Preview: Ipswich Town

17 August 2021

The Jonny-Rocks Stadium welcomes Ipswich Town on Tuesday night in what promises to be a great night of football at Cheltenham Town (kick-off: 7.45pm).

Ipswich visit Gloucestershire as one of many exciting opponents for the Robins who are back in League One for the first time since 2009.

It's yet another tough test for Michael Duff's men following their return to the third tier, but they will be up for the challenge with the pressure off and the possibility of earning a positive result against a team expected to be challenging at the top of the table come the end of the season.

Team news

If required, Michael Duff has options if he wishes to make changes to his starting line-up from the weekend.

Front man Kyle Vassell (pictured) is pushing for his first start after two substitute appearances while captain Ben Tozer will also be hoping to work his way into the side.

Media talk

Michael Duff spoke to the media on Monday morning to reflect on Saturday's game and Tuesday's encounter with the Tractor Boys.

"It's a free hit for us," he said. "I think the same as Wycombe and there are always leagues within leagues. They are not in our league, in terms of where we are expected to finish and I don't mean trying to finish fifth from bottom either, by the way.

"But I'd imagine if Ipswich aren't in the top two, they'll definitely be in the top six. Are we expected to be in the top six this year? I wouldn't have thought so. So it's just a realism to it."

Watch the full press conference with Duff exclusively on iFollow.

Front man Andy Williams has also been speaking to the media before the fixture.

Opposition

Still waiting for their first win this season, it won't be long till Ipswich are up and running, with the Tractor Boys boasting one of the strongest squads at League One level.

Their options going forward are plentiful. 18-year-old talent Louie Barry is on loan from Aston Villa, Kyle Edwards is a summer signing from West Brom, Joe Pigott offers physicality having also arrived in the summer, while Kayden Jackson, Macauley Bonne and James Norwood add to their armoury.

With the likes of Welsh duo Wes Burns and Lee Evans, plus Albanian youth international Armando Dobra also in their set-up, they will bring quality with them for their visit to Gloucestershire.

On the opening day they were held to a 2-2 draw by Morecambe. They then exited the Carabao Cup at the hands of Newport County AFC, while on Saturday a late goal saw them lose at Burton Albion.

The manager: Paul Cook

Back in March Paul Cook was appointed Ipswich boss, recruited to add to the three Football League promotions he's already gained as a manager.

He has previously managed at Southport, Sligo Rovers, Accrington Stanley, Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic.

As a player he was a central midfielder who turned out for the likes of Wolves, Tranmere Rovers, Coventry City and Stockport County.

Tickets

You can purchase tickets for the game online throughout Tuesday. They can also be bought from the ticket office using either cash or card. If you are choosing to buy on the night it's recommended that you arrive early to avoid queueing.

Ticket purchases for seated areas need to be made from the ticket office, while for standing areas this can be done from the new ticket portakabin in the car park.

Pre-paid ticket collections are to be made from the portakabin. Fans are again advised to leave plenty of time before kick-off to pick up their tickets.

For more information about attending Tuesday's game take a look at our information guide.

Match programme

The 64-page match programme is available to buy around the stadium at a price of £3. You can also buy a copy online.

The big interview is with defender Lewis Freestone discussing his aims to make an impact at the club as he begins his second campaign as a Robins player.

There are also features with Alfie May, Liam Sercombe, Michael Duff, a detailed look at the night's opposition and much more.

Coverage

Watch live: Tuesday's game is available to watch live on iFollow. Buy a match pass online for £10.

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, Quest and on Sky Sports

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Robins 2-1 Ipswich Town

17 August 2021

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Cheltenham Town v Ipswich Town - Extended highlights - Tue 17th August 2021

Extended highlights of Cheltenham Town v Ipswich Town, Tue 17th August 2021 in the Sky Bet League One

Cheltenham Town produced a fantastic performance full of grit and determination to come from behind and beat Ipswich Town, notching their first League One win of the season in the process.

Almost 5,000 fans lifted the roof on a fantastic occasion at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, one that will live long in the memory.

Ipswich started like a train and grabbed the early goal and looked set to run away with the contest but Michael Duff's side recovered well to settle into it, playing with more confidence as the contest went on.

They rode their luck at times but in the end, Will Boyle made one for Callum Wright and scored another as Duff's side converted their growing self belief into two second half goals.

"It's a good win against a big team," Duff said afterwards.

"I thought the second half we were excellent. We were aggressive. We asked the back three to be a little braver and the wing backs to go really narrow to deal with their shape.

"But ulitmately the performance, the togetherness, the desire were fantastic. We also had to ride our luck and their missed chance at 1-0 is a big one in the game.

"But I thought we looked a threat and I thought it was a good performance and I hope the supporters saw that. They came with us tonight and hopefully we'll have a few more of those days."

Duff made three changes to the side that slipped to defeat four days ago. In came Ben Tozer, Conor Thomas and Kyle Vassell for his first start for the club. Matty Blair, Ellis Chapman and Alfie May dropped to the bench for this one.

Given Ipswich's rich history it was a League One occasion to match the likes of Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City in previous League One campaigns. Their side was packed full of pedigree and the former UEFA Cup winners are tipped by Duff to mount a serious challenge for promotion this season and on the evidence of the first 40 minutes here, he's not wrong.

They were backed by at least a thousand supporters but they held their breath as early as the second minute when Callum Wright was gifted a wonderful chance to open the scoring. However somehow he lifted his volley over the bar with the goal gaping.

Cheltenham couldn't live with the visitors in the opening exchanges, inspired by the their outstanding performer Kyle Edwards in midfield.

Ipswich broke the deadock through Matt Penney after nine minutes. Scott Fraser called Sean Long into some last-ditch defending, but the ball broke to the former FC St. Pauli left back who smashed it home from 18 yards. Owen Evans got a hand to it, but couldn't prevent it from finding the roof othe net.

Macauley Bonne looked set to double the advantage moments later but somehow contrived to waste the opportunity after lifting the ball over Evans to create an open goal, only to scuff the ball into the side netting. It turned out to be a pivotal moment.

Cheltenham were being overran and struggled to deal with the pace and invention of Paul Cook's side but they got a foothold in the contest midway through the first period and fashioned a chance, although Charlie Raglan's header missed the target.

They finished the half the stronger of the two sides and Chris Hussey created another chance in added-on time, but Vassell nodded it wide.

Duff's side played with far more purpose and confidence after the break and turned it around.

Hussey and Liam Sercombe had conjured up a clever free-kick from the right ten minutes after the break, causing enough confusion to create half a chance for Wright but the midfielder couldn't reach the inswinging delivery.

However it was his header with 28 minutes remaining that crowned Cheltenham's best period of the game, meeting Will Boyle's cross from the right and finding the top-right corner to send the home faithful into raptures.

He almost added a second from the corner of the box ten minutes later but Vaclav Hladky held his well struck effort.

Edwards was noticably quieter in the second half but he drew a smart stop by Evans with 75 minutes on the clock.

But Boyle popped nine minutes from time with the moment of the night, latching onto the loose ball inside the box and firing home a low angled drive.

Subsitute Ellis Chapman found the central defender a couple of minutes later but this time he missed the target by a foot, this time with a header.

What a way to get your first League One win in 12 years, a proper 'were you there' moment. On to Fleetwood.

CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-5-2): Evans; Raglan, Tozer (c), Boyle; Long, Wright (Chapman 85), Thomas, Sercombe, Hussey; Williams (Lloyd 66), Vassell (May 66). Subs not used: Flinders (Gk), Freestone, Blair, Perry.

IPSWICH TOWN (4-4-2): Hladky; Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess, Penney; Fraser, Harper (Carroll 89), Evans (c), Edwards, Pigott (Jackson 77), Bonne (Barry 88); Subs not used: Holy (Gk), Dobra, Vincent-Young, Coulson.

REFEREE: P Wright

ATTENDANCE: 4,746 (995 from Ipswich Town)

Ticket News

Tickets on sale for Ipswich Town fixture

16 August 2021

The big matches in League One keep on coming for Cheltenham Town as on Tuesday night the Robins look forward to hosting Ipswich Town.

The former UEFA Cup winners visit for a 7.45pm kick-off under the lights at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

It's another major challenge at the front end of Michael Duff's side's campaign, but it's one the players will relish against a team fancied to be challenging at the top end of the division come the end of the season.

Be part of the action by purchasing tickets for the game and save money by buying in advance.

On Monday you can purchase online or from the ticket office and save £2 on matchday prices.

Fans can also buy on the day online in the lead up to the match or from the ticket office, while the ticket office will be open for sales on the night - please arrive early though to avoid queueing.

The club have gone cashless on the turnstiles this season so tickets must be collected from the collection points.

Inside the stadium you are still required to pay with cash for match programmes and the food outlets, while in the Robins Nest it's cash or card.