned five draws so far this season and remain undefeated at Holker Street, taking points from the likes of Colchester, Bolton and Walsall. The 5-3-2 formation makes them very hard to break down when out of possession, but they can still be very dangerous on the attack, having scored 14 league goals this season.
A trip to The Abbey may be a daunting prospect for the Bluebirds, but Cambridge are far from invincible. Both Exeter and Crawley exposed gaps in the U’s defence while managing to keep Paul Mullin quiet for the entire 90 minutes. Mark Bonner’s side thrive off being the underdog, but by sitting second in the table, they’ll be expected to pick up wins against sides like Barrow.
That suits David Dunn’s side. While they’ve struggled at times, they’ve stunned opponents that underestimate them and show a lot of grit and determination whoever they play. The U’s have shown that they can reach those levels too, especially in their win against Newport, and they’ll have to maintain that intensity if they’re to remain as promotion contenders.
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