The Duff Cooper Prize - Cheltenham versus FGR

[The Jovial Forester]

Trying to find a title that avoided the fakey-fake El Glosico, and turns out that prize really is a thing: http://www.theduffcooperprize.org

Anyway, both sides going well and rested after last week's cancellations, away end sold out, should be a great encounter (dire scrap incoming!)
Looks like Cheltenham slightly more affected by absences than us but nothing too serious for either side (correct me if I'm wrong).
Got a feeling Cheltenham's home form and the spirit Duff has got them playing with might be too much for us, we're good but still a bit flakey, thinking about some of the leads surrendered etc., but pretty even matched encounter and anything could happen.

 

[Si Robin]

We have no new injuries to speak of, all the ones we have had have been out for some time, so no concerns there at all.

If we don't beat FGR today then I'm resigned to the fact that we never will. Hereford were a bogey team for us and it took a replay and extra-time when they were playing a division below and nearly going to the wall for us to finally get one over them. FGR feels very similar to that.

I just hope we don't lose - social media will become unbearable if FGR take our unbeaten run at home - and that's from the Cheltenham fans alone.

 

[Indian Dan]

Draw would be good. Cheers!

 

[Chris FGR]

Quite a big game this, both sides going well, best home record v strong away record and best attack v tight defence. Should be a 5500 plus crowd, so hopefully a decent atmosphere. Their singing section's been moved, shame cos it would have been fun having them near us.

No Reid or Tav for them and Clements wont start, no Dawson for us so it's just Winny (on the pitch) that's up against his old club. Expect he'll cop some stick again, but he's been in great form so expect he'll rise to the occasion.

Virtually every one of these games has been a draw over the last few years, can see this going a similar way, unless Cheltenham can put us under the kind of pressure Exeter did and disrupt us trying to play out from the back. If they get in our faces we might struggle. Wouldn't shock me if we change our gameplan a bit, especially early on to try and make sure we keep things tight and don't gift them anything, clear our lines and play our possession stuff further up the pitch. Last years 2-2 was the first really decent game between the 2 sides in the EFL, hopefully both teams turn up today. Main thing is not to lose.

 

[Crewelad87]

Draw would be good. Cheers!

What he said

 

[Stripes]

I take Chris's point about changing the game plan, needs something a bit different to our normal approach. Either completely shutting up shop and bringing on the finishers let's on, or trying more long balls and crosses into Collins in greater numbers. Aitchison is exactly the type of player you won't looking for knockdowns, his low centre of gravity ideal for scrapping and harrying for everything in a darby match. Stevens doing the same thing from just outside the box. With Cheltenham's scoring prowess, it could be a cracker with lots of goals As they will be clear favourites, I hope they're not all in our net.

My seat is in row B, so I'll be getting very wet I expect, assuming it's not postponed.

 

[Greenacres]

On street parking in Cheltenham is a complete and utter mare, due to their permit system, does anyone know of somewhere safe to park within walking distance of the ground?

Does Pittville School have parking, safe for a small fee, on match days?

 

[dedwardp]

On street parking in Cheltenham is a complete and utter mare, due to their permit system, does anyone know of somewhere safe to park within walking distance of the ground?

Does Pittville School have parking, safe for a small fee, on match days?

I parked on Hill Ct Road last time I went to Cheltenham, nice little walk... looking on street view though, it looks as though the restriction has changed from Monday to Friday to include weekends too now which is pointless - the road was dead when I went there.

 

[Greenacres]

Cheltenham really don't want outsiders to visit.

I looked on the Gloucestershire Council site and it looks like there is permit parking nearly everywhere.

 

[CTFCfan99]

I give up, we'll never beat these turnip munchers. Worst half I've seen from us for a long long time.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Well, that's gone well!
Started pretty even but we got out the blocks early for once and have been pressing to good effect, though Cheltenham getting plenty of joy down their left. But two cracking goals, both after some excellent movement.
Nothing assured with us, but keep this up and should be good.

 

[CTFCfan99]

I hate football

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Excellent, worth that. Cheltenham came into a bit more as you'd expect and we tired, but goal came from a bit of a soft free kick Wollacot spilled and Varney followed up well, but bar that mostly Cheltenham huffed and puffed. We threatened less too, but still had a couple of good moves and chances.
Rawson immense again and Ebou Adams, who must get fouled more than most. Could hear the Cheltenham fans going cheat when he got yet another free kick but their players kept going through him.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Looks like top of the league too

 

[Stripes]

We deserved the three points, we played with a lot of discipline, and kept it up.

Not getting carried away, it's only a short while ago we lost a two goal lead to Mansfield at home, and got beat by Exeter.

However we looked pretty convincing today. Like to see that again a few more times. You need to be able to learn from your mistakes, often that doesn't happen, but this team looks to be capable of that. Sign of a good set of players.

 

[Si Robin]

We were dreadful, FGR were brilliant, the ref was effing awful (but not the reason we lost).

FGR are our new Hereford.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Think one of the most pleasing things about the performance is that we weren't particularly rocked by the home goal, been plenty of times before that would have been the signal for a collapse and panic but dusted ourselves down and got back on with it. Good sign, definitely maturing these lads.

 

[Vanni]

I didn't even realise this thread was about the Rovers Cheltnum derby. I suggest that next time the thread title should read EL GLOSICO, which after all is what this hotly contested game is known throughout the whole wide world. Yep, that's right. Everybody knows who FGR are: just check out the club's twitter page and you'll see people from all over the globe asking how much it costs to send a replica bamboo shirt to Bolivia or to the UAE.

Impressive stuff if you ask me.

PS - get ready to shade in one of the stars on the back of your shirts FGR fans. Shirley you're make the top 3 this season??

 

[The Jovial Forester]

I didn't even realise this thread was about the Rovers Cheltnum derby.

I put the bloody teams in the title!

 

[Chris FGR]

Bit of a clue that, tbf.

Coops definitely seemed to enjoy that one.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1190756704784392193