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Match Previews

Preview: Carlisle United

27 April 2021

Match Previews

Preview: Carlisle United

27 April 2021

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A single point is enough to take Cheltenham Town into League One next season ahead of Carlisle United's visit to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium on Tuesday (kick-off: 7pm).

In the club's penultimate home game of the season, the Robins know what they need to do to secure their place in the third tier of English football next season.

Michael Duff has challenged his players to fight for the league title and the meeting with Carlisle is another great opportunity to move further ahead than Cambridge United and Bolton Wanderers in second and third.

Watch Tuesday's game live online with an iFollow match pass. Buy yours online before the game.

Team news

There are no new injury concerns going into the game. Defender Will Boyle and midfielder Chris Clements remain the only absentees.

Michael Duff spoke to the media on Monday to preview the game, while forward Andy Williams has also been speaking to the press.

Opposition

Without a win in their last five games, Carlisle will head to Cheltenham with an outside chance of still making the play-off places. Of those last five matches four of them have ended in draws, and the Cumbrians will be wondering if they could only have snatched a couple of wins if they'd be facing a better prospect of securing a place in the play-offs.

It's been a good season overall though at Brunton Park and in goalkeeper Paul Farman they have an experienced stopper who has a huge kick in his armoury.

In front of him the sizeable Aaron Hayden plays a part in marshalling their defensive line, while Scotsman Jack Armer, captain Nick Anderton, Rhys Bennett and former Manchester United full back George Tanner are potential picks at the back.

Jon Mellish has been a driving force in their midfield this term. He's netted 15 times in all competitions with the majority of his goals coming in the first half of the season.

He could be joined by the industrious Callum Guy, while another former Man United youngster, Joe Riley may also be considered for selection.

Their attacking options include 32-year-old Lewis Alessandra and Republic of Ireland under-21 international Joshua Kayode who is a direct attacker. Offrande Zanzala may line up in attack too for them having joined in January after leaving Crewe Alexandra.

Omari Patrick, who began his career in non-league at Beaconsfield, and Frenchman Gime Touré boost the bodies they can turn to when looking for goals.

The manager: Chris Beech

In charge since November 2019, this season has been Chris Beech's first full campaign in charge at Brunton Park.

It's his first permanent managerial role. Apart from a caretaker position at Rochdale, where he served as assistant manager to former Cheltenham defender Keith Hill, he has otherwise only worked as a coach.

In his playing days he was a midfielder who represented the likes of Huddersfield Town, Hartlepool United and Blackpool.

One to watch: Offrande Zanzala

Since making the switch from League One Crewe in January, Offrande Zanzala has scored five times in 20 appearances for Tuesday's opponents.

He moved to England aged 8 from Austria having been born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His career began at Derby County where he was loaned out to Stevenage, Chester and Accrington Stanley.

He left the Rams and signed permanently for Stanley, spending two seasons in Lancashire before a July 2020 move to Crewe Alexandra who had just been promoted to League One.

His time with Crewe only lasted for half a season and he's been registered with Carlisle since January.

Match programme

Available to buy online in either print or digital format, the match programme for Tuesday's game features forward George Lloyd as the big interview.

There are also features with Ben Tozer, under-18s midfielder Felix Miles after he was named the LFE Apprentice of the Season for League Two, Michael Duff and much more.

The print version of the programme is available to buy from the online shop for £2.50. Make sure you select 'match programme' when it comes to shipping to select the cheaper postage offer.

A 48 page digital edition can be accessed via Matchday Digital on their website, or on Android or Apple.

Watch the match live on iFollow

Make sure you watch the action from the Jonny-Rocks Stadium by subscribing to a match pass on iFollow.

You can buy a match pass online for £10 ahead of the game. Commentary will be provided by BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Season ticket holders receive free access to watch the game and will have received an email with information about this.

Digital match sponsors

Typecraft are the digital match sponsors for the game. Close friends of the club, Typecraft have been delivering high quality print for its customers for nearly three decades.

They deliver fast, friendly and reliable print and design solutions at a price to suit all budgets from their base on the outskirts of Cheltenham.

Coverage

Follow the action on social media by checking out @CTFCofficial on Twitter where you can view match updates, images and team news. Stay up to date with the latest score on Facebook and on the club's Instagram too.

Once the game is over visit the club website to read a match report and to watch Michael Duff's post-match press conference.

Before the game at 6pm visit the club's YouTube channel to watch Teamsheet Live looking ahead to the fixture upon the release of the team news.

You'll be able to watch extended highlights of the game on iFollow.


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