League 1 - Ipswich Town vs Cheltenham Town Preview & Matchday Thread

[Frosty]

Cheltenham Town FC v Ipswich Town



Monday 10th April 2023 – 15:00



Whaddon Road









Pre Match Thoughts - Mike




Seven Cup finals to go !!!! Win the lot and we'll be up, of course that's not likely to happen, thankfully nor do I believe that level of success will be required to achieve or goal, for me we need a minimum of Five more wins and something from One of the other Two fixtures, now that definitely is attainable.

The first of our Easter fixtures has come and gone and Town swept a tricky Wycombe team aside with little bother, albeit after an initial opening Twenty or so minutes where we had to find our feet and get to grips with their somewhat awkward tactics, thankfully we seem to have this down to a fine art these days, a bit like a boxer feeling out his opponent in the opening couple of rounds.

Town made the breakthrough courtesy of yet another set piece goal, when I think of all the years I've stood and watched us rack up free kicks, corners etc and damn well know it was ending up in the stand or street behind its a real pleasure to hear we are right up there as One of the best teams when it comes to converting these type of goals, such a turnaround. And speaking of turnarounds how pleasing is it to see George Hirst prove me and quite a few others wrong as he headed home his Fourth goal in as many games.

The timing and quality of the second goal was superb, that man Chaplin on the spot again to add to his ever increasing tally for the season, most definitely a contender for POTS, to go in Two up virtually saw the points wrapped up even at that early stage and for a change the feeling within the stadium was far more relaxed. By the time Wes Burns smashed home the Third news had filtered through results elsewhere were going our way and the choruses of "we are top of the league" and " The Town are going up" filled the stadium.

I was very pleased to see Freddie get the Fourth from the penalty spot after coming on, with Seventeen for the season he can count himself very unlucky to be on the bench but such is our strength in depth that is where we are at and everyone seems to be in syncwith it.

Next up is another game that really needs glean Three points as we head to CheltenhamTown on Easter Monday, yes on paper it looks easily winnable and yes our current form suggests another routine win but there can be no complacency and we need to approach every game in the manner which has served us so well. Our run now stands at Eight straight wins with Nine successive clean sheets, its really quite staggering as records continue to tumble.

We have now pulled the situation round so that our destiny is firmly back in our own hands which is exactly where we wanted to be, with Sheffield Wednesday continuing to stumble hopes are increasing week on week that this is to be our year but as Kieran McKenna continues to say it's one game at a time, after Cheltenham we have Two very winnable Home games against Charlton and Port Vale so this incredible winning run could be stretched to a ridiculous Eleven games should we get the business done, we are more than capable so let's go do it. Town win at Whaddon Road for me. COYB'S.




The Opposition – Cheltenham Town FC Honours



LEAGUE

Football League Third Division / League Two
Champions: 2020–21
Play-off winners: 2001–02, 2005–06
Play-Off Runners-Up: 2011–12

Conference National
Champions: 1998–99, 2015–16
Runners-up: 1997–98

Southern League
Champions: 1984–85
Runners-up: 1955–56, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97

Southern League Midland Division
Champions: 1982–83

Southern League Division 1 North
Runners-up: 1976–77

CUPS


FA Trophy
Winners: 1997–98



The Manager – Wade Elliott








League Table as at 08.04.2023








Form Guide




Cheltenham Town




11 Mar Peterborough 0 - 3 Cheltenham

18 Mar Cheltenham 3 - 1 Exeter City

29 Mar Cheltenham 2 - 2 Sheffield Wed

1 Apr Cheltenham 0 - 0 Burton Albion

7 Apr Lincoln City 2 - 0 Cheltenham





Ipswich Town




7 Mar Ipswich Town 3 - 0 Accrington

11 Mar Bolton 0 - 2 Ipswich Town

18 Mar Ipswich Town 2 - 0 Shrewsbury

1 Apr Derby County 0 - 2 Ipswich Town

7 Apr Ipswich Town 4 - 0 Wycombe





Head to Head







Match Referee – Sebastian Stockbridge







CHELTENHAM TOWN 0 IPSWICH TOWN 2

[Mauswara]

"of course that's not likely to happen"

Records are being broken, new eras dawn.

[Shed on tour]

Making the trip to Cheltenham tomorrow and not that I’m superstitious but the last 2 games I’ve predicted Town to draw and they have won them both. So I will go for Cheltenham 1 Town 1.

[hallamblue]

Yet another very tough game where we must get that early goal. In many ways this might be our toughest game in the last month.

COYBs …..

[goldandblack]

Making the trip to Cheltenham tomorrow and not that I’m superstitious but the last 2 games I’ve predicted Town to draw and they have won them both. So I will go for Cheltenham 1 Town 1.

last time i went to Cheltenham they were in the old Southern League back around the mid to late 60s. probably not changed much, LOL.
Safe trip Shed and bring back another 3 points mate,

[goldandblack]

Yet another very tough game where we must get that early goal. In many ways this might be our toughest game in the last month.

COYBs …..

you going to the game Liz ,

[Charnwood]

Yet another very tough game where we must get that early goal. In many ways this might be our toughest game in the last month.

COYBs …..

I know we can’t win them all but I don’t think we can afford to drop points in this fixture. Personally I think we have at least a couple of games likely to be tougher than this at Peterborough and Barnsley who will need the points themselves just as much as we will.

[arana peligrosa]

Don't view this as a tough game. The outcome seems almost academic. We're stronger in every department, score goals at will, hardly concede, on an amazing run of form and not only that playing at home in front of a partizan crowd, guess they'll be 25,000 + of our own to root for victory.

The only way it'll be tough is if we make it so for ourselves. Only lack of nerve or even showboating will hold back the team and jeopardize any expected victory. Kind of makes sense, could be easy to become complacent and allow them to take something from it. If we play like we are and carry forward as before, we'll take three points from it.

SWFC and Plymouth got home games also if correct against beatable opposition. I'd expect all three teams to win.

ITFC 2 Cheltenham 0

[Shed on tour]

Making the trip to Cheltenham tomorrow and not that I’m superstitious but the last 2 games I’ve predicted Town to draw and they have won them both. So I will go for Cheltenham 1 Town 1.

last time i went to Cheltenham they were in the old Southern League back around the mid to late 60s. probably not changed much, LOL.
Safe trip Shed and bring back another 3 points mate,

Cheers G&B. Went to Cheltenham last season, we dominated the first 30 minutes, were 1-0 up and Macauley Bonne somehow managed to miss a chance from about a yard out to make it 2. 2nd half we folded and ended up on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline. Hopefully no repeat today!

[hallamblue]

Early first goal ( as usual) a must !!

[Charnwood]

Cheltenham are undefeated in their last 5 home games and kept clean sheets in 3 of them so don’t expect it too easy AP.

The last team to win there was Barnsley who won convincingly 0-4 on 18 February with our former player James Norwood opening the scoring in the 8th minute. Maybe one of our in firm boys could come up with something similar today to stop them building up confidence and looking for a point.

[Dazzz67]

Enjoy the match everybody who goes, and safe trip, I will be watching on iFollow and cheering us on.

This fixture and our record against them makes me edgy, those long throws haunt me lol.

Our current record and form it should be a win, I'm hoping we keep that clean sheet momentum and can score an early goal. They will definitely be playing their usual style and frustrate us, if we can just keep strong and steady we will be OK.

Going for a 2 - 1, they can only break our clean sheet record if they let us win lol.

COYB!!!

[hallamblue]

They may be a doubt about Broadhead being fit. He took hefty challenges on Friday . Fingers crossed he makes it

[Cabanas Blue]

Harness in for Broadhead as expected I guess.

[Bluemike]

I am glad we haven't rested Luongo as it was mentioned pre game.

[Charnwood]

I can’t believe how shocking the pitch looks especially in the 6 yard box it hardly looks playable and more like The Baseball Ground at Derby in the 70’s.

Not sure if it’s done deliberately to make it difficult to defend or it’s just a sh*t unprofessional football ground.

[Charnwood]

Last night I was reading that Conor Chaplin was out with a hamstring injury which clearly had no foundation. Why oh why do Town fans start these negative rumours.

[Charnwood]

Just a reminder to anyone interested in watching, todays game is available to everyone on ifollow regardless of location.

Get on there !

[Bluemike]

Last night I was reading that Conor Chaplin was out with a hamstring injury which clearly had no foundation. Why oh why do Town fans start these negative rumours.

Because some of them are prats, I get told nonsense all the time so decided to refrain from sharing it anymore as you look a right twit.

[Dazzz67]

Im on iFollow now Charny, looking forward to this but a tad nervy. Shame Broadhead isnt available but important he gets to rest that ankle and hopefully ok soon. would be nice to see Harness score, that would be another useful addition.

Come on boys, need to give this lot a hammering if possible,

[Charnwood]

How good is your reception Dazza, I’m getting a lot of buffering!

[tractordrog7]

How good is your reception Dazza, I’m getting a lot of buffering!

I have good quality picture, but the commentary is from a different game, Forest Green Rovers, so the sound is off !!

[Dazzz67]

Yes, its not too bad though, picture has cleared up a bit but just a bit of buffering.

Good to see ref is on it today.

[Bluemike]

Picture been really good so far, Town very scrappy so far

[Bluemike]

Wednesday winning

[Blue Wilf]

We should be as well!

[Charnwood]

I think we need to up the tempo a bit, a shame the best opportunity fell to Harness who’s probably our weakest link today.

We can’t allow them to dictate the pace of play which doesn’t really suit us.

[Blue Wilf]

p*ss poor tackling there...

[Bluemike]

Harness is Terrible

[Dazzz67]

We need that goal, we knew this would not be an easy game and wind not helping amongst other things.

Harness needs to get a grip, cannot afford to miss easy chances.