Official Match Thread Cheltenham Town v Southend United

[The Big Dady]

The Official Match Thread brought to you by ShrimperZone.com

So here we are the sixteenth away game of the 2020/21 season and Mark Molesley’s 16th away game since he was appointed Manager of the Mighty Shrimpers.

Our 16th away match is against Cheltenham Town


It is now time for ALL of us to get behind Mark and the team whether you are at The Jonny-Rocks Stadium in spirit, listening on the radio, or listening/watching on ifollow.

Mark Molesley’s Southend United League Two Away Team against Cheltenham Town



Jonny-Rocks Stadium is ready for action at 19.00 hrs Tuesday 2nd March 2021. It looks like we will have light cloud this evening with also a light wind for the match.







The weather forecast for this evening at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium



Current League away record after 15 away games

Won 3
Drawn 5
Lost 7
Goals scored 8
Goals conceded 23

League Positions Last Season

22nd (2019/20) League One Southend United (Relegated)
4th (2019/20) League Two Cheltenham Town

League Positions Current Season

3rd (2020/21) League Two Cheltenham Town
22nd (2020/21) League Two Southend United

Recent League Positions Change


Previous Meetings

Southend United 0-2 Cheltenham Town (L2 17/10/21 Att. 0 Covid)
Southend United 2-0 Cheltenham Town (L2 10/02/15 Att. 5,013)
Cheltenham Town 0-1 Southend United (L2 16/09/14 Att. 2,303)
Cheltenham Town 1-2 Southend United (L2 05/04/14 Att. 2,949)
Southend United 1-1 Cheltenham Town (L2 30/11/13 Att. 5,677)

Head to Head record

Southend United Wins: 13
Draws: 6
Cheltenham Town Wins: 11

Current Form

Cheltenham Town W W L W W
Southend United W D L W D


Come On You Blues!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Managers Pre-match Views​

Cheltenham Town

Cheltenham Town Manager Michael Duff did not do a prematch interview​

Cheltenham Town’s Assistant Manager Russell Milton talks to their OS ahead of the game against Southend United

Cheltenham Town Assistant Manager Russell Milton​

Russell Milton has warned that Cheltenham Town should be aware of a Southend United team who are a lot stronger than their league position suggests ahead of Tuesday's meeting with the Shrimpers.

A dreadful start to the season, that took them until November to record their first win, has left Tuesday's opponents in a difficult position at the bottom end of League Two.

Back in mid-October a trip to Roots Hall ended in a comfortable 2-0 victory for Cheltenham, but since then Southend have lifted themselves out of the relegation zone, have bolstered their squad and picked up a number of excellent results of late.

Assistant boss Milton feels there's plenty to be wary of ahead of the game on Tuesday night with Southend having picked up wins over Newport County and Forest Green in their last five games.

Milton feels they're a much changed side from the one Cheltenham faced earlier in the season.

Link to full interview:-
Link

Southend United

Mark Molesley speaks to OS ahead of this evening’s game against Cheltenham Town

Mark Molesley Southend United’s Manager​

Mark Molesley says his Southend United side should look forward to facing another in-form team on Tuesday night when they travel to Cheltenham Town.

In their last five games against sides in the top 10 Blues have lost once and conceded twice whilst picking up eight points in the process.

Michael Duff’s side have won four of their previous five games, all away from home.

And ahead of facing the Robins on Tuesday (7pm kick-off) Molesley wants his players to relish another tough challenge.

"We seem to time playing teams very well at the moment; they always seem to be flying and top of the form table!

"We’ve got to use that as a great incentive, a great challenge.

"The fact that we’re competing with these so-called big teams now shows how far we’ve come.

"They’re very well organised, defensively very strong and can hurt you in a range of ways.

"That’s the challenge ahead of us.

"We’re certainly being hard to beat but there’s always room for improvement.

"Looking to try and get a few more goals ourselves but on the whole I think from the run of games that we’ve had we’ve shown that we are up for the fight.”

Molesley will be without Alex Bass who has returned to Portsmouth due to injury having signed on an emergency loan on Saturday, and the Blues boss confirmed he is looking to bring in another goalkeeper.

Nile Ranger will also be missing through injury sustained on Saturday.

"Nile’s gone for a scan today so we’ll know the extent of that [soon]," Molesley added.

"We’re hoping it’s a low grade one, not a high grade one which will keep him out a week to 10 days.

"[It’s] Disappointing for him and us because the time he was on he showed what he is about. He caused problems straight away for their defence, flicking things on and was a handful.

"These things happen, these things happen even more to players who have been out a while."

Sam Hart, Jacob Mellis and Terrell Egbri are also not in contention for Tuesday.

"All a little bit early for them.

"Sam Hart has yet to train with the team, Jacob is definitely upping his training regime and so is Terrell.

"With the games coming thick and fast hopefully they will be up for selection, probably more likely next week than this week because they have to get a stronger foundation of work behind them."

On-loan Arsenal midfielder James Olayinka is back in team training, while Molesley said Ricky Holmes is eager to start.

"It’s still too early for James. He’s joined in team training today but he needs a minimum of a full week training into him. This week is going to be a big one to get them building blocks for him.

"Ricky is probably itching to start now.

"He’s been around us for long enough, had some cameo appearances.

"It’s great knowing now we’re going into these games that we have players like that who are getting fitter and stronger each game and ready to impact the team."

Full text can be found here:-
Link

Mark Molesley speaks to Chris Phillips at The Echo ahead of this evening’s game against Cheltenham Town

Ricky Holmes 'itching to start' as Southend United head to Cheltenham Town

Keen - experienced Southend United winger Ricky Holmes (left) is pushing for a place in Mark Molesley’s starting line-up this evening​

Ricky Holmes is ‘itching’ to make his first Southend United start when the Shrimpers head to Cheltenham Town tonight.

Holmes has been on the bench for all three games since joining his home-town club last month.

And Blues boss Mark Molesley knows the experienced winger is keen to step up his involvement.

“Ricky’s itching to start now,” said Molesley.

He’s been around us long enough now and has had some cameos appearances too.

“It’s great that we’re going into these games knowing we have these players getting stronger and fitter every day ready to make an impact on the team.”

The Shrimpers head to Whaddon Road sitting 22nd in the League Two standings, two points above the relegation zone.

And Molesley has been encouraged by Blues’ recent run which has seen them suffer just one defeat in five games against teams all in the top nine places in the table.

“We’ve had a good points return against some top teams lately and if anything we’re disappointed not to have more points for our work,” said Molesley.

“We were disappointed to not get at least a point against Bolton and we were unlucky to not get all three at Cambridge.

“It was another strong performance on Saturday against another good outfit and we nullified them.

“It’s not often Salford don’t score so we’re being hard to beat but there’s always room for improvement.

“We’re trying to get more goals ourselves but with these run of games we’ve had we’ve shown we’re more than up for the fight.”

However, Blues face another difficult match this evening against a Cheltenham who are third in the table.

The Robins have triumphed in four of their last five games and Molesley is fully aware of the size of the task facing his side.

“It will be another tough test and I’ve been really impressed with Cheltenham this season,” said Molesley.

“They’re very well organised and defensively very strong.

“They’re an experienced team and they can hurt you in a range of ways as well.

Full text can be found here:-
Link

The Big Preview

Cheltenham Town vs Southend United


​

Overview

Southend United’s first game of a hectic month of March takes place this evening as Mark Molesley’s Blues travel to take on Cheltenham Town in League Two (7pm KO).

Having won two and drawn one of their last three away trips, Southend will head to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium in confident mood as they look to pick some more vital points on the road.

The Robins though will provide another stern test of Blues’ fighting characteristics with Michael Duff’s side currently third in the table and in reach of league leaders Cambridge.

Form

Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Salford was another positive result for Blues having come into the weekend off the back of a superb 3-1 win at Forest Green Rovers in midweek.

Southend have lost just two of their last six matches, losing to Bolton and Port Vale, while picking up wins against Forest Green and Newport and draws against Cambridge and Salford.

Cheltenham have won four of their last five games thanks to wins against Harrogate, Walsall, Cambridge and Scunthorpe, with their only blip in that run coming in a 2-0 defeat to Bradford.

Last League Meeting

Saturday 17th October 2020

Southend United 0-2 Cheltenham Town

Sercombe (p)10’, Lloyd 52’

Cheltenham Town picked up the three points the last time these two sides met back in October with goals from Liam Sercombe and George Lloyd the difference between the sides.

Sercombe put the Robins in front in the 10th minute from the penalty spot after Lloyd was fouled by Brandon Goodship before Lloyd glanced in a Chris Hussey cross for the second after the restart.

From The Boss

"We seem to time playing teams very well at the moment; they always seem to be flying and top of the form table!

"We’ve got to use that as a great incentive, a great challenge. The fact that we’re competing with these so-called big teams now shows how far we’ve come.

"They’re very well organised, defensively very strong and can hurt you in a range of ways. That’s the challenge ahead of us. We’re certainly being hard to beat but there’s always room for improvement.”

Blues Team News

Mark Molesley is working on bringing in an emergency goalkeeper ahead of this evening’s visit to Cheltenham after Alex Bass was injured 45 minutes into his debut on Saturday.

Bass’ absence combined with the injury to Mark Oxley (groin) leaves Harry Seaden, who impressed in the second-half against Salford, as Blues’ only recognised goalkeeper.

Nile Ranger (groin) will miss out as he awaits the results of a scan, while Molesley is hopeful that Simeon Akinola (quad/back) will be available after both were forced off on Saturday.

Sam Hart (groin) has yet to return to training, but James Olayinka (ankle), Terrell Egbri (hamstring) and Jacob Mellis (fitness) are all back, but tonight is likely to come too soon for the midfield trio.

Cheltenham Dangerman

On-loan Leicester City midfielder Callum Wright has impressed in his brief time with Cheltenham having joined the Robins on loan at the start of February.

The 20-year-old scored a superb winner on his Cheltenham debut against Walsall before backing that up with another well-taken goal in their 2-0 win against Scunthorpe on Saturday.

Wright’s versatility allows him to be comfortable in any position across the midfield and he’s already shown he’ll be a tricky customer for the Blues defence to fend off tonight.

Ref Watch

Will Finnie is this evening’s referee at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, being assisted by Kevin Howick and Christopher Kidd, with Carl Brook the fourth official.

Finnie has overseen 23 games so far this season, brandishing a total of 64 yellow cards and three reds, with his last match being the 2-1 defeat for Colchester at home to Exeter last Tuesday.

Tonight will be Finnie’s second Cheltenham game of the season after taking charge of them at Oldham in November, and first Southend game since November 2019 against AFC Wimbledon.

iFollow Blues

With fans unable to attend matches in person, Blues fans can watch tonight’s clash with Cheltenham Town by picking up a Match Pass for iFollow Blues for £10.

Overseas supporters can pick up a pass for just £7 with the pass allowing you to catch the game on your laptop, computer, tablet or mobile device.

For more information on how you can get your Match Pass for iFollow Blues and ensure you miss none of the action at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, click here.

Please note, due to current BBC guidelines relating to travel during the national lockdown, the BBC Essex commentary team will not be able to provide match commentary for the game. Instead, you will have a choice of listening to ambient stadium noise or you can switch to Cheltenham commentary via the settings cog.

Full text can be found here:-
Link

Come On You Blues!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Cheltenham Town's Team

 

[amsemp]

Wow, not the lineup any of us were expecting! Looks like he’s picked the most experienced and defensive team he can, bar Macca.

 

[shrimper-james]

2-0 Holmes and Acquah, come on Blues!!!!

 

[bazzashrimper]

Looks to me as if he’s given up on this one, with an eye on Saturday.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

How's that team lining up?

Montgomery
Hobson Halford White Cordner Clifford
Demetriou Dieng
ANG Holmes
Acquah

 

[OldBlueLady]

Have I missed something, where's Elvis?

 

[fredheim_holm]

Here's hoping its 4-2-3-1:

Montgomery
Cordner Hobson White Clifford
Halford Demetriou
Holmes Dieng ANG
Acquah​

 

[Holy Joe]

Hmm, interesting to see the comments on this lineup. Will shrimpet be happy with Holmes starting, will he score?

 

[Holy Joe]

Have I missed something, where's Elvis?

On another thread someone said injured

 

[Shrimper Brownie]

Mmmm bizarre... mind you, I’ve said that before and MM has proved me wrong. UTB

 

[in the know]

Have I missed something, where's Elvis?

Injured im afraid

 

[jackj13]

Looks to me as if he’s given up on this one, with an eye on Saturday.

I hope not. As only a week ago today we beat 2nd place FGR 3-0

 

[Pak Power]

Gotta try and cope with their giants somehow

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Please please please don’t tell me that’s 5 at the back? Or actually it could be six!

Has he not learned, hope I am proved wrong.

 

[OrangeyBrown]

I'm assuming we're going with a back 5 with Halford in the middle of defence? If so I'm a bit worried about John White as he's not your typical wingback, not likely to get any chances on the right flank that way.

We'll need a bit of magic from Holmes most likely.

Although if it's a 4 with Halford and Acquah up top, it looks a bit better.

 

[JB Shrimper]

So Seadon makes a great save last game and is rewarded with this. A tad harsh I think!

 

[sufc4life21]

Just hope it's not 5 at the back! Good to see holmes get a start.

 

[Strykr]

Back 5 eh? Mint.