Preview: Robins V Morecambe

6 April 2018

Cheltenham Town will be aiming to get back to winning ways on home soil this Saturday as Morecambe visit the LCI Rail Stadium in Sky Bet League Two (kick-off 3pm).

The Robins suffered two narrow defeats over Easter – to Carlisle United and Exeter City - and manager Gary Johnson will be keen to secure a victory ahead of derby day next weekend.

Morecambe have only suffered one defeat in their last nine games – but only two wins in that sequence mean they are still looking over their shoulder.

The Lancashire side currently sit in 20th place in the division, six points behind the Robins.

Two goals from Garry Thompson gave Morecambe a dramatic opening day win when the sides met in August.

The Opposition:

Morecambe manager Jim Bentley admits he expects a 'tough encounter' when his Shrimps head to the LCI Rail Stadium on Saturday.

“They are a little bit clear of us after having a good spell when they were in decent enough form,” Bentley said of Cheltenham.

“Their last couple of results haven’t been great but you know that you’re always going to get a tough encounter when you go to Cheltenham.

"They are a physical team with one of the best strikers in the league in Mohamed Eisa, who’s come from non-league football and got 20 goals this season.

“It’s a difficult place to go but we have only lost one in nine and are in decent form ourselves.”

Team News:

Cheltenham: Manager Gary Johnson will assess the fitness of midfielder Carl Winchester after he was taken off at half-time against Exeter City. Kevin Dawson also picked up a knock in Devon and will be monitored.

Morecambe: The Shrimps could be without goalkeeper Barry Roche, who suffered a calf injury in the Good Friday draw at Swindon Town.

The man in the middle:

Devon referee Lee Swabey will take charge of the league clash at the LCI Rail Stadium. He has taken charge of 15 games this season, giving out 49 yellow cards and one red card. He previously took charge of our home 1-1 draw with Barnet in January His assistants are Rob Smith and Simon Shaw, whilst the fourth official is Marvyn Amphlett.

Last time we met:

05/08/17 – Morecambe 2-1 Cheltenham (L2)

01/04/17 - Cheltenham 3-1 Morecambe (L2)

17/12/16 – Morecambe 1-2 Cheltenham (L2)

16/01/15 - Cheltenham 1-1 Morecambe (L2)

06/09/14 – Morecambe 0-0 Cheltenham (L2)

Ticket Information:

Fans are advised that tickets will be available from the Ticket Office right up until kick-off.

Supporters will be able to buy tickets in person from the Ticket Office on matchday and you can also buy tickets online by clicking HERE

As always, fans collecting pre-paid tickets are asked to arrive early to avoid any queues and to enable easy access into the LCI Rail Stadium.

Match Reports

REPORT: Robins 3-0 Morecambe

7 April 2018

Three second half goals from Jerell Sellars, Will Boyle and Harry Pell helped Cheltenham Town to a comfortable Sky Bet League Two victory over Morecambe at the LCI Rail Stadium.

It took until the 59^th minute for the deadlock to be broken, as Sellars brilliantly turned his man and hit a shot from the edge of the penalty area that took a heavy deflection and looped over Danijel Nizic, netting his first goal at Whaddon Road.

Six minutes later a long ball from Ilias Chatzitheodoridis was headed on by Pell and Boyle nodded in off the post from close range for his fifth goal of the season.

By the 73^rd minute it was three, as George Lloyd’s delicious cross was nodded into the net at the far post by Pell to cap off a prolific second half performance from the Robins- a result which sealed an eighth home triumph of the campaign.

Gary Johnson made three changes to side that lost at Exeter City including handing a first start to 18-year-old youth team graduate Lloyd.

Pell and Jamie Grimes also returned to the starting line-up as Carl Winchester and Kevin Dawson missed out with injury, while Joe Rodon dropped to the bench.

Some early pressure from Morecambe was nearly rewarded in the third minute as a deflected cross fell for Kevin Ellison, but the veteran winger’s powerful drive was magnificently saved by Scott Flinders.

Just a minute later, Ellison gambled on a long ball and smashed a half-volley against the outside of the post as the visitors started on the front foot in Gloucestershire.

After a nervy opening 10 minutes for Cheltenham, Johnson’s side threatened with some dangerous crosses from both flanks, and Taylor Moore headed over the top from a corner in the 12^th minute.

A quick free-kick from Joe Morrell was then headed powerfully towards goal by Will Boyle, but a deflection took the sting out of it and Nizic gathered comfortably in the Shrimps’ goal.

Alex Kenyon then tried a spectacular overhead kick for Morecambe, but the full-back’s looping effort dropped onto the roof of Finders’ net.

The Robins then came close themselves as Morrell’s teasing set-piece in the 21^st minute was flicked on by Pell, but stand-in goalkeeper Nizic made a good save to tip the ball wide.

Making his full debut, Lloyd tried his luck from range, but his low shot bobbled wide before Michael Rose shot straight into the arms of Flinders from similar distance at the other end.

Nigel Atangana then turned cleverly but shot inches wide before the tenacious Boyle was denied yet again, as Nizic turned his header over the bar for a corner.

Just before the break, Mo Eisa tried his luck after an intricate turn, but it curled wide as Cheltenham finished the half stronger than they started it, albeit with no reward.

The second half nearly started with a bang as a speculative half-volley 35-yards-out from Aaron Wildig in the 48^th minute narrowly missed the target for the Lancashire outfit.

A carbon copy of Morrell’s free-kick in the first half landed on the head of Pell once more, but this time his downward header somehow dropped wide of the post.

But a goal finally came just before the hour mark, as Sellars turned his man in the centre of the pitch before gliding forward to the edge of the box and unleashing a shot that deflected over Nizic and into the net.

That was Sellars’ second goal of the season but first at home and in the 65^th minute and the hosts didn’t have to wait long to net their second.

Chatzitheodoridis’ long ball was headed on by Pell and Boyle was there to finally put the ball past Nizic, continuing his impressive scoring form for a central defender.

Pell then added himself to the scoresheet, meeting Lloyd’s cross with a header at the far post to register his fifth goal of the season.

The perfect afternoon was nearly capped off by Eisa, chasing a record breaking 21^st league goal of the season, his free-kick was well saved by Nizic in the 85^th minute.

But three was enough for Cheltenham Town to seal second home win in 2018, and eight of the season.

ROBINS: Flinders (Gk), Grimes, Atangana (Rodon 75), Pell, Boyle, Sellars (Graham 81), Eisa, Morrell, Moore, Chatzitheodoridis (Cranston 81). Subs not used: Lovett (Gk), Wright, Bower, Andrews.

MORECAMBE: Nizic (Gk), Kenyon, Old, Winnard, Ellison, Conlan, Wildig (Lang 61), Lavelle, Wylde (Thompson 61), Rose (Fleming 80), McGurk. Subs not used: Maher (Gk), McGowan, Oliver, Campbell.

REFEREE: Lee Swabey

ATTENDANCE: 2420 (64 from Morecambe)

Standings