Cheltenham Town hit rock bottom
CHELTENHAM TOWN 1, HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2
CHELTENHAM TOWN replaced Huddersfield Town at the bottom of League One after slumping to their fourth successive defeat on Saturday.
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BATTLE: Pictured (clockwise from above) are Jennison Myrie-Williams, new signing Lloyd Owusu in a mid-air sandwich, and Jerry Gill getting his head to the ball
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Cheltenham Town Vs Huddersfield Town. Jerry Gill for Cheltenham. Picture: Eloisa Wildsmith/ Echo/ 06-09-08
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PERFECT START: Lloyd Owusu receives the congratulations of his team-mates after scoring on his debut for the Robins
A new-look Robins team showed enough to suggest they can move away from trouble during a very bright first half.
But they completely ran out of steam in the second period, allowing Huddersfield to hit back and win at Whaddon Road for the second season in succession.
Boss Keith Downing handed debuts to Lloyd Owusu and Josh Low, while loan front man Barry Hayles returned to the side and defender Gavin Caines made his first start since February.
A much more robust looking Cheltenham side controlled much of the first 45 minutes and Owusu fulfilled his promise to 'raise the roof' when he powered in a header from Alex Russell's perfect cross three minutes before half-time.
The tall and direct Low made some buccaneering runs down the right flank, using his strength and deceptive speed to good effect.
Russell was back on song in midfield and Jennison Myrie-Williams looked capable of hurting the Terriers with his skilful dribbling on the left.
Owusu and Hayles linked up effectively in attack and everything looked promising as Cheltenham returned to the changing rooms a goal to the good at the break.
But Huddersfield, without a win in their previous four league matches, turned things around and the Robins could not respond.
The equalising goal was scored in controversial circumstances as Huddersfield were awarded a corner that should never have been given.
David Unsworth blazed a shot against the bar and over, with goalkeeper Shane Higgs nowhere near it, but referee Jarnail Singh signalled for a flag kick.
Ian Craney's delivery caused chaos in the Robins' penalty area and Hayles was guilty of dwelling on the ball when he should have cleared. His hesitation allowed Nathan Clarke to stab a shot into the bottom left corner.
Ten minutes later, a tiring Cheltenham side's defence was breached again and this time it was Caines who should have done better with a clearance.
He was closed down by substitute Keigan Parker, who helped change the match.
The former Blackpool man broke through, forcing Higgs into a smart save at his near post and from the resulting corner, Craney scored with a 20-yard drive.
Cheltenham's habit of conceding from set-pieces is worrying, but when Low, Owusu and Hayles reach peak fitness there is enough quality in the squad to haul them out of trouble.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Higgs; J Gill, M Townsend, G Caines, A Wright; J Low, D Bird, A Russell (D Sinclair 75), J Myrie-Williams; L Owusu, B Hayles (A Vincent 79). Subs not used: S P A Brown, C Armstrong, A Lindegaard.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN: M Glennon; A Holdsworth, N Clarke, C Lucketti, D Unsworth; G Roberts, M Collins, I Craney, M Flynn; P Jevons (K Parker 53), L Dickinson. Subs not used: J Skarz, J Worthington, J Goodwin, L Beckett.
REFEREE: J Singh (Middlesex).
ATTENDANCE: 3,587 (433 from Huddersfield).
STAR MAN: Lloyd Owusu.
3 Comments
by old cleever, Cleeve
Monday, September 08 2008, 7:05PM
“Good posts by Rob and Al.
The only possible problem with Andy Gallinah, whom I rate very highly, is his height, or lack of it.
In the past he's been targeted by the giant bully boy midfielders of the harder clubs, but even so, he's worth he's place rather more than old Jerry because he's fit,
intelligent and works his socks off!
Anyway, Alan Wright manages to get up pretty high for a small feller doesn't he?
Luckily, I'm on holiday for a couple of weeks so perhaps the new, newly fit players will have gelled and managed to play two halves by the time I return!”
by Al Chelt, cheltenham
Monday, September 08 2008, 12:43PM
“I echo many of the thoughts of Rob in the Pre,especially his coments about Jerry Gill who's reacation at the final whistle showed how much he wanted to win however I believe his body is begining to let him down my doubts are who is there to replace him if only for a while as in Gallinagh I see a good footballer with a good brain but I think at fullback he will be found out for pace but I think he would have been more effective and put more effort than Mr Williams on the left who must let out a hearty chuckle to himself to think he has managed to dupe CTFC twice into taking him on loan.”
by Rob in the PRE, Cheltenham
Monday, September 08 2008, 12:19PM
“Hope springs eternal but it is clearly going to be a long slog to get up the table based upon the second half performance. The defence remains unco-ordinated although Caines and Townsend appeared more comfortable as a pairing than Duff and Townsend do - and less argumentative too! Poor Jerry is getting found out far too regularly now and gives away too many free kicks in dangerous places simply because he is beaten for pace and resorts to unnecessary fouls. Low was having to cover for Gill way too often because he couldn't get back. At least someone will soon get a chance when Gill gets yet another yellow card come Saturday. What has Gallinagh to do to be given the opportunity to show he could be the answer? He showed as an emergency centre back last season that he has good awareness and is totally committed to t he cause. I believe he could become as good and consistent a player for us as David Bird but will never prove it in the reserves or on the bench. If Gallinagh isn't the answer then perhaps Lindegard is! What is clearly not in doubt is that Downing should have been allowed to strengthen the defence as well as seeking forwards and should have stood up against being dictated to by the Board as to who he could or could not bring in - Cotterill would have. We may rue the day we allowed Keogh to slip through our fingers.
On the positive side Low and Owusu are adding the much needed quality at the front end and when match fit will, I am sure, create good scoring opportunities - especially if Hayles can combine with Owusu regularly. If so then he must be enticed here on a permanent basis.
Finally the boo boys should back off. I do not share the current calls for Downings head and with the need for time to allow players to integrate into the squad patience is a must.”