Preview: Norwich City under-21s

10 November 2020

Two teams who already know that they have secured their place in the Papa John's Trophy second round meet at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium this evening (kick-off: 6pm).

Norwich City under-21s are the visitors tonight in a first against second Southern Section Group F fixture.

Both clubs know they're through to the next stage having enjoyed a 100% record so far in the group with victories over Newport County AFC and Plymouth Argyle. Tonight will decide who tops the group.

You can watch this evening's match online by purchasing an iFollow match pass for £10.

Team news

The competition offers an opportunity to rotate some members of the squad though Sean Long will continue to miss out as he continues to step up his recovery from a hip injury.

There's a chance striker George Lloyd could be involved after successfully completing the concussion protocols required after he picked up a head injury in the last match in the competition against Plymouth Argyle.

Watch Michael Duff's pre-match thoughts on this evening's fixture.

Opposition

Matchday one in this season's competition saw Norwich City under-21s overcome Plymouth Argyle with a 3-2 win, and they followed that first win with a 5-0 victory in south Wales at Newport County AFC on matchday two.

Those two results, like Cheltenham, have secured safe passage through to the second round and they'll be hoping to claim a third Football League senior side scalp this evening.

They are managed by former Ipswich Town and Crewe Alexandra man David Wright and have enjoyed a positive season with their league commitments so far too.

Competing in Premier League 2 alongside the likes of Sunderland, Leeds United, Aston Villa and Newcastle United's under-21s teams, they sit third in the table having taken 12 points from seven fixtures.

Their squad includes Wales youth international Dan Barden in goal, while defensively the likes of Andrew Omobamidele, who grew up in Ireland, and Belgium youth international Rob Nizet have been involved in their Papa John's Trophy campaign so far.

In midfield Scotland youth international Reece McAlear is a former Motherwell youngster who could be part of their line-up, as could be central midfielder William Hondermarck, who previously played his football in Ireland with Drogheda United before making the move to English football.

Up top the Robins defence will have to keep an eye on Tyrese Omotoye. The teenager, born in Belgium but raised in England, scored a hat-trick in the matchday two victory over Newport.

Watch the match on iFollow

You can watch the full 90 minutes of this evening's game by purchasing an iFollow match pass.

Subscribe online and pay the £10 fee to watch the game to watch from the comfort of your own home.

Match programme

Tonight's match programme is available to purchase on the CTFC online shop.

Young defender Grant Horton is the big interview and there's also a short interview with forward Alfie May after his two goals in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Manager Michael Duff also pens his pre-match thoughts while there's a look at the night's opponents too.

You can buy the print version online for £1.50, while the digital edition can be downloaded for £1.

Coverage

Follow @CTFCofficial on Twitter for regular updates throughout the night.

Goal updates and team news will also be available on the club's Facebook page and Instagram account.

Post-match you can read a match report on the club website and hear from the viewpoint inside the camp to the final result.

Highlights will also be available to watch on iFollow a few hours after the game on the club website and EFL iFollow app on your smartphone.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Robins 1-0 Norwich City under-21s

10 November 2020

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Cheltenham Town v Norwich City U21 - Extended highlights - Tue 10th November 2020

Extended highlights of Cheltenham Town v Norwich City U21, Tue 10th November 2020 in the Papa John's Trophy

Cheltenham Town have progressed into the second round of the Papa John’s Trophy as Southern Section Group F group winners.

George Lloyd’s winning goal in the second half proved all the difference as the Robins beat Norwich City Under-21s 1-0 at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

Both teams had already qualified for Round Two of the Trophy, but Cheltenham are now guaranteed a home draw against a group runner-up in the next stage of the competition.

Norwich U21s travelled to the Jonny-Rocks as the competition’s Southern Section top goal scorers, with eight goals in their previous group games against Newport County and Plymouth Argyle, but hosts Cheltenham were good value for an eighth clean sheet in all competitions this season.

The Canaries created their only chance of the first half inside the first five minutes as Tyrese Omotoye - who has netted four in two Trophy games - found space inside the Cheltenham box.

His tame effort towards Scott Flinders’ near post was well gathered by the goalkeeper who returned to the side, in what was one of Michael Duff’s eight alterations made from the 3-1 win over South Shields in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Grant Horton made his second appearance this season, supporting Lloyd on the right wing from a reserved full-back role.

After an impressive full debut in the FA Cup, Ellis Chapman retained his starting place, and might have made his second assist in as many games if Reuben Reid wasn’t so unselfish 15 minutes from half time.

Reid has scored three goals in Cheltenham’s wins over Newport and Plymouth in previous Group F ties, but he nearly turned provider when he headed down Chapman’s cross, towards Lloyd. Inches away from breaking the deadlock, Lloyd narrowly missed the ball at the far post.

Despite gesticulations from the hosts. as Alex Addai went to ground under a challenge from Ethen Vaughan inside the box, both sides went into the interval goalless.

Norwich were unlucky not to have opened the scoring early in the second period as Omotoye’s strike at goal was well saved by Flinders, palming onto the crossbar, before the Norwich striker came close to teeing up his teammate.

Horton’s impressive night was capped by blocking William Honderrmarck’s goal-bound effort at the far post as Omotoye teased a ball across Cheltenham’s six-yard box.

Down the other end, Reid’s patience to create the best chance of the game paid off as he threaded a pass towards Lloyd to run in on goal. The onrushing Norwich goalkeeper, McCracken was beaten by Lloyd’s emphatic finish - his second goal of the season.

Cheltenham will travel to Carlisle United’s Brunton Park on Saturday (kick-off 15:00) as the Robins return to League Two action at the weekend.

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-3-3): S Flinders(Gk) D Bowery, C Raglan, L Freestone, G Horton, T Sang, C Clements, E Chapman (T Chamberlain ’61), G Lloyd (M Blair ’80), R Reid (C Ebanks ’77), A Addai.
Subs not used: M Harris (Gk), W Boyle, L Sercombe, A Williams.

NORWICH CITY U21 (4-2-2-2): J McCracken(Gk), E Vaughan, J Tomkinson, A Omobamidele, R Nizet, Z Dronfield, R McAlear, J Giurgi, M Dennis (T Dickson-Peters ’78), T Omotoye, W Hondermarck (S Hutchinson '88).
Subs not used: S Blair(Gk), E Jackson, N Khumbeni.

Referee: Ollie Yates
Assistants: Roberts Dabbs, Kevin Morris. Fourth Official: Daniel Lampor