Preview: Cambridge United vs. Sheffield Wednesday - prediction, team news, lineups

Cambridge United will be hoping to build on their thrilling comeback last time out, when they host promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday at the Abbey Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Whilst the home side fought back from two goals behind at the weekend, their visitors did the opposite - unexpectedly throwing away a two-goal lead from a commanding position.

Match preview

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Cambridge and their boss Mark Bonner will be fairly pleased with their start to the League One campaign since achieving promotion to the third tier last season.

The U's find themselves in 18th place, three points above the relegation places, in what has been a solid return from their opening 11 fixtures during their return to this level for the first time since 2002.

After breaking numerous club records during their outstanding achievement in the 2020-21 season, Cambridge carried their momentum into the new campaign by losing just two of their opening seven league fixtures.

Impressive victories over promotion-chasing Portsmouth, Burton Albion and Bolton Wanderers already means that Bonner's side will fancy their chances at home to another side expected to fight it out at the top, when they face Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

However, a recent slight drop in form will need to be put right soon, after drawing three and losing one of their last four matches.

That form could have been made worse were it not for a thrilling comeback last time out, when United fought back from 2-0 down at home to Ipswich Town on Saturday.

After being dominated for large parts of the first half, James Brophy nicked a goal back just before half time, before Joe Ironside was the hero with the late equaliser in a much-improved second-half performance.

Meanwhile, the visitors were on the wrong end of a two-goal comeback on Saturday, as mentioned above.

Wednesday appeared to be well on their way to a comfortable victory at AFC Wimbledon when Lee Gregory converted his second of the game from the penalty spot on the hour mark to give the away side a 2-0 lead.

However, despite dominating their opponents and missing a number of chances to extend their lead further, the Owls were pegged back by goals in the 67th and 85th minute, in a disappointing case of two dropped points.

Victory would have taken Wednesday into the playoff places, although they do still find themselves in seventh place heading into Tuesday's match, and level on points with MK Dons in sixth.

An immediate return to the Championship is the aim for Darren Moore's side, who will be looking to put together a consistent run of form in the weeks ahead in order to lift his side into the automatic promotion places, after an up and down start to their campaign.

Team News

The home side will be checking on the fitness of midfielders Liam O'Neil and Jack Lankester ahead of Tuesday's match, with the duo just missing out on Saturday's draw with Ipswich due to slight knocks.

Shilow Tracey and Wes Hoolahan replaced them in the side and will be expected to deputise once more should they miss out again.

Conor Masterson was a doubt for the weekend but managed to start and play the full 90 minutes so will be available to play in central defence again.

As for Sheffield Wednesday, they are expected to be without four players again in midweek, with Sam Hutchinson, Lewis Gibson, George Byers and Massimo Luongo all unlikely to feature at the Abbey Stadium.

Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell was available for selection after his return from international duty with Northern Ireland at the weekend, but was only named as a substitute.

He could regain his place in goal, at the expense of Joe Wildsmith, with the rest of the side likely to remain the same.

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:

Mitov; Williams, Jones, Masterson, Iredale; May, Digby; Tracey, Hoolahan, Brophy; Ironside

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:

Peacock-Farrell; Iorfa, Dunkley, Palmer; Hunt, Wing, Bannan, Brown; Dele-Bashiru; Paterson, Gregory

We say: Cambridge United 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday

Prior to the varying fortunes of comebacks at the weekend involving the two sides, a Sheffield Wednesday win would have been the prediction here, but as a result of the outcomes, we are going for an entertaining draw.

The home side should be boosted by their thrilling comeback, whilst the visitors may still be feeling the effects of a disappointing finish to the match at the weekend.