Neil Harris prepares for first local derby at Cambridge United
The U's head coach outlines key focus on mentality, tactics, and squad ahead of today's clash with Peterborough United.
Neil Harris is preparing for his first local derby as Cambridge United manager, with Saturday’s match against Peterborough United offering a chance to secure “bragging rights” and boost team morale. The manager emphasised the importance of a fresh mindset and tactical decisions ahead of the highly competitive encounter.
"Mentally, it's crucial to approach this game with the right mindset. What’s happened earlier in the season doesn’t matter; this is about pride and doing it for our fans," Harris explained. "It’s about getting the mentality right to ensure that we come out on top in such a competitive environment."
Harris pointed out that while a strong start is important, it’s vital to maintain consistency throughout the entire match. "Starting well is key, but you have to finish the half well, start the second half well, and finish strong. It’s the whole 90 minutes that counts," he said.
Reflecting on Peterborough’s recent form, Harris acknowledged the strength of their attacking players. "They’ve got quality in their squad, with a lot of goals this season, but they’ve also conceded quite a few," he noted. "We know what to expect and will focus on being at our best, with the right mentality to come out on top."
Posh gaffer, Darren Ferguson has emphasised the importance of maintaining strong performance levels - with both teams facing difficult seasons,
“It’s an unusual situation for us in League One, but we’re still fighting and we know the importance of the game. Despite their position, I’ve always found matches against Cambridge to be tough, particularly at their place,” Ferguson said. "The league standings often go out of the window in derby games. It's a highly competitive environment regardless of current form."
Ferguson also addressed the ongoing struggles with clinical finishing, an area he has been working on with his players. “We need to be more ruthless in front of goal,” he stated. “We’ve had plenty of chances, but we’re not taking them. It’s something we’ve been working on this week, and players are starting to show more confidence in taking shots when the opportunity arises.”
Kick off at the Abbey is at 12:30pm.