Preview: Charlton Athletic

10 September 2021

It's a visit to one of the League One big boys for Cheltenham Town on Saturday with a trip to take on Charlton Athletic in the capital (kick-off: 3pm).

Six games into the new season the Robins have taken six points so far from their first campaign back in the third tier since 2009.

Like Cheltenham, Charlton have recorded just one win so far having played one game less.

They will be eyeing up the weekend's game as an opportunity to get more points on the board as they look to launch an assault on getting back into the Championship having been in the third tier for a second consecutive season.

For Michael Duff's Cheltenham it's a brilliant chance to go away from home and take points off a much fancied side, much like the home victory over Ipswich Town in August, and they'll be backed by good numbers from Gloucestershire in the stands at The Valley.

Team news

Charlie Raglan is expected to miss out as the defender nurses a recent knee injury.

Front man Kyle Vassell (pictured) will have his fitness assessed ahead of making the trip.

Deadline day signing Christian Norton misses out with the Stoke City loanee expected to begin training with the club at the start of next week.

Media talk

Michael Duff says motivation won't be a problem as his team visit one of League One's biggest sides on Saturday.

"They got up and running last week. It's a tough game but we know where we are," he said.

"We'll go there and give it a go and see what happens after 95 minutes.

"The players won't need motivating. It's a big ground and these are the things you want.

"Motivation isn't a problem and we've had an okay start. We are the underdogs but we will go and enjoy the challenge."

Watch Duff's press conference previewing the fixture exclusively on iFollow.

Goalkeeper Scott Flinders has also been looking ahead to the trip, praising the team spirit in the squad as being the best in the division.

Opposition

The Addicks were without a game last weekend because of international call ups. That alone is perhaps reflective of the quality Cheltenham will take on this weekend.

The London side boast full internationals in the shape of Chris Gunter - the first player to play over a hundred times for Wales - Northern Ireland's Conor Washington, the Republic of Ireland's Harry Arter and Senegal's Pape Souaré among others.

Their recruitment over the course of the summer saw them bring in Sam Lavelle, while target man Jayden Stokley signed permanently from Preston North End following a loan spell and Charlie Kirk has been recruited for an undisclosed fee from Crewe Alexandra.

With the likes of the experienced Jason Pearce, former Sunderland man George Dobson and Luton Town loan forward Elliot Lee, there's little surprise that they are being tipped for promotion to the Championship this season.

The manager: Nigel Adkins

Boasting a high level of experience managing some of the Football League's biggest clubs, Nigel Adkins has also had a spell leading a team in the Premier League after achieving back-to-back promotions with Southampton a decade ago.

He's also spent time in charge at Scunthorpe United, Reading, Sheffield United and Hull City before taking over as Charlton boss in March on a two-and-a-half year contract.

Previously after a playing career that saw him represent the likes of Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic, he managed Welsh top flight side Bangor City before moving into a career in physiotherapy ahead of his first full-time job in management with Scunny.

Tickets & travel

Tickets are now only available to purchase on the day at The Valley. Prices are as follows:

Adult £26
Over 65/18-21 £21
Student £17
Under 18 £14
Under 11 £8

The Travel Club coaches making the trip will be leaving from the Jonny-Rocks Stadium at 10am.

Any tickets that haven't been collected from the Cheltenham ticket office will be available to pick up on matchday at Charlton.

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, Sky Sports and Quest.

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Charlton Athletic 1-2 Robins

11 September 2021

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Charlton Athletic v Cheltenham Town - Extended highlights - Sat 11th September 2021

Extended highlights of Charlton Athletic v Cheltenham Town, Sat 11th September 2021 in the Sky Bet League One

Michael Duff marked the third anniversary of his appointment at Cheltenham Town with another famous win, this time away at Charlton Athletic.

The League One adventure is fraught with tough challenges against some of the giants of the English game but just as they did against Ipswich Town last month, Michael Duff's side belied their resources to deliver an organised and cohesive performance to run out deserved winners.

All the damage was done before the break and first-half goals by Matty Blair and Taylor Perry clinched it for the Robins, beating a side packed full of cup winners, internationals and Premier League pedigree.

They shipped a goal early in the second half but despite the setback and the volume inside The Valley, Duff's side managed the game superbly to restrict their opponents and secure the points in the end.

"I think we've already proved that [we belong in League One] already," said Duff afterwards.

"The most pleasing aspect of today was the final 20 minutes. Last week when we were winning we just tossed the ball away. We had a 15-minute spell today when we were rocking and they scored but we wrestled back momentum by still playing and passing the ball. It killed their momentum.

"That's the learning that you want to see. I think that's the fourth time we've gone 1-0 up so to get a win from it is another positivee. I think every player on the pitch, the ones that weren't and the supporters were all good value for the win today.

"It was probably a lot tighter than it should have been."

He made three changes here. Matthew Pollock made his first league start in the centre of the back three, flanked by Will Boyle and Sean Long, while Conor Thomas and Taylor Perry returned at the expense of Liam Sercombe and Kyle Joseph.

And they made the perfect start, taking the game to the home side from the first whistle to take a sixth minute lead and silence the boisterous home faithful.

Callum Wright created it with some good play down the right before crossing for Tyler Perry, who called Craig MacGillivray into a fine stop from 12 yards. However Blair was alive to the loose ball and produced a low, measured effort across the Charlton number one to hand his side an early advantage.

Early discontent spread quickly through the stands and Wright had a chance to add a second, but he rolled an effort straight at MacGillivray. Next he kicked away an effort from May.

But there was little he could do to prevent Perry extending the lead 13 minute before the break and again the chance came about after some incisive play down the right which saw Wright tee up Blair to centre.

The defender fizzed in another low ball and the Wolves loanee guided it home to notch his first league goal for the club.

Cheltenham were lucky not to concede within three minutes of the second half after some sloppy play by Scott Flinders. He found jayden Stockley, who rolled it out to Diallang Jaiyesimi but he blasted it well over from a good position.

But Charlton pulled one back just shy of the hour, a move that started with Albie Morgan lifting one into the box, finding Conor Washington. He teed up his fellow subsitute Jonathan Leko who smashed home from the angle.

Leko changed the momentum of the game for the hosts after his introduction and went close to making it two just a few moment later but he dragged his 20-yarder a foot past the left upright.

Cheltenham had responded well to the setback and stuck their task to again frustrate the large home crowd and should have added a third with 15 minutes remaining when Wright was gifted a free header from a Chris Hussey corner kick, but the midfielder was denied by a sensational save.

Will Boyle then had a chance of his own, redirecting a Conor Thomas volley but it dropped wide.

At the other end Matthews and Stockley had late chances but Duff's man stuck to their task to close out the game an clinch another win to live long in the memory.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Matthews, Lavelle (Souaré 81), Famewo, Gunter; Watson, Morgan; Jaiyesimi (Washington 58), Kirk (Leko 46), Lee; Stockley. Subs not used: Harness (Gk), Dobson, Pearce, Blackett-Taylor.

CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-4-2-1): Flinders; Long, Pollock (Freestone 72), Boyle (c); Blair, Thomas, Chapman, Hussey; Wright, Perry (Sercombe 64); May (Joseph 76). Subs not used: Evans (Gk), Williams, Bonds, Horton.

REFEREE: A Davies

ATTENDANCE: 13,790 (511 from Cheltenham)

Ticket News

Tickets & travel: Charlton Athletic

2 September 2021

Tickets and away travel for Cheltenham Town's fixture at Charlton Athletic on Saturday 11 September are available to purchase from the ticket office and online.

The Robins head to the 27,000 capacity The Valley in the capital for the next first away match in September.

Ticket prices for the game are as follows:

Adult £23
Over 65/18-21 £18
Student £14
Under 18 £11
Under 11 £5

Please note there is a £3 increase for adults and concessions on the day.

The Travel Club will be departing from the Jonny-Rocks Stadium at 10am.

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

You can buy tickets and purchase away travel online for the game. You can also visit the ticket office to buy.

Any tickets that are left uncollected from the Jonny-Rocks Stadium ticket office ahead of the game will be available for collection from the ticket office at Charlton on the day.

Fans are also reminded that 5% of tickets sold through Cheltenham will go as income to the Robins.