Preview: Chelsea under-21s

26 October 2021

The under-21s side from current European champions Chelsea visit the Jonny-Rocks Stadium on Tuesday night in the Papa John's Trophy (kick-off: 7pm).

It's Cheltenham Town's final Southern Section Group E fixture against the young talents from Stamford Bridge.

For the fans heading to the game it's once again another good opportunity to watch some of the talented youngsters aiming to forge their way into one of the best performing sides on the planet, much like many of the young stars who have featured for Premier League sides in the past upon their visits to Gloucestershire.

The Autovillage Stand, Paddock and Colin Farmer Stand will be open for home supporters this evening. Please use the turnstiles on the corner of Whaddon Road and Wymans Road to gain access to the Colin Farmer Stand.

Please arrive early if you are collecting tickets to leave plenty of time ahead of kick-off.

Kick-off is at 7pm and tickets are available to buy online and in person on the night from the ticket office.

Team news

Michael Duff is planning to make a number of changes to the team that started in Saturday's 3-2 loss at Doncaster Rovers.

A number of young players are expected to be involved, while it will also give fringe players in his team the opportunity to get competitive game time and make a push for a starting place in the club's League One side for matchdays.

Opposition

Led by former Chelsea and Bradford City defender Andy Myers as under-21s manager, Chelsea's youngsters are members of the Premier League 2 Division One set-up.

Already in the competition this season they've defeated Exeter City on penalty kicks after a draw in their first group game, while last time out they won 2-1 away at Bristol Rovers. They are two results that have already confirmed their progress in the group.

Lewis Baker was amongst their squad when they won last time in the competition at Rovers. The 26-year-old has 17 caps for the England under-21s and has enjoyed a career that's taken in spells on loan at Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Vitesse, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Turkish top tier side Trabzonspor last season.

Others in their side include 21-year-old midfielder George McEachran, the younger brother of ex-Chelsea and now MK Dons midfielder Josh, former Barcelona youngster Xavier Mbuyamba and Norway youth international forward Bryan Fiabema.

Elsewhere in the group

In the final round of matches it's a shootout between the Papa John's Trophy Southern Section Group E's League Two teams to see who will join Chelsea under-21s in the knockout stage of the competition.

Bristol Rovers and Exeter City face off against one another at St James Park with the winners of that tie heading through.

Tickets

Tickets purchased before 2pm are available at the advanced price. Tickets that are bought beyond this time or in person on the night increase by £1 from the original prices of £5 for adults, £3 for seniors and £1 for under-18s.

All pre-paid tickets must be collected from the ticket collection point portakabin in the main car park.

Match programme

The front cover star and main interview for Tuesday's programme is with academy product Grant Horton.

The defender discusses his second season as a professional and being a part of the first team squad in League One.

The programme is available to buy around the stadium for £2 and is also on sale online.

Coverage

Watch live: The game is available to watch on iFollow. Purchase a match pass for £10 and subscribe online.

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 and YouTube.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Robins 0-0 Chelsea under-21s (Cheltenham win 5-4 on pens)

26 October 2021

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Cheltenham Town v Chelsea U21 - Extended highlights - Tue 26th October 2021

Extended highlights of Cheltenham Town v Chelsea U21, Tue 26th October 2021 in the Papa John’s Trophy

Cheltenham Town won on penalties 5-4 against Chelsea under-21s, despite being held to a goalless draw in the 90 minutes, in their final Group E match of the Papa John’s Trophy.

All the penalty takers for the home side scored, with Owen Evans saving Blues midfielder Lewis Baker’s penalty, to win the shootout for the Robins.

The best chance inside the 90 minutes fell to Alfie May, who’s volley narrowly drifted past the far post, but his penalty was far more accurate, rising into the top corner past Ethan Wady.

The Robins fielded a mixture of senior and young talent, with scholars Will Armitage, Felix Miles, Joe Hunt, Zac Guinan and Connor Jakeways featuring.

Town won one point from the draw, and another for winning the shootout, but it wasn’t enough to move onto the next round.

Wade Elliot spoke after the result saying: “It was a really good performance. We are very pleased with the young ones and the seniors as well.

“If you’re a young player coming into the squad tonight, there are no better examples to look up-to in the squad."

Miles registered the first effort off the match; however it was blocked and easy for Blues keeper Wady to save.

May followed up with long distant strike towards goal, prompting a smart save from Wady.

The striker received a roar of applause as he attempted an overhead kick, but it was blocked by former Barcelona prospect Xavier Mbuyamba and went over the goal for a corner. The forward’s took the set-piece and his cross met strike partner Christian Norton, but his header glanced wide of the far post.

Chelsea tried to impose their game, though nothing came from their early attacks, with the most notable effort a Jude Soonsup-Bell strike the Speedy Skips Stand sign.

Following a scuffle, birthday boy Lewis Freestone, who turned 22, received a yellow card. The Blues had a free kick inside the Robins half, but it was wasted with the home side retrieving possession.

Cheltenham made a couple of errors in possession, yet the Blues failed to make them pay and it remained goalless.

Second year scholar Miles had a second effort on goal keeping Wady on his toes, but the young 'keeper made a good save and prevented it from spilling out into the area.

Dylan Barkers drove through the Chelsea midfield and set up Norton, though the curling effort from the Stoke City loanee was caught by Wady - the far busier of the two keepers in the opening half.

In the second half, the Blues cut out possession from Cheltenham, with George Nunn passing the ball back to Charlie Webster, although the shot from the midfielder replicated an earlier shot and rose over the crossbar.

Evans had to react quickly to stop Webster’s blasted shot from inside the Robins box and did so by tipping the ball over the cross bar. The best chance of the game for the travelling Blues, who didn’t trouble Evans too much in the 90 minutes.

Zac Guinan followed in his father’s footsteps, Steve, and made his first team debut replacing captain Andy Williams late on in the match.

This proved to be a successful decision as Guinan, along with Chapman, Miles, May and Norton all scored their penalties.

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-3-3): Evans; Freestone, Thomas (Chapman 61’), May, Williams (c) (Guinan 89’), Horton, Barkers, Norton, Miles, Hunt (Jakeways 90’), Armitage.

Subs not used: Flinders (Gk), Pollock, Clark, Skurek.

CHELSEA U-21 (3-4-1-2): Wady, Baker, McEachran, Mbuyamba, Nunn, Brooking, Simons (c), Andersson (82’), Soonsup-Bell (Haigh 68’), Webster (Wareham 68’), Hughes.

Subs not used: Bergström (Gk), Fiabema, Rankine, Ryan.

Referee: A Young

Attendance: 2932

Ticket News

Buy in advance for Chelsea under-21s tie

25 October 2021

Buy tickets for Tuesday's Papa John's Trophy group stage match with Chelsea under-21s at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

Tickets when bought before 2pm on Tuesday are just £5 for adults, £3 for seniors and £1 for under-18s for the visit of the European champions young stars to Gloucestershire.

Kick-off on Tuesday is at 7pm as the Robins prepare to welcome some of the Premier League leaders most talented young players.

You can buy tickets for the game online and also in person from the ticket office on Monday and Tuesday.

The Colin Farmer Stand, Autovillage Stand and Paddock will be open on the night for Cheltenham supporters.