Robins v Robins

[CTFCfan99]

So two of the early promotion favourites whistle go head-to-head at Whaddon Road on Saturday with Swindon looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season at home to Northampton, while Cheltenham aim to extend their unbeaten home run to 13 matches. This has all the makings of a very tasty fixture - local sides (although I hesitate to call it a derby), a bumper crowd and two teams who've made a good start to the season.

We'll still be without several first team players in Ince, Reid, Boyle and possibly Sheaf, but their replacements have so far been up to the task and I'd expect an unchanged side from our win over Carlisle.

Will certainly be a tough game but we're capable of beating anyone at home. That said, I'd be satisfied enough with a point and I think that'll be the outcome, 1-1 with Varney scoring for us.

 

[Si Robin]

On paper this should be a Cheltenham win - unbeaten in 12 at home, never lost to Swindon at Whaddon Road - even when we were shitter than shit - but something about this weekend's game concerns me. Maybe it's that hope of winning home games (we were shocking in 2018 at home) has now turned into expectation.

As 99 says, we're still without a couple of really important players, but their replacements have been up to scratch so far.

I'm with 99 - I'll take a 1-1 draw. I think Ryan Broom gets our goal.

 

[Indian Dan]

Does he play sweeper?

 

[Agombar stool]

Defeat.

 

[Big Bird]

Not confident.

Win at Scunthorpe, Draw at Exeter, away form has started well but it doesn't really matter when we always lose at Whaddon Road.

Will it be different this time? Hopefully the players will be fed up after Tuesday and come out firing. Optimistically go for a 1-1 draw. Hope the 1500 Town fans come home happy.

 

[redjed]

Our luck has to change some time, we will use a high press and catch ham on the break, I'm feeling confident enough to predict a win for us , but only by the odd goal.........wish I could control my heart over my head!

 

[Agombar stool]

Wellens has been given a 2 game touchline ban starting tomorrow.

 

[Howzy]

Sheaf is definitely out... On paper we win and win comfortably which normally means we will lose. It's not a derby though I'm sure Gloucestershire Live and BBC Glos will big it up as the biggest derby game since Gloucester in the Dr Martins days like they do with any team within a 100 mile radius of Cheltenham (yes that's an exaggeration). I actually think we will lose but I hope I am proved wrong.

 

[Si Robin]

To be fair, I've never known either refer to this as a derby game - just a local one.

 

[Howzy]

In fairness you are right. I was having a bad evening haha

 

[Indian Dan]

Yet another team we’ve absolutely played off the park, yet agricultural tactics and some shit defending has cost us 2 points - that and another wrong offside decision for Baudry’s goal.

I thought shit decisions were supposed to even themselves out.

 

[CTFCfan99]

Wasn't at the game but the view from those I've spoken to seems to be that a draw was a fair result - all about perspective I suppose!

Unbeaten run goes on at fortress Whaddon Road.

 

[Si Robin]

Swindon were the best team I've seen at Whaddon Road for some time - we were extremely lucky to go in level at half-time. In fact, just before we scored I was saying that we need to get in at 2-1 down and regroup.

Second half we were much better, but they still looked dangerous. With that being said I think we edged the second and a draw was a fair result.

I can't comment on the offside because I sit in the furthest point away from it, but absolutely no doubt the red was deserved. What annoyed me a little is that we didn't go on the offensive enough when Doughty was sent off and the game sort of petered out afterwards.

Isgrove and Doyle are crucial for Swindon this season, they tore us to shreds in the first half and, as I put on Twitter, I have no doubt that by the end of the season we'll consider yesterday's 2-2 draw a very good result.

 

[Indian Dan]

If it was ruled out for offside it clearly wasn’t - there’s an official pic of his header with 2 Cheltenham players in front of him.

Maybe the ref gave a foul. But the thing that has got a few talking was how the game restarted after that incident. Our players were still celebrating the ‘goal’ and the next thing the ball was in your keeper’s hands and he punts it downfield and over our keeper’s head.

Whether it was offside or a foul it seemed no free kick took place at all. Your keeper seems to have picked the ball out of the net and booted it.

Very strange.

 

[Si Robin]

It was definitely given for offside, I saw the linesman's flag. The free-kick was also off the floor as well.

 

[Indian Dan]

Dreadful decision if so. But I still don’t see how your keeper came to have the ball back in his hands so quickly.