THE BLUES
Two weeks ago I flagged up how, in our championship season, we didn't lose our fifth game until February. Rubbish. You all failed to spot the deliberate error!
Now I know only ten people read this but to find out I had got my facts wrong by someone who dosen't even own a PC, I was discussing this, (wrong), fact with him in the pub, and has the fixtures of this particular season stuck to his bedroom wall was a touch embarrassing. It's not as bad as that at all, well not nearly as bad.
We did, of course, lose 10 games over the course of 2005/06 and when we lost our sixth game to
Everyone who follows the side knows that goals are going to be the problem, keeping
The Moose should continue in Black's absence with a hamstring strain, out for another 10 days. Captain Kev can take Bailey's place as he starts a one match suspension though Mac will be back.
THE OPPOSITION
Poor old Cheltenham manager Downing was so close to that first win since taking over from John Ward in October, (who did a runner to Carlisle), unless you count the Paint Pot Trophy where he beat local rivals Swindon but lost to Brighton in midweek. Even so, nothing in the league where they now prop up the rest of the division.
In fact since beating Huddesfield away in mid-September they have drawn 4 and lost 6 in League One and been knocked out of the Carling Cup 1-4 by the Blues.
The team that finished the 1-1 Cup draw at home to Brighton and a report from the local Rivals site; Higgs, Jeremy Gill, Caines, Duff, Wright, Vincent (Reid ,85 ), Bird, Connolly, Spencer, Gillespie, Connor (Yao ,51) Subs not used: Scott P Brown, Gallinagh, Wylde. Attendance: 2,984
Just as it looked like the Robins were going to progress to round two of the FA Cup, a last minute goal from substitute Doug Loft meant that the two sides have got to do it all again. New Cheltenham boss Keith Downing was all set to celebrate, along with the fans, his first win as the club's boss but Loft spoilt things for Cheltenham when Bas Savage, (that man Bas is proving himself a nuisance to a lot of sides), ran down the left, sent over a cross and Loft fired home with his left foot from the edge of the area.
But Gillespie thought he had won the game when he scored after being set up by a cross from David Bird. But it was Loft who had the last word and sent the travelling fans wild with delight just as the game reached added on time.
While hot off the Western Daily Press the defeat last night to
Cheltenham Town will come back to the South Coast next Tuesday to do battle for the chance to move one step closer to a day out at Wembley in the FA Cup - but an easier path to English football's home was blocked when Brighton triumphed last night. Dean Wilkins' side came out on top to progress to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy area semi-finals. Goals from David Martot and Bas Savage, plus a brace from Nicky Forster were enough to give Brighton the psychological advantage ahead of the sides' meeting next week in an FA Cup second round replay.
Paul Connor ended a barren run in front of goal, which had stretched all the way back to February, with a well-taken effort to give the Robins hope with a goal just before the break. That will have pleased manager Keith Downing - as will the second-half display and the performance of Steven Gillespie, who caused plenty of problems as
Downing, a winner in this competition with Wolves in 1988, had earmarked the much-maligned tournament as a realistic chance to lead the side out at Wembley and fielded a strong side. A calf injury, though, robbed the side of stalwart centre-half Shane Duff, giving youngster Michael Wylde a chance to line up alongside Gavin Caines. There was also a return to action for Lee Ridley, who had been sidelined with a niggling injury since the end of September, in place of rested veteran full-back Alan Wright.
Wilkins was more cautious with his team selection. Four of the team that scraped a last-minute draw in Saturday's FA Cup tie between the sides at
Proceedings could have taken a rather different turn had Jerry Gill's fourth-minute pile-driver flown into the net, rather than going the wrong side of the post as
But Brighton clicked into gear after Martot's opener and were unlucky not to double the advantage in the 19th minute when only a last-ditch recovery tackle from Wylde prevented Adam El-Abd from setting his sights on goal after another sweeping move had ripped the Robins' rearguard to shreds. Forster and Elder were guilty of spurning a chance that probably would have put the match out of
Connor lifted
Elder had another chance to add a third in the 52nd minute but again could not connect at the far post after a good ball across the face of goal by strike partner Forster.
Wilkins' side was rattled again soon after as Gillespie skipped past a number of challenges en route to goal, only to be denied when midfielder George O'Callaghan tracked back. Late on, Forster counter-attacked to put the game out of
A similar side to Saturday's cup tie so I would expect to see most of last night's starting eleven kicking off against the Shrimpers.
THE MATCHES
A fairly even history, 13 games played: WON 5, LOST 6, DRAWN 2.
The first time was only 8 years ago on October 9 99, a 1-2 away defeat, Curruthers the scorer. The last time in the league was a sunny day on March 19, 2005 with the game sewn up in the first half hour as we went marching on to
THE HISTORY
Cotterill then moved to Stoke City and his successor Graham Allner lasted just seven months at the helm before
Cheltenham Town F.C. also grabbed some spotlight when their matchday programme was voted best in League 1 and in the top 10 in
Cheltenham Town Cheltenham went one better and secured the Conference championship - their passport to the football league.
After two mid-table finishes in Division Three, Cheltenham finally won promotion to Division Two (via the Division Three playoffs) at the end of the 2001-02 season. Shortly after winning promotion, Steve Cotterill left Cheltenham to pursue his career by joining Stoke City as manager. He remained there for just four months before quitting to become Sunderland's assistant manager, a role which he held for just five months. Cotterill returned to football management in June 2004 with Burnley. He is still manager there.
Meanwhile, Cheltenham replaced Cotterill with first-team coach Graham Allner who had won the Conference championship with Kidderminster Harriers in 1994. But he was sacked in January 2003, after just six months in the job, with Cheltenham hovering near the foot of Division Two. Cheltenham turned to Bobby Gould, one of the most experienced managers in English football whose exploits include an FA Cup victory with Wimbledon in 1988. Cheltenham continued to struggle and defeat in their final game of the season condemned the club to relegation back to Division Three after just one season.
Gould resigned as Cheltenham Town manager in November 2003 and was replaced by the experienced John Ward, who has been an assistant manager with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa and Watford, and a manager with Bristol City, Bristol Rovers and York City.
During the 2005-06 season, a new stand for visiting fans was added (The Carlsberg Stand) and a small electronic scoreboard was installed. The club punched above its weight and finished the season in 5th, earning a place in the play-offs. In the semi-final
Cheltenham have brought in Andy Lindegaard from Yeovil Town on a free transfer, left back Lee Ridley signing from 2006-2007 League 1 Champions Scunthorpe United, Aaron Ledgister on a free transfer from Bristol City, Tommy Manship on non-contract terms he had formerly been with Grantham Town and Jennison Myrie-Williams on a months loan from Bristol City.
Cheltenham opened up the 2007-08 season with a 1-0 win against Gillingham in a match that had 3 men sent off, 1 for Cheltenham & 2 for
As of the beginning of October, Cheltenham have failed to win at home since the opening day of the season, the club then going four games without a win.
Following Cheltenham's 3-0 defeat to Port Vale, John Ward announced he had agreed a four year contract with League One side Carlisle United and would begin his tenure the following day on October 3rd, 2007. Ward said he couldn't turn down the possibility of managing a team who could soon be playing in the English Championship. He left the club lying 23rd in the league, above only one team and are now expected to struggle to avoid relegation. Keith Downing was appointed caretaker manager until the position could be filled.
After a scathing attack on the fans and Ward on a radio interview on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, chairman Paul Baker has promised that Downing is set to make a number of quality signings. However only time will tell if this is in fact true, as previous promises have lead to nothing. In addition Martin Allen is being linked with the club, this would be a positive move in the eyes of many fans who see Downing as the wrong choice due to his close links to Ward. Well tough luck guys, on November 2 he was confirmed as boss for the next 18 months at least and the next day celebrated by taking them to the bottom of the table! Go Robins!
(Thanks to the usual suspects in their help in creating this article)