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Cheltenham Town |
| It wasn’t too long ago that we were playing Saturday’s opponents, Cheltenham Town, in pre-season friendlies, doubtless giving them a patronising pat on the head along the way. That was, of course, before Cheltenham gained promotion in 1999/2000 and these days they’re our equals in Division Three. Since promotion from the Conference, they’ve managed one promotion (in 2001/2, Steve Cotterill’s final season in charge) only to be relegated the following season under Bobby Gould. Last season wasn’t their most successful and they finished just above Rovers but John Ward has been building a side which looks better this time around. |
| How are they doing? |
Cheltenham are currently lying 13th in Division Three and, in the nicest way possible, you have to say that they are average in pretty much every way: they have the 13th best home record and the 13th best away record and, it seems, they aren’t great – or terrible – at anything. Recent form backs this up: of the last eight games they’ve won two, drawn four and lost two (which is, you guessed it, the 13th best record in the Division). It would be fitting if Cheltenham had had thirteen draws to go along with all the other thirteens, but that honour – of being the team that draws most in the country – goes to Rovers of course. Still, they’ve had ten draws so far (including six away from home) which must point towards a familiar outcome being a distinct possibility on Saturday. |
Anyone to look out for? |
| On-loan sheedhead striker Steven Gillespie (see
below) earned rave reviews in his debut against Rushden and Diamonds
last week and Rovers will have to make sure they keep him quiet. When
we played Cheltenham at their place just after Christmas they had a
lot of possession but didn’t really do much with it until we
did our usual fall asleep at the set piece routine. However, with a
cutting edge they could well cause us problems, and while you can’t
read too much into the thrashing of a Rushden side on a terrible run,
Gillespie was prolific for the 82ers in pre-season and comes with a
good pedigree. At this level, he could be, as Andy Warren would say,
dangerous, very dangerous. Martin Devaney has been a revelation on the left wing this season (despite playing on the right for most of his career) but it looks as if he’ll be on his way out of the club sooner rather than later after he turned down a new contract. His current deal is up at the end of the season and, rather than see him go for nothing, Town have put him on the transfer list. Swansea have shown an interest after attempts to sign Marc Goodfellow and Andy Burgess (Rushden and Diamonds) failed and, if we’re lucky, they may even buy him before the weekend! |
| He likes to have a go! |
| Grant McCann leads the “shots from distance” table in Division Three with 53 to date. The good news for us is that only one of them has gone in. |
| Sheedhead Alert |
| Whaddon Road is still a veritable colony of former inhabitants of
Trashton despite the departure of veteran striker Bob “offside” Taylor to
Tamworth at the start of the season. Damian Spencer came
on as a sub in the game at Cheltenham and almost crippled Kevin Miller
late on and Kayode Odejayi also came off the bench
in that match. Both Spencer and Odejayi have primarily been squad players
this season but sub appearances are reasonably likely. Meanwhile, Steven
Gillespie has recently joined them on loan and is expecting
a bit of a reception judging by recent comments in the local press: "I
am sure I will get my fair share of stick. When the home fans are behind
you it gives you a lift, but when the opposition fans are getting on
your back it gets you going as well, because you want to prove them
wrong and you want to play well and get the crowd down."
And then there’s John Ward of course (see below). |
| What about Rovers connections? |
| Cheltenham ‘keeper Shane Higgs came up the
ranks at Rovers and played ten first team matches for us, the most
notable being the four all draw at Oldham Athletic in 1997 (though
the optimists will also remember his “performance” at home
to Rotherham on the last day of that season).
Manager John Ward managed both Rovers and City and if we were him we’d feel a little bit angry every time we came to Bristol. Ward took Rovers to a play-off final in 1995 and the following season, when Rovers finished 10th in Division Two and only three points off the play-offs, he was sacked. OK, to be accurate, his contract wasn’t renewed but to all effects and purposes he was sacked, seemingly because his face didn’t fit. After a break of a few months he succeeded Joe Jordan at Bristol City in March 1997 and immediately led them on a storming run up the table and into the play-offs. They lost out in the semis to Brentford but the following season gained automatic promotion, finishing as runners up. Just a few months later however, after an unsuccessful start to the season, City supremo Scott Davidson decided to bring in Benny Lennartsson, ostensibly to help Ward but effectively forcing him out. Ah, Benny Hill, suddenly everything in the world is feeling good again…. |
| Any rivals? |
| Gloucester City are their traditional rivals but, now that the clubs rarely meet, Kidderminster Town seem to have taken over. |
| Last time we met? |
| One all in a mind-numbing encounter at Whaddon Road just after Christmas. Forrester scored for Rovers after 4 minutes before Caines equalised after 37. |
| How’s things on the home front? |
| Things seem fairly stable at Whaddon Road and there are no rumblings of discontent as far as we can tell. The manager has recently been thanking the board for financing the deals to bring in two strikers in an effort to boost the club's play-off aspirations and the fans are trying to convince Devaney to stay by cheering him as much as they can. All in all, a seemingly happy ship. |
| Will they bring many? |
| We’ve played Cheltenham twice before in 2003/4 and 2001/2 at the Mem and they’ve brought 799 and 790 respectively. It would be reasonable to assume that about 800 will make the trip which, to be honest, is pretty rubbish for a town that’s only forty-odd miles away. |
| ‘Fascinating’ fact? |
| Cheltenham Town are the only team in Division Three who have not picked up a single red card this season. |
| Possible Tabloid Headlines |
| “Gillespie Sends Rovers Dizzy” “Rovers Ward Off Cheltenham” |
© gasheads.com
2004