Cambridge United vs Millwall Match Analysis and Prediction

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Cambridge United play host to Millwall in the first round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday, with the two teams having met in the second round of this competition last eason, where Millwall won 3-1 at The Den.

The hosts will hope that home advantage and another season’s worth of experience competing in League One will prove vital at Abbey Stadium in midweek.

The Amber Army have come a long way since the aforementioned defeat to the Lions last season, defying pre-season expectations to finish 14th in the third tier of English football.

That represented their highest league finish since the 1993-94 campaign, and if their 1-0 victory over Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday is anything to go by, United have no plans of stopping there.

Mark Bonner and his side do have recent experience of knocking out higher-ranked clubs out of the domestic cups, having defeated Premier League side Newcastle United in the third round of the FA Cup last season, as well as Championship outfit Birmingham City at this stage of the EFL Cup two seasons ago.

However, Millwall may prove a particularly tough team to beat, especially after their opening day 2-0 victory over Stoke City on Saturday.

Maiden Charlie Cresswell, who is on loan from Leeds United for the season, had a match to remember as the defender magnificently scored either side of half-time to get his new side on track for the campaign with a win.

While Gary Rowett’s priority this season will be promotion to the Premier League for the first time in the club’s history, making an impact in the EFL Cup would be a bonus.

Millwall have reached the quarter-finals or further of the FA Cup four times since the turn of the century, yet they last reached that stage of this competition in the 1994-95 campaign.

Cambridge United vs Millwall head to head

The two teams have previously met on six occasions across all competitions, where Millwall have won in all the meetings between the sides, while scoring 17 goals and conceding only four times in the process. In their last meeting, Millwall claimed a 3-1 home victory in the EFL Cup.

Cambridge United 0-2 Millwall 26/02/00

Millwall 3-1 Cambridge United 28/10/00

Cambridge United 1-5 Millwall 17/04/01

Cambridge United 0-2 Millwall 21/07/18

Millwall 3-1 Cambridge United 24/08/21

Cambridge United latest home form

Cambridge United have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just one of their five most recent matches. They defeated Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 in their last home game in League One. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded nine.

Cambridge United 0-2 Charlton Athletic 19/04/22

Cambridge United 2-2 Cheltenham Town 30/04/22

Cambridge United 1-3 Norwich City 19/07/22

Cambridge United 1-2 Hull City 23/07/22

Cambridge United 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons 30/07/22

Cambridge United latest away form

Cambridge United have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having lost two of their three most recent matches. They lost 3-2 to Cardiff City in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five meetings, they have scored nine goals and conceded 10.

Ipswich Town 0-1 Cambridge United 02/04/22

Wigan Athletic 1-2 Cambridge United 19/04/22

Sunderland 5-1 Cambridge United 23/04/22

Watford 1-3 Cambridge United 02/07/22

Cardiff City 3-2 Cambridge United 09/07/22

Millwall latest home form

Millwall have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their six most recent matches. They managed to defeat Stoke City 2-0 in their last home game in the Championship. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded two.

Millwall 2-1 Hull City 18/04/22

Millwall 3-0 Peterborough United 30/04/22

Millwall 0-0(P) Hammarby 20/07/22

Millwall 1-1 Ipswich Town 23/07/22

Millwall 2-0 Stoke City 30/07/22

Millwall latest away form

Millwall have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having won each of their two most recent matches. They managed to defeat Colchester United 1-0 in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded eight.

Birmingham City 2-2 Millwall 23/04/22

AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Millwall 07/05/22

Crystal Palace 5-4 Millwall 09/07/22

Dartford 0-2 Millwall 12/07/22

Colchester United 0-1 Millwall 15/07/22

Cambridge United news

Cambridge United will take to the pitch without Fejiri Okenabirhie, as the forward continues his recovery from an Achilles tendon rupture.

Bonner is likely to rest key players including Knibbs, Sam Smith and Joe Ironside against Millwall, which could mean starts for Jack Lankester, Shilow Tracey and Saikou Janneh in attack.

Millwall news

Millwall’s new signing Zian Fleming appeared from the bench during the win over Stoke City and should make his first competitive start for the club on Tuesday.

Mason Bennett and George Saville are also likely to come into the first XI having gained crucial minutes in the second half on Saturday.

Prediction and Odds

With both managers likely to make changes to their squads as they prioritise their league campaigns, we expect to see a fairly even cup tie.

Millwall have won each of the six meetings between the sides, but Cambridge United look fired up for the 2022-23 campaign, with a draw the probable outcome.

Odds: 1 2.26 X 2.05 2 2.20