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Match Previews

OPPOSITION GUIDE: CHELTENHAM TOWN

19 February 2021

Match Previews

OPPOSITION GUIDE: CHELTENHAM TOWN

19 February 2021

City are back on the road in Sky Bet League Two - making the 358-mile round trip to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium to face Cheltenham Town.

Michael Duff’s side have enjoyed an impressive campaign so far - sitting third in the Sky Bet League Two table after recording 13 wins, eight draws and six defeats. 

Saturday’s hosts are unbeaten in the last three matches against City - last falling to defeat in the Papa John’s Trophy in January 2017. 

We have created this Opposition Guide to take you through everything you need to know for the Bantams' trip to Gloucestershire.

TRANSFER ACTIVITY

The Robins made three signings in the January transfer window, with a further three players departing the club.

INS: Indiana Vassilev (Aston Villa, loan), Sam Smith (Reading, loan), Callum Wright (Leicester City, loan).

OUTS: Reuben Reid (Yeovil Town), Tahvon Campbell (Halifax Town, loan), Tom Sang (Cardiff City, recalled from loan).

ONES TO WATCH

Andy Williams

Williams signed for the Robins from Northampton Town in the summer and he has been a key part of their squad since arriving. He is Cheltenham’s second-top goal-scorer this season, with seven.

The experienced frontman gained promotion to Sky Bet League One with the Cobblers last season - netting the fourth in their 4-0 win against Exeter City in the Play-Off Final.

Scott Flinders

Flinders is another experienced member of the Robins’ ranks - aged 34. He signed for Cheltenham from Macclesfield Town in August 2017 and penned a contract extension in 2019 to keep him at the club until 2021.

Cheltenham is the 11th club the goalkeeper has represented after notable spells at York City and Hartlepool United, where he made over 250 appearances for the Durham-based side.

Alfie May

May has enjoyed most of his career in non-league for teams including Billericay Town, Farnborough and Hythe Town. He signed for Doncaster Rovers in January 2017 and scored his first professional goal for the club a month later against Luton Town in Sky Bet League Two.

The 27-year-old striker spent three years at the Keepmoat Stadium before joining Cheltenham Town for an undisclosed fee in January 2020. He is the Robins’ top goalscorer this season with nine and netted the opener against Manchester City in the Emirates FA Cup in January.

THE CAPTAIN

Ben Tozer has also started every league game this season for the Robins. He was named in the 2019/20 PFA League Two Team of the Year after helping his side to a play-off finish last season.

The 6ft 3ins defender is a product of the Plymouth Argyle academy and has gone on to play for six EFL clubs - including Northampton Town. Tozer has been a regular in the squad since joining from Newport County in 2018.

THE MANAGER

Michael Duff was appointed manager of Cheltenham Town in 2018 following a spell coaching Burnley’s under-18 and under-23 teams. This is Duff's first full managerial job.

The former defender made over 300 appearances for the Robins and scored the winning goal against Yeovil Town in 1999 to secure promotion to the EFL for the first time in their history.

Duff signed for Burnley in 2004 and made over 300 appearances for the Clarets, before retiring in 2016.

LAST TIME OUT

The Robins came from behind to beat Walsall 2-1 at the Banks’s Stadium and go within two points of the summit of Sky Bet League Two.

Walsall 1 (Lavery 3’)

Cheltenham Town 2 (Smith 35’, Wright 43’)

Tuesday February 16 

Cheltenham: Griffiths, Raglan, Tozer, Boyle, Blair, Thomas, Wright (Vassilev 68'), Azaz, Hussey, Smith (Williams 85'), May (Lloyd 68').


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