Morecambe vs Cambridge preview
Friday 21 December 2018 11:43, UK
Morecambe captain Barry Roche could be pushing for a return to the starting line-up after being named on the bench against Lincoln.
The goalkeeper has been sidelined since he suffered a thigh injury at the end of October against Newport.
Andy Fleming could be back in action for Morecambe soon as the midfielder is set to return to the training ground next week having not played since the end of September. Defenders Zak Mills (hernia) and James Sinclair plus midfielder Aaron Wildig (calf) remain on the long-term injured list.
New Cambridge manager Colin Calderwood will be in charge for the first time at the Globe Arena on Saturday. The former Tottenham and Scotland defender, who was assistant to Steve Bruce at Aston Villa, said Cambridge have to become an "ugly" team to face.
He added: "We'll play safe soccer. We have to graduate into being a dominant team." Striker Barry Corr is the only player unavailable for Calderwood with a serious ankle injury.
Opta stats
Morecambe and Cambridge drew both matches 0-0 when they met in League Two last season.
In all competitions at the Globe Arena, both Morecambe and Cambridge United have won two matches each against one another, drawing the only other encounter 0-0 last season.
Morecambe have conceded in each of their last nine home games in League Two - their longest home run without a clean sheet since September 2017 (11 home games without a clean sheet).
Cambridge United have failed to score in each of their last three league games; their longest scoring drought in League Two since November 2017 (a run of four games without a goal).
Morecambe's A-jay Leitch-Smith has scored five of his six goals in League Two this season at home - none of his teammates have scored more than two at the Globe Arena in 2018-19.
