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Blues Visit Cheltenham Targeting First Win
Tuesday, 17th Aug 2021 09:54

Town make their first visit to Cheltenham since their days as a Southern League club in the 1930s looking for their first victory of 2021/22.

The Blues have drawn one - 2-2 at home to Morecambe - and lost one - Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Burton - of their opening two League One fixtures of the season, while last Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Newport ended in a 1-0 reverse.

Town manager Paul Cook has added two players since the loss to the Brewers, central defender Cameron Burgess and midfielder Tom Carroll.

Cook has already confirmed that Burgess, who had a loan spell at Cheltenham in the second half of the 2015/16, will start at the heart of the defence, presumably alongside Luke Woolfenden, although recent signing George Edmundson is closing in his Town debut.

Toto Nsiala is out with a hamstring injury and Janoi Donacien looks set to drop to the bench.

Kane Vincent-Young will continue at right-back with Matt Penney probably at left-back, although Hayden Coulson is closing in on being ready for inclusion in the squad having spent time self-isolating prior to completing his loan move from Middlesbrough. Vaclav Hladky will be in goal.

In midfield, skipper Lee Evans is again set to partner Rekeem Harper with new addition Carroll likely to be among the subs.

Town could again be without the injured Conor Chaplin, James Norwood (both hamstring), Wes Burns and Sone Aluko, although Cook wouldn’t be drawn on whether any of them would be ready for the trip to Whaddon Road after the Brewers game.


Kyle Edwards made an impression when coming off the bench on his debut on Saturday and may well be handed his first start for the club, probably on the left with Armando Dobra dropping to the bench, which would be harsh on the Albanian U21 international, who has made a bright start to the season.

Scott Fraser will probably continue on the right with Louie Barry playing off Joe Pigott up front.

Like Town, Cheltenham have drawn one - 1-1 at Crewe - and lost one - 3-1 at home to Wycombe - in the league this season, while they won their Carabao Cup tie, beating Bristol Rovers 2-0 away.

Manager Michael Duff knows the Blues will be expected to beat his side, who were promoted from League Two as champions.

“They obviously have a top manager and the only reason he dropped into League One himself is for the opportunity that they are going to back him in the market which they've done,” he told Gloucestershire Live.

“We will be right up against it, but this is why we tried to get out of the last league, for opportunities to play against a big club with a big support, even on a Tuesday night a million miles away.

“Well, they are a million miles from everywhere, so I am sure their supporters are used to having to drive five or six hours on a coach. Embrace the challenge. We are at home, can we be competitive again? Hopefully.”

He says it’s important not to treat the bigger teams in the division with too much respect.

“That’s something we said on Saturday [ahead of the Wycombe game]. Don't play the team that's just come out of the Championship, it's just 11 men, the pitch is green, there are three blokes dressed in black running around annoying everyone and one ball.

“Believe in what we do, don't worry too much about the opposition. We need to be aware of their threats and things like that, but ultimately we don't turn up, we'll get beat.

“So we have to focus mainly on our performances and that's what the players have to do. I've told them a million times, they have to look after their performances and it's my job to look after results.

“They don't need to worry about the result, but as long as they are looking after their performances and performing well and okay, then that's their job done.”

He added: “I'd imagine if Ipswich aren't in the top two, they'll definitely be in the top six. Are we expected to be in the top six this year? I wouldn't have thought so. So it's just a realism to it.

“It's alright having a free hit, but you still have to turn up and perform, which is ultimately what we will be trying to do: be competitive and see what we can achieve.”

Town and Cheltenham have never met in an EFL fixture with their only previous competitive fixtures having taken place in the Southern League in the Blues’ first two seasons as a professional club in which they achieved four wins out of four.

In 1936/37 Town won 3-1 at Whaddon Road and 3-0 at Portman Road. The following year, the Blues were 3-1 victors at home and, in the most recent meeting between the teams, 2-1 winners away with Gilbert Alsop the scorer of both Town goals.

Burgess made 17 starts for the Robins during his loan spell there, while another of the Blues’ summer signings, Burns, also had a stint with the Gloucestershire club, in the second half of 2014/15, scoring four goals in 14 matches.

Tuesday’s referee is Peter Wright from Merseyside, who has shown 10 yellow cards and no red in three games so far this season.

Wright has refereed only one previous Town match, the 2-1 defeat at Sunderland last year, in which he certainly made his mark, showing Andre Dozzell a controversial red card before awarding a similarly contentious penalty against Mark McGuinness, decisions then-manager Paul Lambert slammed as “absolutely incredible”.

Squad from: Hladky, Holy, Vincent-Young, Donacien, Penney, Coulson, Burgess, Woolfenden, Ndaba, Edmundson, Evans (c), Harper, Carroll, El Mizouni, Fraser, Dobra, Edwards, Pigott, Bonne, Barry, Jackson.


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Fat_Boy_Tim added 20:01 - Aug 16
We are going to win this.
6

dirtydingusmagee added 20:32 - Aug 16
hope you are right Fat Boy, we need to get the show on the road .
8

dirtydingusmagee added 20:34 - Aug 16
Jackson in squad, ! Coach drivers mate .
0

chepstowblue added 20:45 - Aug 16
Let's hope this is the night we start "concentrating on the league" !! At least one change required at centre half. Barry looked like a little boy lost at Burton, so dropping Dobra(who looked very bright) would be harsh. Edwards made a real impression off the bench and I'd like to see more of him. Happy enough for the rest to remain unchanged.
4

NthQldITFC added 21:35 - Aug 16
One Gilbert Alsop! There's only one Gilbert Alsop!
5

TimmyH added 22:09 - Aug 16
Here we go the first of the 'targets' of the new season...remember how many times we saw this word used last season and generally failing. I think we'll win tomorrow as well!
1

Saxonblue74 added 23:22 - Aug 16
When it clicks somebody is going to take a thrashing. Let's hope it comes soon.....tomorrow night??!
7

Linkboy13 added 05:54 - Aug 17
There's an argument for all of the back four to be changed not one of them has covered themselves in glory.
4

itfcserbia added 07:07 - Aug 17
Surely Donacien did more than Wolfenden to keep his place? Anyway COYB!
17

dirtydingusmagee added 07:46 - Aug 17
surely we will get the win we need, the next three games are ''big'' , the league will get a good shuffle tonight, hope we will be going in right direction . Would like to see Dobra get a goal , he has worked hard, think it would bring even better things from him , if he could get off the mark , COYB
9

Unhinged_dynamo added 08:12 - Aug 17
Going to be a tough night, they have a good settled team and a really good manager who I'd like to see at town one day when things inevitably change. I'd take a score draw tonight, hopefully without the defensive mistakes
0

markchips added 08:54 - Aug 17
The way things are going I can't see any of the old players being starters going forward. KVY very much off the pace and Woolfenden very poor. Norwood and Nolan injured as usual,. Amazed Jackson is still around but I suppose he is earning too much and no-one wants him. Should have got rid in January.
5

BluePayne added 09:08 - Aug 17
No matter the past few results, let's have a good showing, make some noise and get behind the lads. COYB
1

BlueBlood90 added 09:16 - Aug 17
I really hope we didn't sign one of the best number 10s in the league to dump him out on the wings all season. Fraser has to start as our central attacking midfielder!
6

shakytown added 09:52 - Aug 17
Almost at must win stage or we will get too far behind. We have to stop the pub level defensive errors and start converting chances into goals.
2

fifeblue added 10:17 - Aug 17
Don't underestimate my other team, Cheltenham Town. They will give Ipswich Town a good game. I shall be there. I am predicting 1-1 or 2-2.
-1

Kirbmeister added 10:18 - Aug 17
Shakytown - must win stage when we're playing third game?? Hopefully some fans won't lost their s..t if we don't win. It'll take months for all the new players to gel together. See where we are at Xmas. We may not get promotion this season. I think some fans expected us to rip up the leave from the off. It doesn't work like that unfortunately. Give them all time.
-4

Europablue added 10:23 - Aug 17
shakytown we should go into every game thinking that it is a must win!
2

Kingfisher49 added 10:29 - Aug 17
As things are not going to plan with results at present I expect the unexpected tonight with a late goal from Jackson to win the game.
2

Linkboy13 added 10:32 - Aug 17
It's early in the season and we are still picking up far too many injuries. Dispite this i expect us to come home with a 2 1 win with Kyle Edwards being a major factor.
0

grinch added 10:44 - Aug 17
Why say donacien on bench he has been more effective than Wolfeden who has to shoulder the blame for our poor defensive start alongside KVY who has been caught up front on too many occasions so I think Donacien deserves a place before both these players IMO
7

mathiemagic added 11:02 - Aug 17
The injuries really concern me at Ipswich, no matter which management team comes in it is the same old, same old with regards getting crocked players.
1

ashp19 added 11:17 - Aug 17
Hats off to the town fans selling out another away game!
8

dirtydingusmagee added 11:45 - Aug 17
Kingfisher, marked you up , for making me laugh, need a bit of the lighter side of life these days .
1

IpswichT62OldBoy added 11:49 - Aug 17
We have played with purpose, energy and direction, so far results have not been good but the football is so much improved it will pay dividends, it will pay out tonight,,, 0-4 Town win
1


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