Preview: Burton Albion

27 August 2021

The Sky Sports cameras are at the Pirelli Stadium on Friday night for Cheltenham Town's trip to Burton Albion (kick-off: 7.45pm).

It's another match on the road for the Robins in a busy couple of weeks of away fixtures.

Having enjoyed a Carabao Cup round two victory at Gillingham on Tuesday the team head into another tough outing off the back of that pleasing result, hoping to add to the points they've already accrued in the early part of the new League One campaign.

Team news

Front man Kyle Vassell faces a race to be fit for the game so may not be risked.

There's a return to Burton on the cards for left-sider Chris Hussey (pictured) if he's fit to take part.

Media talk

Michael Duff has highlighted Burton's energy in his pre-match press conference.

"One thing that's really obvious with his teams is they do get after you and they press on the front foot," he said.

"They don't let you have the ball in any area. They come after you all over the pitch.

"The back four are nice and tight and narrow when they are defending.

"One thing's for certain - we'll have to match their energy, their work ethic, they've got some quality within that as well."

Watch the full press conference on iFollow. You can also see Seàn Long's preview of Friday's game.

Opposition

Following a 16th place finish last season, Burton are hoping to be pushing at the top end of League One this season and have enjoyed a good start to the new campaign.

They've won three of their first four League games, defeating Shrewsbury Town, Ipswich Town and Sunderland in that run.

They were undone last time out at Cambridge United, so will be looking for a response on Friday while relying on the quality provided by the likes of former Chelsea midfielder Michael Mancienne and ex-Cardiff City and Sheffield United defender John Brayford.

There are a couple of former Robins in their squad including midfielder Jacob Maddox and wide attacker Jonny Smith.

The manager: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is back in charge of Burton for a second time and since taking charge he has guided the Brewers once again in the right direction.

In his first spell at the Pirelli Stadium he guided the club to promotion to League One and it was his first management role in England having previously managed Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

He's also taken charge at QPR and Northampton Town previously after a superb playing career that saw him play as a striker on the international stage for the Netherlands.

His club career featured time at Atletico Madrid, Leeds United, Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Boavista, Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City.

Tickets & travel

Ticket prices for the game at Burton are:

Seating
Adults £22
Over 65 £20
17-22 £20
Under 17 £12

Standing
Adults £18
Over 65 £16
17-22 £13
Under 17 £5

Fans should note that prices increase by £2 on matchday.

If you buy your match tickets through Cheltenham then the club will receive 5% of tickets sold.

The Travel Club coach going to the match leaves the Jonny-Rocks Stadium at 4pm.

If you're not making the trip then the game is being shown live in the Robins Nest on the big screens with the bar open.

Coverage

Watch live: The game is being shown live on Sky Sports Football. Coverage begins at 7.30pm. If you don't have Sky you can purchase a NOW TV pass for 24 hour access to Sky Sports or watch the game on the big screen in the Robins Nest.

Social media: Follow @CTFCofficial on Twitter for team news and updates, CTFC on Facebook for score updates and @CTFCofficial on Instagram.

Website: Read the match report post-match and see reaction to the result from inside the camp.

Radio: Tune in to live commentary on BBC Radio Gloucestershire and on iFollow.

Highlights: Watch extended highlights on iFollow, on YouTube, Sky Sports and Quest.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Burton Albion 1-1 Robins

27 August 2021

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Burton Albion v Cheltenham Town - Extended highlights - Fri 27th August 2021

Extended highlights of Burton Albion v Cheltenham Town, Fri 27th August 2021 in the Sky Bet League One

Cheltenham Town came away from Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium with a useful point, thanks to Callum Wright's third strike of the season.

It handed Michael Duff's side a half-time lead but they were pegged back after Lucas Akins headed home 23 minutes from time.

Ben Tozer had completed his move to Wrexham earlier in the day to disrupt the manager's preparations but his side responded brilliantly with another cohesive performance in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

"I think we pinched a point but without getting opened up I don't think we were great today," Duff said afterwards.

"But we'll take the point and the positives. We looked like a team that's done a lot of travelling after Fleetwood last Saturday and Gillingham on Tuesday. We probablly hit every bit of traffic going, too.

"But I think today we showed our togetherness. We need to be braver on the pitch in certain areas but we can't keep tossing the ball away.

"A point keeps the board ticketing over so we're pleased with that."

Michael Duff made three changes to the side that left Fleetwood without the points last weekend. Ben Tozer completed his move to Wrexham earlier in the day and was replaced by Will Boyle in centre of the three-man defence, flanked by Sean Long and Lewis Freestone.

Meanwhile Conor Thomas dropped to the bench and was replaced by Ellis Chapman who performed so well at Gillingham in the midweek Carabao Cup second round win at Gillingham on Tuesday night. Charlie Raglan, who missed that game with a jarred knee, was named on the bench.

Burton started the better of the two sides and created the first meangingful chance of the game fell to former loanee Jonny Smith, who raced on to a through ball only to be denied by the outstretched foot of Matty Blair. Scott Flinders was then alive to a Joe Powell free-kick midway through the first half, taking it at the second attempt at his near post.

But Duff's side grew into the game and enjoyed their best spell of the game, forcing a couple of corners before the breakthrough arrived after 28 minutes.

It came about after a fine ball over the top by Sean Long, poorly cleared by Burton. Wright seized it 20 yards out and found the bottom right corner with a beautiful finish almost identical to his strike in Fleetwood.

There was a late chance for Boyle who met Andy Williams' ball with a towering header, but it was held by Ben Garratt.

Lucas Akins fired into the side netting as the game approached the hour-mark but Cheltenham were successfully frustrating the home side until they finally found a way through with 23 minutes remaining.

Chris Hussey seemed to be relishing his battle with Smith down the right but on this occasion the winger produced a wicked cross which evaded Aaron Amadi-Holloway in the middle, but Akins made no mistake at the back post.

The Robins responded; Wright went close, Lewis Freestone glanced a header wide and Hussey fired a free-kick into the side netting. At the other end Flinders was called into a smart stop to deny Ryan Leak in the closing stages but in the end, neither side could find a second to take all the points.

BURTON ALBION (4-4-2): Garratt; Brayford (c), Shaughnessy, Leak, Hamer; Powell, Mancienne (Morris 8, Rowe 87), Jackson, Smith; Patrick (Amadi-Holloway 57), Akins. Subs not used: Balcombe, Blake-Tracy, Radcliffe, Williams.

CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-5-2): Flinders; Long, Boyle (c), Freestone; Blair, Wright (Thomas 83), Chapman, Sercombe, Hussey; Williams (Lloyd 60), May (Perry 71). Sub not used: Evans (Gk), Raglan, Thomas, Bonds, Horton.

REFEREE: S Oldham

ATTENDANCE: 2,909

Ticket News

Tickets & travel: Burton Albion

20 August 2021

Supporters can purchase tickets and away travel for Cheltenham Town's televised fixture at Burton Albion at the end of August.

On Friday 27 August the Robins visit the Pirelli Stadium for a game that is also being shown live on Sky Sports.

Kick-off on the night against Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's side is at 7.45pm.

Ticket prices for the game are:

Seating
Adults £22
Over 65 £20
17-22 £20
Under 17 £12

Standing
Adults £18
Over 65 £16
17-22 £13
Under 17 £5

Fans should note that prices increase by £2 on matchday.

If you buy your match tickets through Cheltenham then the club will receive 5% of tickets sold.

The Travel Club coach making the journey to Staffordshire will be leaving from the Jonny-Rocks Stadium at 4pm.

Prices for a seat on the coach are:

Non Members £16/£14
Members £14/£12
Junior Robin £6

Purchase tickets and away travel through the ticket office or online.

For fans who are not making the trip to support the team you can watch the game on Sky Sports with the match being shown live in the Robins Nest at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.