Ian Deakin’s side head into this match in excellent form – five league games played, five wins and zero goals conceded, with a pretty impressive Emirates FA Cup run also in progress.

The Blues’ last match was on Saturday afternoon, and it saw them travel to Carters Park to face Holbeach United and walk away as 2-0 victors.

Micah Jebbison secured his first competitive goal for Long Eaton with a strike on the stroke of half-time, before Ben Hutchinson also claimed his first competitive goal for the club with an excellent glancing header late on.

Loughborough come into this game with some good form of their own, having won their last four consecutive league fixtures in a row.

The Scholars’ last match saw them take all three points when Sleaford Town visited the University Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where Olusanya Fadahunsi scored a brace in a comfortable 2-0 victory.

Previous Meetings –

Long Eaton United and Loughborough University spent five seasons competing in the Midland Football League Premier Division together, after it was formed in the 2014/15 season.

Loughborough then left to join the United Counties League at the end of the 2018/19 season and that was the last time both teams met in all competitions.

The Blues claimed victory in the last meeting between the two sides – it was in the MFL Premier Division in March 2019 at the Loughborough University Holywell Fitness Centre.

Mason Rowley scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory for Long Eaton, and that match even featured two current Blues, Kameron Campbell and Romaine Graham.

Our previous meeting at Grange Park was back in December 2018, when the Blues were on the wrong end of an unfortunate 3-2 league defeat. Campbell and Ruben Wiggins-Thomas netted our only goals on that day, but Christian Eneremadu, Matthew Crookes and Benjamin Last secured all three points for the visitors.

Managers Quotes –

Looking ahead to what is going to be a tough match against young and determined opposition, Deakin said: “Those guys are doing it every day, that is their life at the moment. My lads are going to work in the morning – digging up roads, tiling bathrooms or whatever they do for a living, so it is of course going to be a very tough game.

“I am not going to underestimate them – I know their manager was here today [versus Holbeach] watching, but he probably has not taken much from that match to be fair.”

With the Blues having now gone five league games unbeaten, Deakin was adamant that nothing changes no matter the opposition, he added: “We will go into the game on Tuesday, like we always do, looking to win.

“Hopefully, we will be able to freshen things up, because do not forget that I have a fantastic group of young players that I can also utilise, so we will be ready to go with a full, fit squad.

“It is important that we keep the momentum going, like I say, we are on a crest of a wave at the moment and that is massively important in football, carrying that confidence into games is huge.

“We are looking forward to that game, I think it will be a good test for us, they have got some really good players, so we just cannot wait to get going on Tuesday.”

Team News –

With three games in the space of eight days, it seems likely that there may be slight rotation when we welcome Loughborough Students to Grange Park on Tuesday evening.

Micah Jebbison will have been working hard over the last couple of days, after being substituted off due to a slight groin strain against Holbeach United.

James Taylor will also be looking to recover for this match, since the midfielder missed the last match through an injury he sustained, which forced an early exit, against Coleshill Town.

Other than a few knocks, Deakin will have a full squad to pick from ahead of what is going to be a tough league fixture against a very fit and strong side.

Ticket Information –

£6 Adults
£4 Concessions
U16s FREE with a paying adult

£2 Matchday Programmes

The match kicks off at 7.45 pm and we advise all supporters to arrive early to avoid any queues or delays.

Entry can only be purchased at the gate with cash, however, card and cash payments are accepted at the bar and at the kitchen.

Also, you can see the team line-ups outside the hospitality room or on our official Twitter, where there will also be live updates from the match.