Cambridge United boss Mark Bonner looks ahead to crunch Sky Bet League One clash at MK Dons
Head coach Mark Bonner is expecting there to be a ‘different dynamic’ to Cambridge United’s trip to MK Dons on Saturday.
The U’s have been soundly beaten 6-0 and 4-1 on their two previous visits to the Stadium MK, having come up against a home team on each occasion that was battling for promotion.
However, this time around the Dons find themselves locked in the scrap for Sky Bet League One survival alongside United.
The two sides cannot currently be separated on 30 points and are four from safety, leaving Bonner to concede that there is ‘pressure’ on both to chalk up what could prove to be a crucial victory.
“It’s a game we’ve got to go and attack and try to win and they’ll be in exactly the same boat,” he said. “Them being at home, we know that adds extra pressure. The pressure is on them to win and we’ve got that same intent on us, but they’ll obviously have the home backing to put them under that extra pressure.
“They’ll have to cope with that and I think we’ll have nearly 2,000 (fans) there, which is great. We’ve had a couple of horrible trips there in recent seasons but the difference this year is that both teams have had a very, very tough year. Whereas in the previous years we’ve been going up against a tough team that was going for promotion and got promoted in one of those – and almost got promoted last season.
“It’s certainly a different dynamic this time around where both teams are and the seasons that both teams are having. The pressure is on both of us really to go and deliver and put on a performance.
“We’re buoyed by the performance levels – frustrated by the results – but we’ve got plenty of energy left in us to go and fight it out.”
On the injury front, Bonner revealed that Harvey Knibbs has a ‘good chance’ of returning to the squad.
The attacker, who scored the winner against the Dons on the opening day of the season, has missed United’s last six games with an ankle injury sustained in the 2-0 defeat at Barnsley on February 11.
But he is now back in training and barring any late setbacks he should be involved at the weekend.
“He trained Tuesday – trained hard on Tuesday. If he can get through the next two days ok and get some good sessions under his belt then he’ll have a good chance of being involved,” said Bonner.
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