Macclesfield vs Cambridge United Predictions

• Macclesfield are currently in 22nd place, three points clear of relegation but haven’t won since the middle of October. They’ve drawn 11 times this season, averaging less than a goal a game.
• Cambridge United have performed in fits and starts so far this year, winning eight but losing 10. They’ve lost three of their last four and have struggled to maintain form.
• Macclesfield have drawn six of their last seven games but their home form has been slightly better than their league position indicates with The Silkmen losing just once as hosts this season.
• Cambridge United haven’t enjoyed their travels this season, going seven games without a win away from home.
• Nine of Macclesfield’s games this season have been 0-0 at half time which works out to be 39% of their games.

Is another draw on the cards for Macclesfield?

Macclesfield have been somewhat of draw specialists this season, picking up a point in 11 of their 23 games so far. They haven’t been able to add many victories to this however with just five this season. The hosts haven’t conceded a huge amount of goals, an average of 1.13 per game lower than any other team in the bottom half except Newport County, but scoring has been their issue with just 22 goals in 23 games, a total surpassed by Eoin Doyle by himself last weekend.

The team have drawn six of their last seven games, struggling to find three points but doing enough to avoid the losses that would’ve sucked them further towards the bottom of the table. Last weekend’s draw with Port Vale probably should’ve been a win with Macclesfield missing a host of chances but the game did show their fight, something that Daryl McMahon will be keen they replicate this coming weekend.

Can Cambridge begin a second half push to the top 7?

Cambridge United have shown glimpses this season of what they can achieve, with the goals of Sam Smith catching the eye in particular, but they haven’t had any consistency to their game at all, picking up consecutive wins just twice. This has kept them from mounting a playoff push but they sit just eight points off of the top seven, a total that they could overcome if they were able to find the results needed in the second half of the season.

The U’s haven’t had a good few weeks, losing three of their last four and dropping into the bottom half of the table. They’ve also lost Reggie Lambe for this weekend’s game after his red card on New Year’s Day. The side have been the picture of average this season with 30 goals scored and 30 conceded and they’ll need to positively separate those two figures if they want to be considered playoff hopeful in another dozen games or so.

Does either side come away with the points?

Macclesfield have been draw specialists this season and that extends to half time too with 39% of their games being 0-0 at half time. This figure is almost matched by Cambridge with the visitors seeing a 0-0 result at half time in 36% of their games. Despite this their have only been six 0-0 final results in games featuring either of these sides this season. That leads us to our prediction that the second half of this game will be the half with most goals. We can easily see this being 0-0 at half time, allowing a solitary goal in the second half to win us this bet.

Whilst a solitary goal would be enough to make that prediction come through, we’re backing Macclesfield to pick up yet another draw, this time a 1-1 result. Neither side are in blistering form and with Cambridge being the away side they are likely to be a little more reserved in their approach. We can see both sides getting on the scoresheet but can’t see a host of goals in this once, leading us to a 1-1 scoreline.