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Match Previews

Preview: Leyton Orient

9 April 2021

Match Previews

Preview: Leyton Orient

9 April 2021

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The big games keep on coming for Cheltenham Town as play-off chasing Leyton Orient visit the Jonny-Rocks Stadium on Saturday (kick-off: 3pm).

It's another high end encounter for the Robins, as an Orient side in a rich vein of form make the visit west to Gloucestershire. It promises to be another tense spectacle as Michael Duff's men aim to continue their own good form with the push for promotion to League One continuing at pace.

The game is also seeing the club host its MIND matchday for the season. The Robins are showing their support for Swindon and Gloucestershire MIND - the local MIND branch for the club and our supporters.

Before the game there will also be a tribute to HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, after his sad passing on Friday morning.

Watch Saturday's fixture in full online by purchasing a match pass on iFollow.

Team news

Lewis Freestone has made progress on his groin problem so could be back involved. Conor Thomas is also expected to be available after suffering a facial injury in the first half against Tranmere Rovers.

Chris Clements misses out with a hamstring injury that's likely to rule him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Watch Michael Duff's pre-match press conference and also goalkeeper Josh Griffiths discussing Saturday's game.

Opposition

An excellent seven match unbeaten run, which has included four consecutive wins, has given Leyton Orient a real chance of making it into the play-offs.

They are currently three points off them going into the weekend and are joint on 57 points with Carlisle United and Exeter City.

Head Coach Ross Embleton was sacked at the end of February and replaced by player/caretaker manager Jobi McAnuff.

Despite losing his first game in charge 4-0 at Exeter City they've stepped up significantly since then and have enjoyed wins over the likes of Newport County AFC and Carlisle United.

Chilean Lawrence Vigouroux is their man in goal. He's kept two clean sheets in his last two games.

At the back they can rely on the experienced Jamie Turley and West Ham United loanee Tunji Akinola. Sam Ling and the former Dagenham & Redbridge left back Joe Widdowson provide protection in full back areas.

In midfield, the physical Ousseynou Cissé offers solidity in the middle of the pitch though he did go off at half time in their last match at Walsall to be replaced by Cypriot youth product Hector Kyprianou.

James Brophy is a good creative influence, while Craig Clay provides good experience and former Robins man James Dayton has the ability to make an impact on a game too.

At the top of the pitch Danny Johnson is their leading goal scorer this season, while alongside him former Gillingham front man Conor Wilkinson presents a more physical element to their attack. One-time West Ham youngster Dan Kemp is another good option for them.

The caretaker manager: Jobi McAnuff

At the age of 39 Jobi McAnuff still features as a player for Orient as well as recently taking on the role of player/caretaker manager for the side.

It's his first experience of being in the dugout and he's made a good start that he hopes will continue in the remainder of the campaign.

His playing career saw him play in the top divisions in English football, representing the likes of Reading, Wimbledon, Cardiff City, West Ham United and Watford. He also had a spell at Stevenage and is in his second stint with Orient.

He's assisted by former Wycombe Wanderers defender Danny Senda, with Matt Harrold, who played for a number of League clubs as a striker, in a coaching position too.

One to watch: Danny Johnson

Middlesbrough born Danny Johnson has 19 goals to his name in all competitions this season.

The nippy front man joined Orient in January 2020 from Dundee. He scored two goals in a recent win over Mansfield Town but they were his first goals since an early January win over Salford City.

The majority of goals for him this season have come at the start of the campaign. He was on fire at the beginning of the season, netting seven times in his first eight matches in all competitions.

He's enjoyed a well-travelled career. After finishing youth football in his native north east he moved to Spain to join Real Murcia's B side.

A return to English football followed at Harrogate Town. He dropped to sign for Guisborough Town where his goal scoring exploits caught the attention of Cardiff City who signed him.

He didn't get first team opportunites in south Wales though but managed to make a real mark in senior football with Gateshead in the National League where he played over a hundred games and sealed the first of two moves to Scotland, joining SPL outfit Motherwell.

Robins celebrate MIND matchday

Saturday's fixture has been designated as Cheltenham's MIND matchday for the 2020/21 season and the club are going to be showing their support for our local branch of MIND, Swindon and Gloucestershire MIND on the day.

You'll be able to watch some important mental health messages from the players before the game on social media, while as of Saturday morning you'll also be able to make a donation to the Swindon and Gloucestershire MIND - who are completely self-funded away from the national organisation.

Before the match the players will warm up in Swindon and Gloucestershire MIND T-shirts, while all of the management team will wear the MIND On Your Side emblem in the dugout to show their support and to raise awareness of the importance of mental health.

Watch the match live on iFollow

Don't miss a kick from Saturday's game by watching the whole fixture in full live on iFollow online.

You can buy a match pass at a price of £10 and watch the match from the comfort of your own home. Commentary will be provided by the team from BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Digital match sponsors

On Saturday we are very pleased to be welcoming Jonny-Rocks London as our digital match sponsors for the game.

As the leading luxury VIP chauffeur and executive car service company in Gloucestershire and the South West, Jonny-Rocks have proudly held the stadium naming rights for over two years now.

Also big Robins fans, Jonny-Rocks chauffeurs now cover 12 UK regions including the capital with their brand of luxury Mercedes-Benz chauffeuring services and were also digital match sponsors for the visit of Crawley Town in September.

They specialise in business and private VIP travel throughout London, Bath, Bristol, Birmingham, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cradiff, South Wales, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Wolverhampton, West Midlands and Worcestershire.

Match programme

There are two ways you can access the match programme for Saturday's match. 

You can buy a print version online from the club shop, or through the MatchDay Digital app can access a larger 48 page edition.

The programme features a big interview with Alfie May plus further features with Michael Duff, Ellis Chapman, under-18s defender Will Ramsey, Cheltenham Town Ladies and much more.

Buy the print copy online for £2.50, while the digital version is on sale via MatchDay Digital on their website, on Android and through Apple.

Coverage

The match is available to follow on social media. Check out @CTFCofficial for updates throughout the day. You can also keep a check on the score on the club's Facebook page and Instagram account.

After the game visit the club website to read an on the whistle match report and to see Michael Duff's post-match press conference on iFollow.

You'll be able to access iFollow to view extended highlights of the 90 minutes too.


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