Source: FOOTYMAD
The S24 Preview: Cheltenham Town v Southend United
For the fourth successive time under lights it's the Robins of Gloucestershire, so let's get in the mood for Cheltenham in League Two; Tuesday, November 2nd, kick-off 19.45. v SHRIMPERSAs S24 reported yesterday Chris Barker could be out for a number of weeks after limping off against Rotherham at Roots Hall Saturday afternoon with a calf problem, joining fellow centre-back Mark Phillips has had a relapse to his hamstring injury.Meanwhile, left back Peter Gilbert has picked up his fifth yellow card against the Millers and will also miss Cheltenham Tuesday evening with a one-match ban.Barker would have been favourite to slot in for Gilbert allowing reserves boss Graham Coughlan in at central defence, as he did for the last ten minutes against the Millers, with the French-Tunisian Bilel Mohsni. That still may happen, but Johnny Herd given another rere chance to prove his worth to Luggy in the full-back position.Picking the remaining centre-half Luke Prosser in his present state of mind would be a major gamble against seventh placed Cheltenham, 4-2 winners at Accrington Stanley Saturday, but only three points ahead of the Shrimpers. Blues boss Paul Sturrock told www.echo-news.co.uk: "You certainly don't want to lose these players. Barker would've been the ideal choice to go to left-back and now we don't have that, and it's disappointing because we want to start getting a settled side." Of course for the future as exciting as Bilel is he can be walking red card at times so if both Barker and Phillips look out for a while, Luggy could reurn to the loan market. Shrimpers skipper Craig Easton may be back for the Cup Saturday, but Doncaster loanee striker Waide Fairhurst, who is suffering from a back injury in what may be his last game, is the bench at best.Midfielder Adam Bouzid is definitely out as he continues his recovery from surgery to his skull which may keep him out for at least two months.Now we've been saying for weeks that midfield star Anthony Grant is a yellow from a suspension, how does he do it, but I was surprised to see Swindon loanee Michael Timlin was as well, that crept up, so the odds one will go for Maccers away, em, the Cup, Captiain Craig possibily available, maybe a couple of late ones lads!Another toughie for the Blues and a game that taking a point from would be a very good result.Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Mohsni, Coughlan, Herd, Simpson, Grant, Timlin, Soares, Corr, Sturrock. Subs: Evans, Herd, Phillips, Hall, Crawford, , Fairhurst.COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!OPPOSITION Robins boss Mark Yates has central defensive problems of his own, but its who to leave out!Centre-back Martin Riley returned from injury last weeekend, replacing Steve Elliott who missed out due to a tight calf. Elliott has now returned to training, along with full-back Danny Andrew (ankle), and both could start.Midfielder David Bird, Town's record holder for Football League appearances, will make his 300th career outing at Whaddon Road if selected, a Cheltenham record. Striker Wes Thomas (calf) was also back in training on Monday but needs more time, as does Captain Michael Pook, (another calf, what's going on down there!)4Shrewsbury Town 145201352141010734231524+85Rotherham United 14331161332296653251923+66Wycombe Wanderers 142321210340106572221622+67Cheltenham Town 14421862141318635212421-38Torquay United 14313129241108554221720+59Crewe Alexandra 143311871421313473312019+1110Stevenage 142418723275473151219+3Last time Out:Home; Cheltenham Town 0 Port Vale 0 (played on Saturday, October 23rd, 2010)Report here: www.ctfc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10434~51669,00.htmlAway: Accrington Stanley 2 Cheltenham Town 4 (played on Saturday, October 30th, 2010)Report here: www.ctfc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10434~51712,00.htmlPREVIOUSLYAt Cheltenham T. (8)At Southend Utd. (11)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Cheltenham T.225.00Southend Utd.545.45Southend Utd.225.00Cheltenham T.545.45Draws450.00Draws19.09GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgCheltenham T.81.00Southend Utd.141.27Southend Utd.101.25Cheltenham T.100.91On Neutral Ground (0)Overall (19 matches)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Cheltenham T.00.00Cheltenham T.736.84Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.736.84Draws00.00Draws526.32GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgCheltenham T.00.00Cheltenham T.180.95Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.241.26RecordsHighest Aggregate5Southend Utd. 4 - 1Cheltenham T.2007/2008 Highest Cheltenham T. score:2Southend Utd. 0 - 2Cheltenham T.2004/2005 Highest Southend Utd. score:4Southend Utd. 4 - 1Cheltenham T.2007/2008 SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition 2009/2010Tue 11 AugCheltenham T.1 - 2Southend Utd.League Cup 2008/2009Sat 02 MaySouthend Utd.2 - 0Cheltenham T.League One Tue 25 NovCheltenham T.0 - 0Southend Utd.League One Tue 12 AugSouthend Utd.0 - 1Cheltenham T.League Cup after extra time2007/2008Fri 29 FebCheltenham T.1 - 1Southend Utd.League One Sat 17 NovSouthend Utd.2 - 2Cheltenham T.League One Tue 14 AugSouthend Utd.4 - 1Cheltenham T.League Cup after extra time, 90 minutes 1-12004/2005Sat 19 MarCheltenham T.0 - 3Southend Utd.League Two Sat 07 AugSouthend Utd.0 - 2Cheltenham T.League Two 2003/2004Fri 09 JanCheltenham T.1 - 1Southend Utd.League Division Three Sat 09 AugSouthend Utd.2 - 0Cheltenham T.League Division Three 2001/2002Tue 19 FebCheltenham T.1 - 1Southend Utd.League Division Three Fri 28 SepSouthend Utd.0 - 1Cheltenham T.League Division Three 2000/2001Sat 05 MayCheltenham T.2 - 1Southend Utd.League Division Three Tue 05 DecSouthend Utd.2 - 0Cheltenham T.(Associate Members) Sat 25 NovSouthend Utd.0 - 1Cheltenham T.League Division Three 1999/2000Sat 06 MaySouthend Utd.2 - 1Cheltenham T.League Division Three Tue 07 DecSouthend Utd.0 - 1Cheltenham T.(Associate Members) Sat 09 OctCheltenham T.2 - 1Southend Utd.League Division Three GROUNDAt one end of the ground is the newest addition to the stadium and where the away fans are now located.The Carlesberg Stand which was built by Barr Construction, was opened in December 2005 and now has a capacity for 1,100 fans. It is particularly steep in its design, has a perspex windshield to one side and perspex panels incorporated into it's roof, to allow more light to reach the pitch. The stand is unusual in the respect that it has a couple of more rows of seats on one side of it. There is also a small electric scoreboard on its roof.In 2009 the ground was renamed the Abbey Business Stadium, in a corporate deal with local business; Abbey Business Equipment, but the locals still refer to it as Whaddon Road!(Ground information supplied by www.footballgroundguide.com)TICKETSIt's pay on the day, prices here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw9/cheltenham_tickets_570916/index.shtmlWEATHERSome light rain forecast for the early evening, but very mild at 12c's.REF The man in the middle is Brendan Malone from Swindon (an hour away!). A full interview with him here: http://refworld.com/referee/2240/3/brendan-maloneHis assistants are Nick Hobbis from Birmingham and Mark Pottage from Dorset; The 4th official is Paul Hobday also from Birmingham. FIXTURESLeague TwoTuesday, November 2nd; (all kick-offs 19.45): Barnet v Stevenage,Burton Albion v Port Vale, Bury v Bradford, Cheltenham v Southend, Chesterfield v Accrington Stanley, Crewe v Shrewsbury, Gillingham v Wycombe, Hereford v Aldershot, Lincoln City v Northampton, Morecambe v Stockport, Oxford Utd v Torquay, Rotherham v Macclesfield. Saturday, November 6th - F.A Cup First RoundColchester United v Bradford City, Corby Town v Luton Town, Harrow Borough v Chesterfield, Notts County v Gateshead, Stevenage v MK Dons, Southport v Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United v York City, Havant & Waterlooville v Droylsden, Bury v Exeter City, Cheltenham Town v Morecambe, Hayes & Yeading v Wycombe Wanderers, Dagenham & Redbridge v Leyton Orient AFC, Wimbledon v Ebbsfleet United, Lincoln City v Workington or Nuneaton Town, Mansfield Town v Torquay United, Hereford United v Hythe Town, AFC Bournemouth v Tranmere Rovers, Chelmsford City v Hendon or Metropolitan Police, Swindon Supermarine or Bath City v Eastwood Town, Rushden & Diamonds v Yeovil Town, Southampton v Shrewsbury Town, Cambridge United v Huddersfield Town, Burton Albion v Oxford United, Gillingham v Farnborough or Dover Athletic, Tamworth or Grimsby v Crewe Alexandra, Darlington v Bristol Rovers, Guiseley v Crawley Town, Brighton & Hove Albion v Woking, Macclesfield Town v Southend United, Rochdale v FC United of Manchester or Barrow, Carlisle United v Sheffield or Tipton, Leiston or Dartford v Port Vale, Forest Green Rovers v Northampton Town, Fleetwood Town v Walsall, Barnet v Charlton Athletic, Plymouth Argyle v Swindon Town, Accrington Stanley v Oldham Athletic, Hartlepool United v Vauxhall Motors, Stockport County v Peterborough United, Brentford v Aldershot Town. BETCheltenham (to win) - 6/4, Draw - 12/5, Southend (to win) - 11/5. For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/TRANSPORTBy Train go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/cheltenham_town_549730/index.shtmlBy Car go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/cheltenham_town_570923/index.shtmlBy Coach go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/cheltenham_town_570918/index.shtmlPUB AND PIESFor the best drinking around the ground and in the town go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw8/preserve_with_the_kemble_brewery_inn_pub_crawl_in_cheltenham_574760/index.shtmlFor an overnight stay: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw1/cheltenham_town_553299/index.shtmlHISTORYCheltenham has a long history of football prior to The Robins. In 1849, the first use of three official referees in a match, two in field and one in tribune was recorded in the town. However, the modern club was founded in 1887 by Albert Close White a local teacher.The club spent its first three decades in local football, notable players from those days include cricketers Gilbert Jessop and brothers Charles Barnett and Edgar Barnett. In the early 1930's the club turned professional and joined the Birmingham Combination before joining the Southern League in 1935 and won promotion to the Alliance Premier League (now the Conference National) in 1985, but were relegated seven years later. They were promoted back to the Conference in 1997 and two years later gained promotion to the Football League. After two mid-table finishes in Division Three (now League Two) they won via the playoffs and were promoted to Division Two (now League One).The appointment of Steve Cotterill (now at Portsmouth) as manager during the 1996-97 was the start of a revolution at the club. He is Cheltenham Town's most successful manager. Four months after taking charge he guided the club to runners-up spot in the Southern Football League Premier Division, but they won promotion to the Football Conference because champions Gresley Rovers were unable to meet the required ground capacity for Conference membership.He was followed by John Ward (now head farmer) and, on a full time basis, 'Mad Dog' Keith Allen who was put on gardening leave amid allegations he racially abused a nightclub bouncer!Kidderminster boss Mark Yates was appointed Robins manager on December 22nd, 2009. Neil Howarth, Yate's assistant at Kidderminster, also joined the League Two side as first-team coach. Cheltenham continued to struggle through the rest of the season, only managing to avoid relegation on the final day of the season, although they finished four points ahead of the relegated sides. John Schofield, who was in caretaker charge of the club while Allen was on gardening leave, returned to the post of assistant manager until the end of the season.Yates, ahead of his first full season with Cheltenham, revamped the squad - releasing eight players, including defender Shane Duff, who had just completed his tenth year with the club, and it seems to be working at the moment as the club stand seventh in League Two.(For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheltenham_Town_F.C.)
