Preview: Peterborough United

4 September 2020

The 2020/21 season begins with a trip to League One Peterborough United in the Carabao Cup on Saturday (kick-off: 3pm).

With the impact of covid-19 causing delays to the football calendar the new campaign has finally arrived and the first test for Michael Duff's freshened up group is a difficult one against a team who will be pushing for promotion to the Championship again this season.

Saturday's tie, the first of a busy opening week that also sees the team in Leasing.com and League Two action, will also be an early opportunity to see former Robins midfielder Ryan Broom with his new employers. The Welshman joined the Posh a few weeks ago for an undisclosed fee.

The game is taking place behind closed doors because of covid-19 and government regulations. No supporters will be admitted into the stadium.

Team news

Up to six new players could be in line to make their competitive debuts for the club.

One new addition though, Hull City loanee Elliot Bonds, will miss the game because of injury.

Goalkeeper Scott Flinders is also out and Sean Long and Dan Bowry are unlikely to feature due to injury.

Watch Michael Duff's preview ahead of Saturday's trip.

Peterborough United

As well as bringing in Ryan Broom this summer, Peterborough have also been busy in the transfer market with the recruitment of Jonson Clarke-Harris from Bristol Rovers to add to their attack, midfielder Reece Brown - who has been recruited on loan from Huddersfield Town, and goalkeeper Dániel Gyollai - the Hungarian has joined from financially stricken Wigan Athletic.

Heading out the exit door in the summer most notably is forward Ivan Toney who has linked up with Championship side Brentford. Long serving Marcus Maddison also left at the end of last season, while midfield man Alex Woodyard also left to sign for AFC Wimbledon.

The Posh finished 7th on points per game in League One last season - narrowly missing out on securing a place in the play-offs.

This season they'll be looking to improve on that finish and get back into the second tier of English football, a division they were last in during the 2012/13 season.

The manager

The Posh are managed by Darren Ferguson who is now in his third spell in charge after beginning his managerial career in 2007 there.

In only his second season as manager he led them to promotion to the Championship in 2009 and then achieved the same feat via the play-offs a couple of years later.

He has also managed at Preston North End and Doncaster Rovers and in his playing days was a midfielder who represented the likes of Wolves, Sparta Rotterdam and most notably North Wales side Wrexham.

It was at Manchester United where he started his playing days though under the guidance of legendary manager and father Sir Alex Ferguson.

Who to watch: Mo Eisa

The 2017-18 season proved to be a significant one in the career of Sudanese forward Mo Eisa, and Robins fans had the pleasure of watching it all unfold as the potent front man impressed in front of goal and earned himself a move to Championship Bristol City.

It didn't quite work out at Ashton Gate for the now 26-year-old, and in the summer of 2019 he made the switch to Peterborough where he was part of an attacking force that included Ivan Toney last term.

Subsequently he bagged 16 goals in 35 appearances in his first season at the Weston Homes Stadium and he's all set to be an important part of Posh's front line again in the new campaign alongside the likes of newly recruited forward Jonson Clarke-Harris - who has also transferred from Bristol - albeit the blue side of the city.

Watch the match on iFollow

Match passes for Saturday's game to watch in full online on iFollow are available to buy in advance.

You can purchase a match pass for £10 and view every kick from the Weston Homes Stadium.

Coverage

As well as being able to watch the game on iFollow, you can stay up to date on social media with the latest from the game by following the club's accounts. You can also listen to BBC Radio Gloucestershire's live commentary.

After the match check out the club website for a report and full reaction to the final result.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Peterborough United 0-1 Robins

5 September 2020

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Peterborough United v Cheltenham Town - Extended Highlights - Sat 5th September 2020

Extended Highlights of Peterborough United v Cheltenham Town, Sat 5th September 2020 in the EFL Cup

Cheltenham Town made a winning start to the 2020/21 season with victory over League One Peterborough United in the Carabao Cup.

Liam Sercombe's second half goal on his debut was the difference as Michael Duff's side produced an impressive performance on their first outing of the new season.

Sercombe was one of five debutants in the starting XI at the Weston Homes Stadium, and his goal secured a victory that will offer plenty of optimism as a season opening result.

Josh Griffiths was called into early action on his 19th birthday to make up for an error that had seen him give possession away cheaply. The England under-20 international made an important block to deny former Robins man Ryan Broom.

It was another error at the back, this time down the other end of the pitch, that allowed Alfie May the chance to break through but he was similarly thwarted by a Christy Pym stop.

Griffiths made two saves to continue fending off the hosts. He pushed Jack Taylor's strike over the bar and then stopped Mark Beevers back post header from a corner.

May did well to create another opportunity just after the half hour mark. Strike partners Andy Williams' cross found him and he swivelled on the ball to unleash a low shot that was stopped.

After half time Griffiths made two good saves to prevent Siriki Dembele and Mo Eisa, and after Pym had made a good stop himself to deny Williams, Cheltenham went ahead.

A corner was half-cleared by the hosts and Sercombe was on hand to hammer in for a first Robins goal.

Peterborough responded brightly and Eisa hit the crossbar with an effort from a wide angle. Griffiths then made a superb save to claw away Dembele's free kick effort midway through the half.

Williams almost doubled the lead as Cheltenham did well from a throw in to set him clear through May, however his final shot skipped just past the target.

Dembele continued to be a threat for the hosts and another long-distance shot from him was excellently kept out by Griffiths as the home side struggled to find a way to equalise and left Cheltenham with a secured route into round two.

ROBINS: Griffiths, Raglan, Tozer, Freestone (Boyle 67), Thomas, Hussey, Clements, Azaz, Sercombe (Lloyd 89), May (Addai 83), Williams

Subs not used: Harris, Reid, Horton, Chamberlain

PETERBOROUGH: Pym, Thompson, Kent, Beevers, Ward (Kanu 60), Taylor, Brown (Hamilton 60), Butler, Broome (Clarke 60), Dembélé, Eisa

Subs not used: Clarke-Harris, Gyollai, Burrows, Mason

Referee: Alan Young