Preview: Burton Albion

7 January 2022

The Jonny-Rocks Stadium plays host to Cheltenham Town for the first time in 2022 when Burton Albion visit on Saturday (kick-off: 3pm).

It's another key afternoon in the Robins season in a week which has seen a number of players both arrive and exit the club.

January may be well known for transfer dealings away from the pitch, and it's certainly been a busy start for the club, but all focus is on what happens on the grass on Saturday afternoon.

Buy your match tickets for the game online. Make sure you purchase before midnight on Friday to save £2 on each ticket.

You can read our information guide about attending Saturday's game online too.

Team news

There are potentially three new players who could be involved. New arrivals Ben Williams, Dan Nlundulu and Charlie Brown could all feature.

Will Boyle (pictured) may be involved again after his late appearance off the bench at Oxford, while Chris Hussey, Ellis Chapman and Grant Horton will have their fitness levels assessed.

Media talk

Michael Duff is expecting his team to have to fight for everything when Burton visit.

"The lads are going to have to run again, they are going to have to compete," he said to the press.

"The ball comes in the box. They've got brilliant energy, probably as hard working as anyone else in the League.

"They've got quality. They can go back to front, they've got a long throw, so it can come in from anywhere so you've got to be good at that.

"When we played them at their place for the first 20 minutes we never got a foothold in the game and we ended up defending for 25 minutes. They really squeeze you.

"If you invite them on they are coming on. It's going to be a really difficult game."

You can see his full press conference exclusively on iFollow where you can also watch Conor Thomas' pre-match thoughts.

Opposition

The Brewers head into Saturday's match narrowly above Cheltenham in the table. That was thanks to a comprehensive 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra last time out.

One of their goal scorers that afternoon, Daniel Jebbison, could feature on Saturday. Last season he became the youngest player to score in their first start in the Premier League when he found the net for Sheffield United. He's on loan at Burton from the Blades and is their leading goal scorer so far this season.

Their forward line is also boosted by the quality of 30-year-old Kane Hemmings, while in midfield the lively former Robins loanee, Jacob Maddox, is an option for them with the 23-year-old on loan from Portuguese side Vitória.

The likes of captain John Brayford, Deji Oshilaja and former Manchester United left back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson offer good experience to fall back on, while former Chelsea and Hamburger SV man Michael Mancienne also has plenty of knowhow to offer.

The manager: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

A former Premier League star striker, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink recently passed his anniversary as Burton Albion manager in what is his second spell in charge of the Pirelli Stadium side.

He has also managed at QPR and Northampton Town in the Football League, while he also spent time managing Belgian club Royal Antwerp after a wonderful playing career where he played at the top level and on the international stage.

His club sides included the likes of Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Boavista and Middlesbrough, of whom he represented in the UEFA Cup final, while he also earned 23 caps for Netherlands.

Tickets

Tickets are available to buy online and on the day at the game. If you buy before midnight on Friday you save £2 on each ticket.

Buy on the day from the matchday ticket point in the car park for standing tickets, for the Autovillage Stand from the ticket office and for the Colin Farmer Stand from near to the Parklands turnstiles.

If you are collecting pre-paid tickets you can do this from the matchday ticket point next to the bowls club in the car park, or if you are sitting in the Colin Farmer Stand from the Parklands turnstiles.

Match programme

The front cover star and big interview in the match programme is with Callum Wright after his New Year's Day goal at Oxford United.

There are also interviews with Owen Evans and new signing Ben Williams, as well as the thoughts of boss Michael Duff and lots of other reads.

You can buy the programme at the stadium for £3 while it is also available to purchase online.

Coverage

Social media: Keep a track of events by following @CTFCofficial on Twitter. There will also be goal updates available on the club's Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Radio: Listen to full match commentary with an iFollow match audio pass. There's also commentary locally on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Website: After the game check out the club website to read the match report and to watch the post-match interviews.

Highlights: You'll be able to watch back the key moments with highlights available on iFollow, YouTube and on Quest and Sky Sports.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Robins 1-1 Burton Albion

8 January 2022

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Cheltenham Town v Burton Albion - Extended highlights - Sat 8th January 2022

Extended highlights of Cheltenham Town v Burton Albion, Sat 8th January 2022 in the Sky Bet League One

A game of two halves ended honours even as Cheltenham Town drew 1-1 against Burton Albion at the Jonny Rocks Stadium.

Callum Wright opened the scoring with a stunning volley in the 20th minute and the Robins hit the bar twice in the first half.

Daniel Jebbison equalised for the Brewers after the break to earn a point for the visitors.

A dominant first half display deserved more than the one-goal advantage that it heralded.

Cheltenham started buoyantly with debutant Dan Nlundulu crashing a close-range finish against the crossbar inside the opening four minutes.

Cheltenham continued to knock on the door with a series of attacks and the break through came when Wright opened the scoring with his second goal in as many games.

Hussey swung a sweet cross into the box, and the John Brayford’s headed clearance dropped invitingly for Wright, who rifled a thunderbolt of a volley into the top corner.

The only criticism of the first half performance is that Cheltenham didn’t manage to add to their advantage. Nlundulu started to grow into the match and embarked on a mesmerising solo run before his deflected shot from range whistled agonisingly wide of the far post.

Ben Garratt was thankful of his upright once again when Hussey’s looping cross from the left dipped onto the crossbar. The Robins continued to turn up the heat in their search for an equaliser and Alfie May had a prime opportunity to extend their lead.

Owen Evans slung the ball forward from deep inside his penalty area and May plucked the ball out of the air and drew an impressive save from Garrett.

Burton struggled to breach a robust Cheltenham defence until Jebbison single-handedly manufactured their best chance of the half on the cusp of the interval. Mattie Pollock stormed into a challenge and Jebbison exploited the space to elegantly scoop the ball over Sean Long and force a save from Evans at his near post.

The visitors looked reinvigorated after the break and drew level on 51 minutes when Jebbison netted his eighth goal of the season in all competitions.

Former Cheltenham midfielder Jacob Maddox crossed from the right and Jebbison’s finish was spilled into the net by Evans.

The game became much more open with chances at both ends. Nlundulu went on another surge towards goal and drew a testing save from Garrett, who required two bites of the cherry to gather the ball safely. Conor Shaughnessy also came close at the other end when his glancing header narrowly missed the target.

Tom Hamer received only a booking for hauling down Liam Sercombe while he was breaking away on the counter-attack. Sercombe was forced to be replaced immediately after sustaining a knock from the challenge.

With both teams locked at one apiece, a close finale was expected, but despite a valiant effort in stoppage time, Cheltenham couldn't find a late winner.

ROBINS (3-5-2): O Evans; C Raglan (W Boyle 71), M Pollock, S Long; M Blair, C Wright, C Thomas, L Sercombe (E Bonds 79), C Hussey; D N’Lundulu (A Williams 84), A May.

Subs not used: S Flinders, L Freestone, B Williams, C Brown.

BURTON (3-4-2-1): B Garratt; C Shaughnessy, J Brayford (c), A Oshilaja; T Hamer, T O’Connor, T Taylor (J Powell 82), C Borthwick-Jackson; J Maddox, C Lakin (L Akins 46); D Jebbison (J Smith 86)

Subs not used: C Hawkins, R Leak, M Mancienne, L Moult.

Attendance: 3,201 (298 away)

Referee: David Rock

Ticket News

Tickets on sale for Burton clash

4 January 2022

The first home match of 2022 sees Cheltenham Town host Burton Albion on Saturday 8 January.

Kick-off against a Brewers side managed by former Chelsea and Netherlands international striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is at 3pm.

After a pleasing draw at Oxford United on New Year's Day the visit of Burton to Gloucestershire is another key outing for the Robins who are keen to get a first home win of 2022 on the board at the first attempt.

As always your support can play a massive part at the Jonny-Rocks and tickets for the match are available to purchase for the game.

By buying before midnight on Friday you can save £2 on ticket prices on the day in all areas of the stadium.

You can buy online at any time, or alternatively visit the ticket office in person this week during opening hours.

Half-season tickets are also on sale this week with the first game as part of the ticket this weekend's game. You can guarantee your place in the stadium for all of the team's remaining home matches this season and get two fixtures free with a half-season ticket.