PREVIEW: Cambridge United v Luton Town

The U’s were long-time leaders of the Skrill Premier before being usurped by Town at the end of the year.

Losing star striker Kwesi Appiah who returned to Crystal Palace has proved a big blow as in 2014, Richard Money’s side have fallen a hefty 15 points adrift after a run of games that has seen them take nine points from a possible 29, all but handing the title to Luton.

Even their daunting record at the Abbey has gone now too as the U’s had won all 12 of their opening fixtures at home, conceding just twice in the process.

That run was ended by Grimsby in January, while United then surprisingly lost their next home clash against Alfreton too and could only muster a goalless draw with Wrexham.

They did recover from that three game mini blip with a 5-1 hammering of Kidderminster, but any momentum gained was quickly stopped with Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Forest Green Rovers.

Although Cambridge’s poor league form has been tempered with a day out at Wembley later this month against Gosport Borough in the FA Trophy, that isn’t enough for Money.

He recently told BBC Cambridgeshire: “I will be as proud as punch to walk out at Wembley with the team behind me.

“But if we let this season drift away because we’ve got this game at Wembley, we will never forgive ourselves.

“If I’m lying on the beach in the summer and we haven’t played in the play-offs and given ourselves a chance of promotion I am not going to be a happy man.

“We’ve got to get our heads out of our backsides and start working.

“I’ve seen it so many times - teams in this position can drift away. Listen to my words; they can drift away. We have to make sure between us that we don’t.”

The boss has been reshuffling his squad recently too as January signing Ashley Chambers, so often a menace to Town’s defence, has joined Dagenham & Redbridge on a one month emergency loan.

Also, despite making a big defence of striker Matthew Barnes-Homer to the press in recent weeks, Money has allowed him to join struggling Tamworth.

Team news: Andy Pugh will again be missing for United with a minor knock, while Adam Cunnington, Tom Elliott and Harrison Dunk were all back in training although they would not be ready to return immediately.

On their absence, Money said: “We’ve missed them badly. I suppose the equivalent would be if you took (Andre) Gray, (Paul) Benson and (Luke) Guttridge out of Luton, that’s the difference they make to us.

“So it’s pleasing they’re back in training and at least getting closer to being able to take part again.”

Money hopes to bring in another keeper before the game following loanee John Sullivan’s return to Portsmouth while Luke Berry could also come back into the starting line-up.

For Town, Luke Guttridge misses out again with a foot injury, while Danny Fitzsimons and Jonathan Smith are the only other absentees.

Top Skrill Premier scorers: United: Kwesi Appiah, Luke Berry (10). Hatters: Andre Gray (25).

Average Skrill Premier crowds: Cambridge: 2,973. Hatters: 6,916.

Man in the middle: Kevin Johnson - has taken 15 Skrill Premier games so far this season, showing 43 yellows and five reds.

Three of the sendings off came in one game, while he has brandished red twice in his last three fixtures.

Was in charge when Luton beat Barnet 2-1 at Kenilworth Road when he almost called the game off but was talked round by captain Ronnie Henry, and did Town’s 2-0 win at Kidderminster earlier in the season.

Has officiated Cambridge once this term, the 0-0 draw at Nuneaton.

Reffed Luton five times last season, where the Hatters won three and lost two and also had the whistle for the 1-0 home win over Stockport the campaign before.

Was also in charge of Town’s 4-1 win over Mansfield in 2009-10, sending off Callum Reynolds for two yellow cards.

In charge: Richard Money - 58-year-old who began his playing days at Scunthorpe as a defender, before spells at Liverpool, Luton, Portsmouth and Fulham among others during the 1970s and 80s.

At Anfield 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, before being appointed youth team coach at Aston Villa and then coach first Nottingham Forest and then Manchester City.

Was academy director and first team coach at Coventry City, before moving to Sweden where he had spells at AIK, then at Västerås SK, also coaching in Australia with Newcastle United Jets.

Returned to England to become manager of Walsall in May 2006 and then took the role of academy director at Newcastle in June 2008.

Became Hatters boss on October 30, 2009, but had a difficult relationship with Luton fans and left on March 28, 2011.

Was announced on October 4, 2012 that he had joined Cambridge United as head coach, with then current manager, Jez George, returning to his role as director of football.

From the dug out: Richard Money: “I think the only surprise is that they (Luton) didn’t start the way they are at the minute.

“That gave us and others the chance to get above them.

“There was never any doubt that they would win this league by a long way in my eyes.

“They have the best players in the key positions and the best squad. They have a bit more quality and that is marked by what they have been able to achieve.

“They’ve got a good balance to the group and the team and at the minute everyone knows what they should be doing and it makes them a little bit like us before Christmas.”

One to watch: Ryan Bird - striker who has joined Cambridge United on loan from League Two Portsmouth.

Was combining his job as an electrician while playing part-time for Burnham, scoring 45 goals in 45 matches during 2012-13 and netted over 100 goals in his time with them.

Joined Portsmouth at the start of the season, scoring three times in 22 appearances, before going to Havant & Waterlooville on loan and then Cambridge in January.

Scored twice in his debut against Dartford and also bagged all three goals over two legs as United defeated Grimsby to reach the FA Trophy final

Friendly faces: Cambridge have a host of former Town players in their ranks, including Greg Taylor who made 43 appearances scoring once for Town after they snapped him up from Darlington before being released and then joined Cambridge on a free transfer in the summer, playing 33 times in the league this season.

Striker Matthew Barnes-Homer, who netted 21 goals in 83 games for Town, moved to Cambridge in January, but didn’t score in six league games and has moved to Tamworth on loan, where he netted on debut at the weekend.

Ex-Town boss Richard Money is in charge at the Abbey and played 49 times for Hatters, scoring once during 1981-82.

Alan Neilson recently joined Cambridge as assistant boss, with the 41-year-old making 63 appearances for Town, scoring once during 2002-05 and then became part of the management staff, having three spells as caretaker boss during four years, before leaving in the summer.

For Luton, midfielder Luke Guttridge spent five years at Cambridge, making over 150 appearances, scoring 17 league goals, while Town first team coach Hakan Hayrettin enjoyed a season at the Abbey Stadium too, making 17 appearances in the 1994-95 campaign.

We’ve got form: Hatters have been tough to beat in the league at the Abbey, winning three, drawing six and losing twice in their 11 previous meetings, scoring 18 goals and conceding 17.

Town’s best win was 3-1 back in Division Two in 1980 thanks to David Moss’ penalty, plus goals from Clive Goodyear and Brian Stein.

Luton’s biggest loss saw the hosts triumph 3-1 in League Two in 1999 as Martin Butler, Trevor Benjamin and Michael Kyd scored, with Liam George bagging Town’s late consolation.

Hatters did win 4-3 back in the first year of the Conference too when despite being down to 10 men and 2-0 down, they triumphed thanks to Kevin Gallen (2), Rossi Jarvis and Jake Howells.

Last time out: Town were held to a 2-2 draw last season.

The hosts were ahead on 20 minutes through Tom Shaw, before Luton levelled after the break thanks to Jon Shaw.

Nathan Blissett put Cambridge back in front but Town equalised on 65 minutes when Solomon Taiwo converted a penalty after Andre Gray was fouled.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Steve McNulty, Jake Howells, Simon Ainge, Jake Goodman, Jon Shaw, David Martin (Alex Wall 66), Jonathan Smith, Solomon Taiwo, Andre Gray.

Subs not used: Dean Brill, Scott Griffiths, Matt Robinson, Scott Rendell.

Attendance: 3,217.

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