Gary Waddock targets Cambridge United maintaining momentum in trip to MK Dons in relentless schedule
Gary Waddock wants to see Cambridge United maintain their momentum in the “relentless” schedule when they travel to MK Dons in Sky Bet League One this Saturday (November 11).
United are unbeaten in their last three league games, and have only lost once in their last seven, as they sit 10th in the table.
But they are in the midst of a near two-month spell playing every Tuesday and Saturday.
“It’s a great challenge but at the same time it’s relentless,” said United assistant head coach Waddock.
“It’s every second or third day that you’re planning but it’s been good, I’m really enjoying it.
“Obviously with the game on Tuesday night (the Papa John’s Trophy defeat to Stevenage), there were a number of changes so we were able to give some of the lads a bit of down time.
“Hopefully they feel a little bit more refreshed going into the game on Saturday, and that will have worked in our favour.
“We’ve picked up some good results recently and we want to keep that momentum going for as long as you possibly can.”
Their opponents, MK Dons, are currently seventh in the table.
Liam Manning took over from Russell Martin, who departed for Swansea City, in the summer but they have maintained the same approach to their game.
They got off to a flying start to the season, but have just stumbled slightly of late, with three defeats in their last five games, with the other two matches being wins.
“They’ve done really well,” said Waddock.
“They’ve got a good group of players there. They have a way of playing that is difficult to play against but we will go there with a plan and hopefully put that in place and will get some reward from it.
“We know they are a possession-based team. They have made one or two changes to how they play but in the main are very similar to the previous manager.
“It’s a difficult place to go because of the style of play that they have but it’s a great challenge. It’s a fantastic stadium as well, with a really good group of players, and we’ve got a good group of players as well so we’re looking forward to the challenge.
“We know their strengths, obviously the way they play, their style of play. They will have a lot of the ball. We’re going to have to defend well, but I’m not saying we’re going there to defend for the entire game, just that we will have to do our defensive side well.
“Obviously, when we regain possession of the ball we will have to be good ourselves in possession to go and hurt them.
“There are a number of different areas we’re looking at their strengths and weaknesses, and hopefully come Saturday at 3pm we get that right.”
MK Dons have a good blend of youth and experience, and United will be up against some familiar faces, including Harry Darling and Hiram Boateng.
“They have a very good balance,” said Waddock. “We all know about Harry and how good a player he is, but they’ve got a really good talented group of players.
“Hiram is there as well, who we know really well and is a really quality player as well.
“We’re looking forward to seeing them but we want to go there and be very professional, which we will be, to get a result.”
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