MATCHWATCH : Cheltenham Town (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Tuesday October 8 2023, 7pm
Where : Whaddon Road, Cheltenham, GL52 5NA
Capacity : 6,700

Next up is a first ever Trophy visit to Gloucestershire.

Cheltenham disappeared from the 3rd tier fixtures after failing to finish above 4 other teams in the old third division last season. Their season restart at the lower lever hasn't exactly been too bright either given they sit 20th in their new division, having been beaten 2-1 at Barrow on Saturday.

However 9 of their 10 points have arrived courtesy of home games and we all know how wonderful it is to be able to support Reading when they go on their travels even when they're obvious favourites #kiddy #eastleigh

The game will gave to be "concluded" on the night, there will not be any extra time though, it will go to penalties if it's all square at full time. Reading need to win to more or less guarantee progression to the knock out bit, but defeat wouldn't be the end of the world with the home fixture v Newport still to come next month.

Changes will be made by Reading given the perceived cr@pness of the competition. Abrefa has, I think, joined the list of casualties while Pereira and Camara will remain out until at least after the international break. WiFi will either miss this game or the league visit from Crawley in serving his 1 game ban following being sent off at Rovrum. That said, think Wareham or Tuma will start over him anyway while Akande will be preferred to Campbell, CBBC over Button and Dean will probably start.

Referee

James Durkin

Previously

No previous games

Historically

Reading have won 4 of the previous 6 games against Cheltenham in all competitions with the other 2 games ending as draws so this fixture sees a record you'd want to keep intact. 4 of those previous games have been in the FA Cup so this game is a return to the more usual fare between the two sides. Reading have only won once at Whaddon Road (back in 1956) and never lost but Cheltenham will fancy their chances if it's Charity FC that turn up on Tuesday.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the game
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Sky button thing
5. Use a RoyalsTV subscription
6. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Snowflake Royal]

Tricky one to decide what to do this, with so many young players in the first team and the squad so stretched. Especially with CBC missing from the bench against Rovrum. Plus Abrefa looking injured.

...................Rowley
Youth RB, Dean, Kanu, Osho
............Rushesha, Savage
Akande.......Sackey............ Ahmed
...................Wareham

But don't think that's enough qualifying players. So maybe Campbell in for Ahmed, or Abrefa at RB, or Knibbs for Sackey or Ahmed....

[Clyde1998]

The outfield qualifying players for this one (including anyone who's injured); players in grey are duplicates:

1. Started 40+ senior matches (10): Yiadom (485); Dean (474); Wing (225); Smith (197); Knibbs (144); Dorsett (81); Mbengue (66); Bindon (56); Savage (47); Ehibhatiomhan (43)
2. On loan from a Premier League or EFL Cat 1 academy (1): Campbell
3. Top ten most starts (all comps) this season (2): Elliott (10); Ehibhatiomhan (10); Wing (10); Bindon (9); Craig (9); Mbengue (9); Smith (9); Dorsett (6); Knibbs (6); Savage (6)
4. Started the previous match (1): Craig; Mbengue; Bindon; Abrefa; Elliott; Wing; Knibbs; Campbell; Ehibhatiomhan; Smith

Overall (14): Aberfa; Bindon; Campbell; Craig; Dean; Dorsett; Ehibhatiomhan; Elliott; Knibbs; Mbengue; Savage; Smith; Wing; Yiadom

Obviously Abrefa; Dorsett and Yiadom are all injured and it's likely Bindon will already be away on international duty (as New Zealand's first game is on the Friday morning our time). I'd hope Savage is available, but Wales U21 play on the Friday night.

EDIT: Of our non-qualifying players, it appears Tuma will be unavailable too - as Malta play Turkmenistan on Thursday night. Boyce-Clarke is not listed in the Jamaica squad, although that may be because he's injured (if that's the reason he wasn't on the bench yesterday).

[Royals and Racers]

Referee James Durkin is the son of ex PL ref Paul Durkin- James has been doing PL 2 matches i have noticed.

[Clyde1998]

My ticket estimate suggests 255 Reading fans at this stage.

[Jerry St Clair]

Cheltenham have been Atrocious with a capital A this season. 19 new players were recruited over the summer with almost all of last season's first team leaving. Only Tom Bradbury and Tom Pett remain from the team that started the league fixture at Whaddon Road in December. Two victories have been courtesy of injury time winners. In the third, the Robins were comprehensively outplayed by Accrington last Tuesday. They played some of the most brainless hoofball I've ever had the misfortune of watching, with the natives singing "Michael Flynn, your football is shit", before Stanley threw the game away with a mad 10 minutes. There's an injury crisis to boot with three or four first choice players currently out long term.

Flynn has no idea what his best team is or what formation to play, but I'd expect a couple of Academy graduates, Freddy WIllcox and Brandon Liggett, to make appearances. Joe Day will probably replace no.1 Owen Evans in goal, otherwise it may be a fairly strong team (and I use the term strong, in its very broadest sense).

Confidence is completely shot, the fans' only objective this season is survival so, whatever team Reading put out, they should win, and win pretty comfortably.

[Clyde1998]

For context, the side that started against West Ham U21s was:
CBC
Abrefa - Dean - Kanu - Garcia
Elliott - Spencer - Savage
Akande - Wareham - Ehib
Subs: Pereira; Ahmed; Osho; Harrison; Rushesha; Craig; Sackey

The three first team players who were having to start due to the qualifying player rule (Elliott; Savage and Ehib) were pulled off at half-time - Sackey; Rushesha and Ahmed came on respectively.

I'd look at going with something like (assuming all are available):
CBC/Button
Ahmed - Dean - Kanu - Garcia
Craig - Rushesha - Savage
Akande - Wareham - Ehib
Subs: Button/Rowley; Osho; Spencer; Sackey; Elliott; Campbell; Knibbs

I think we'll have a better idea of what the squad will be once we've seen the U21 squad their game tonight.

Noticed Rushesha didn't play in the last U21 match and has been missing from the first team bench, so hopefully he's not injured. Spencer would probably come in, although noticed Charlie Wellens played for the U21s against Everton - so he'd be someone I'd like to see (even if it's only from the bench).

Abrefa went off injured against Rotherham; would certainly start him if he was available (which seems unlikely).

I think Wareham and Akande starting are almost certain - would want them to get good minutes in this competition, seeing as they're our back-up options in their positions.

[Clyde1998]

Cheltenham have been Atrocious with a capital A this season. 19 new players were recruited over the summer with almost all of last season's first team leaving. Only Tom Bradbury and Tom Pett remain from the team that started the league fixture at Whaddon Road in December. Two victories have been courtesy of injury time winners. In the third, the Robins were comprehensively outplayed by Accrington last Tuesday. They played some of the most brainless hoofball I've ever had the misfortune of watching, with the natives singing "Michael Flynn, your football is shit", before Stanley threw the game away with a mad 10 minutes. There's an injury crisis to boot with three or four first choice players currently out long term.

Flynn has no idea what his best team is or what formation to play, but I'd expect a couple of Academy graduates, Freddy WIllcox and Brandon Liggett, to make appearances. Joe Day will probably replace no.1 Owen Evans in goal, otherwise it may be a fairly strong team (and I use the term strong, in its very broadest sense).

Confidence is completely shot, the fans' only objective this season is survival so, whatever team Reading put out, they should win, and win pretty comfortably.

I would be surprised if Cheltenham took this game too seriously. Doesn't benefit Cheltenham in anyway to be in this competition, aside from maybe a couple of fringe/young players getting a run out.

Hoping for a decent win to get through into the next round - with may allow a bit more freedom with tactics and starting XI against Newport.

[Jerry St Clair]

The £10k winners prize money is actually a pretty big incentive for Cheltenham (that’s how finances roll at small clubs in the basement). The Board have said they do not budget for any income from cup competitions so £10k would be a bonus and they’ll have their eye on that.

But, yes, Flynn has pretty much said he’s not interested in this competition from a football point of view and he picks the team.

[Clyde1998]

The club have said tickets will be available on the night for anyone who has made the last minute decision to go - from the main ticket office.

The £10k winners prize money is actually a pretty big incentive for Cheltenham (that’s how finances roll at small clubs in the basement). The Board have said they do not budget for any income from cup competitions so £10k would be a bonus and they’ll have their eye on that.

But, yes, Flynn has pretty much said he’s not interested in this competition from a football point of view and he picks the team.

Forgot there was the ‘win bonus’ in the group stage. Makes sense for clubs not to budget for cup income, as none of the income would be guaranteed at the start of the season.

[Sutekh]

The £10k winners prize money is actually a pretty big incentive for Cheltenham (that’s how finances roll at small clubs in the basement). The Board have said they do not budget for any income from cup competitions so £10k would be a bonus and they’ll have their eye on that.

But, yes, Flynn has pretty much said he’s not interested in this competition from a football point of view and he picks the team.

Might be something more to worry about in that case given previous comment from Jerry above.

[Jerry St Clair]

There’s been heavy, persistent rain in Cheltenham since late morning. No sign of a pitch inspection yet, but keep your eye on the social media if you’re travelling.

[Green]

There’s been heavy, persistent rain in Cheltenham since late morning. No sign of a pitch inspection yet, but keep your eye on the social media if you’re travelling.

Games already off at Stourport, Wallingford & Crowmarsh and Evesham.

Altogether more amateur outfits perhaps but does confirm the level of rainfall that region is experiencing.

[windermereROYAL]

Game off

[Clyde1998]

Game off

Just as the coach gets to the ground.

[stealthpapes]

There’s been heavy, persistent rain in Cheltenham since late morning. No sign of a pitch inspection yet, but keep your eye on the social media if you’re travelling.

Games already off at Stourport, Wallingford & Crowmarsh and Evesham.

Altogether more amateur outfits perhaps but does confirm the level of rainfall that region is experiencing.

Got stranded in Evesham August bank holiday of 2020. Real 'you're not from around here' vibe from the locals. Red Lion was a solid wee pub but some of the others felt like a wild west brawl would kick off.

[stealthpapes]

Game off

christ just pressed submit on the video pass

[Jerry St Clair]

The heavens opened at about 4pm for about 45 minutes. Proper torrential rain. Roads turned to rivers. It’s stopped now, but unsurprised it’s off.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Going to be a busy run up to Christmas with Barnsley to rearrange and no doubt the Nov international break game

[Clyde1998]

Looking at dates and I don’t know when this could be played.

Don’t know what the rules say, but would be good if the tie could be reversed and played tomorrow.