Preview: Wycombe Wanderers

13 August 2021

April 2009 was the last time Cheltenham Town held League One football, but on Saturday the club do it again when Wycombe Wanderers visit the Jonny-Rocks Stadium for the Robins first home game of the new campaign (kick-off: 3pm).

Having started with a good point away at Crewe Alexandra last weekend, and then a 2-0 away victory over Bristol Rovers in round one of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, Michael Duff's side will take on Wycombe in what's sure to be one of so many tough outings this season.

Wycombe enjoyed a one-season stay in the Championship last season. They were close to staying up in the second tier, only to miss out on safety by a point, and will no doubt have an eye on getting back to that level at the earliest opportunity.

Tickets for Saturday's match are available to buy online. Buy before midnight on Friday to save £2 on matchday prices. You can purchase in person from the ticket office on matchday with the turnstiles at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium now cashless.

There are a number of pre-paid tickets ready for collection. Fans are advised to arrive early to collect these to avoid queues. Please collect at the new ticket collection point Portakabin located in the club car park.

Team news

New signing Kyle Vassell (pictured) is expected to be involved again after his goal scoring debut on Tuesday.

Michael Duff otherwise has a number of selection decisions to make after good performances from the first two matches.

A total of 19 players have already been used in Cheltenham's first two fixtures.

Media talk

Speaking to the press on Thursday morning, Michael Duff is expecting a Wycombe team who will work hard all over the pitch to come face-to-face with the Robins on Saturday.

"One thing is a given that is if you play for a Gareth Ainsworth team you'll be expected to run and to get into shape and be expected to press," he said.

"Something we've said we wanted to build is a together, fit and organised, spirited team, and that's what Wycombe has been based on."

Watch Michael Duff's press conference on iFollow looking ahead to the game.

Front man Alfie May has also praised Saturday's visitors ahead of this weekend's clash.

"Their togetherness in League One just showed you what you need in League One," he said.

"It's going to be a tough game but we're in this league for a reason - we're here to compete - we're not just going to let teams walk all over us."

Opposition

Having endured a difficult start to their campaign in the Championship last season, which took them until late October to register their first win, Wycombe almost stayed up, only to go down on the final day of the season.

They have started this season with a 100% record. They beat Accrington Stanley on the opening day and then won in the Carabao Cup on penalties against Exeter City.

The Buckinghamshire side boast a number of top players at this level including a number of full internationals.

Summer signing Sam Vokes is one of those having earned over 60 caps for Wales. Gareth McLeary has represented Jamaica, while Daryl Horgan has 14 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

Long-serving Matt Bloomfield brings leadership to their set-up, while there's added quality with the likes of Ryan Tafazolli, Scott Kashket and the imposing Adebayo Akinfenwa too.

The manager: Gareth Ainsworth

Approaching a decade in charge, Gareth Ainsworth has achieved two promotions as manager of the Chairboys and at the end of the 2014/15 season was named the LMA League Two Manager of the Year.

He ended his professional playing days with Wycombe before stepping into management.

As a player he also turned out for the likes of Lincoln City, Port Vale, Wimbledon, Cardiff City and QPR.

Head-to-Head

Won: 5
Drawn: 10
Lost: 8

These matches apply to fixtures played only in the Football League, FA Cup, EFL Trophy and play-offs.

Tickets

If you buy before midnight on Friday then you can save £2 on the price of matchday tickets. Buy online to get your tickets.

A new Portakabin has been installed in the car park for fans to collect pre-paid tickets for home areas only.

If you are buying on the day then tickets for seating areas will be on sale from the ticket office. You can purchase tickets for standing areas from the Portakabin.

For a full matchday guide to Saturday's game we ask supporters to please read this important information before attending the match.

Match programme

Saturday's match programme will be on sale around the stadium and is priced at £3.

It's a 64-page edition featuring interviews with the likes of Kyle Vassell, Liam Sercombe and Callum Wright.

There are also features with Michael Duff, Cheltenham Town Ladies and lots of other great pieces of content looking back on the club's history.

Coverage

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: Town 1-3 Wycombe Wanderers

14 August 2021

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Cheltenham Town v Wycombe Wanderers - Extended highlights - Sat 14th August 2021

Extended highlights of Cheltenham Town v Wycombe Wanderers, Sat 14th August 2021 in the Sky Bet League One

Cheltenham Town lost their opening home game of the season to former Championship side Wycombe Wanderers 3-1.

Two outside of the box goals from Oliver Pendlebury and a header from Sam Vokes cancelled out Andy Williams’ first half header.

Vokes put Wycombe in front inside 14 minutes with a powerful header, but Williams equalised with one of his own just before half time, scoring his second of the season.

The Robins had the better chances, until 19-year-old Pendlebury scored two quick outside of the box goals and put The Chairboys in a comfortable 3-1 lead.

“I think it showed the difference in the level,” said Michael Duff after the loss.

“The football was a little bit safe, but it comes down to chances. We had two brilliant chances at one all, they had two shots outside the box, and they’ve gone in.

“Up until the second goal I thought we were well in the game and we need to learn to play what’s in front of you in terms of perception.”

Jordan Obita had a great chance to put the away side in front inside the opening two minutes but headed the ball over the goal.

A mistake by defender Jack Grimmer nearly put Williams through on goal but the ball bobbled into the arms of Stockdale.

A Sean Long deep throw in helped Liam Sercombe to shoot inside the six-yard box, however it was blocked.

Vokes then put the away side in front with a powerful header from a corner inside 14 minutes after an excellent cross by skipper Joe Jacobson.

Wycombe then imposed their game even more with Albanian midfielder Anis Mehmeti trying to get on the score sheet with a curling shot, which missed narrowly passed the far post.

Cheltenham pushed on for an equaliser with a deep Chris Hussey cross finding Matty Blair, who headed the ball back into the box where Alfie May’s volley was caught by David Stockdale.

Owen Evans prevented Wycombe from doubling their lead after a Charlie Raglan slip put Mehmeti through on goal, but the Robins keeper made a smart diving save to his left.

Williams headed in the equaliser for the Robins after a superb cross from Callum Wright on his first league appearance this season.

Spurred on by the first home crowd without restrictions since March 2020, May shot towards goal, but the tight angle helped Stockdale make another save in added time.

A fast start to the second half by the Robins led to May sprinting through on goal, however the onrushing Wycombe keeper prevented the home side from taking the lead.

Another chance fell to May after he found the bouncing ball land at his feet in the six-yard box, but he struggled to get a shot off.

The forward was then substituted by new signing Kyle Vassell who made his league debut for the club.

Albanian midfielder Mehmeti danced through the Cheltenham midfield into the box and teed up Gareth McCleary for a header, which didn’t trouble Evans with a lack of power.

The 19-year-old nearly scored a controversial goal after the ball seemingly struck his hand before he shot towards goal, but the shot was well wide.

Conor Thomas then came on into midfield for Ellis Chapman, while some trickery from Leicester loanee Wright helped Blair to drive the ball into the box, a move which led to the injury of Wycombe keeper Stockdale, however he played on despite the three-minute delay.

The break in play helped the away side find their feet and Pendlebury curled the ball from outside the area and put his side back in front.

Nineteen-year-old Pendlebury then scored a carbon copy of his earlier goal, to give the Chairboys a two-goal cushion.

This led to Michael Duff bringing on Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Taylor Perry for Sean Long as the Robins pushed on to get back into the game with one less defender on the pitch, however a late Cheltenham corner failed to trouble Stockdale in goal and the ref blew for the end of the match.

CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-5-2): Evans; Long (Perry 80), Hussey, Boyle (c), Blair, Sercombe, Wright, Chapman (Thomas 68), Raglan; Williams, May (Vassell 57).

Subs not used: Flinders, Tozer, Freestone, Lloyd.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS (3-5-2): Stockdale, Grimmer, Jacobson (c), Stewart, Vokes (Akinfenwa 76), McCleary (Freeman 75), Kaikai, Obita, Mehmeti (Thompson 90+2), Scowen, Pendlebury.

Subs not used: Samuel, De Barr, Przybek (Gk), Burley.

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Attendance: 3,860 (838 away)

Ticket News

Buy in advance for Wycombe Wanderers

12 August 2021

Friday is the last day to save money on the cost of your matchday ticket for Cheltenham Town's first home match in League One for 12 years.

On Saturday Wycombe Wanderers are the visitors to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium (kick-off: 3pm).

It sees two teams who were competing in the fourth and second tier last season come head-to-head, with the Chairboys members of the Championship last term.

By buying before midnight tonight you can save £2 on the cost of matchday ticket prices.

The Jonny-Rocks Stadium has also gone cashless on the turnstiles on a matchday, so it's better to buy online to avoid the possible queues at the ticket office if you wish to buy on the day.

Watch Michael Duff's press conference looking ahead to the game on iFollow.

We have also put together an important information guide about attending Saturday's match as the first competitive fixture without crowd restrictions since March 2020.