Cheltenham Town 0 Burton Albion 1 - full-time
Cheltenham Town 0 Burton Albion 1
Cheltenham Town’s dismal home form continued as they slipped to their third straight defeat at the Abbey Business Stadium under Mark Yates’ management.
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The Abbey Business Stadium - home of Cheltenham Town
Burton Albion claimed their fourth victory in five games courtesy of Shaun Harrad’s excellent strike in the seventh minute, but it was another worrying night for the Robins, who had young left-back Danny Andrew sent off in the 90th minute.
Cheltenham lacked any real goal threat for much of the evening and it was not until old stagers Julian Alsop and Barry Hayles were sent on in the 61st minute that Burton’s defence were severely tested.
Newly-promoted Burton took the lead in the seventh minute when a corner on the left was only half-cleared and, with Marley Watkins guilty of ball watching, John McGrath lifted it back into the penalty area, where Harrad unleashed a powerful drive that flew past Scott Brown’s outstretched right hand.
It was a rare moment of genuine quality in an uninspiring first period at Whaddon Road, where Cheltenham had lost their previous two home matches against promotion-chasing Bournemouth and Rochdale.
Burton have reached the security of a mid-table place in their first season as a Football League club, but they were too good for Cheltenham for most of the first half.
Paul Peschisolido’s men opened Cheltenham up again in the 12th minute when Danny Andrew conceded possession to Andrew Corbett, who fed Cleveland Taylor on the right.
Taylor, who has been the scourge of Cheltenham in the past for Scunthorpe United, exchanged passes with Harrad and raced into the penalty area at pace, but Brown deflected his shot around the near post for a corner.
At the other end, Marley Watkins and Josh Low both sent attempts harmlessly wide and Joss Labadie’s weak left footed shot was easily dealt with by Burton goalkeeper Artur Krysiak.
Burton broke at pace three minutes after the break and Harrad ran clear, but Brown made a good block with his face.
In a bid to add some impetus into an ineffective attack, Alsop and Hayles replaced Elvis Hammond and Justin Richards in the 61st minute.
Not for the first time this season, the veteran duo lifted Cheltenham and as the game opened up, Cheltenham looked more threatening.
Only a last ditch intervention by Michael Townsend denied Jacques Maghoma in the 73rd minute as Burton continued to look dangerous on the break with their swift ball carriers.
Two low drives from substitute David Hutton were charged down in the box, but Cheltenham’s best chance fell to Hayles.
Townsend launched a long ball that was flicked on by Alsop and centre-back Tony James’ header back to his goalkeeper was intercepted by Hayles, but he prodded his volley disappointingly wide of the right post.
Low helped on a long clearance from Brown into the path of Hayles, but his shot was saved at the near post by Krysiak.
There were ugly scenes in the 90th minute when Andrew caught Steve Kabba with a reckless lunge, earning his second yellow card.
Andrew knew his fate and was halfway down the tunnel by the time his dismissal was confirmed and Hayles picked up a caution for his part in the scuffle that ensued as Burton enjoyed victory on their first visit to Cheltenham since 1997.
CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; D Bird, M Townsend, A Gallinagh, D Andrew; M Watkins (D Hutton 68), M Pook, J Labadie, J Low; E Hammond (J Alsop 61), J Richards (B Hayles 61). Subs not used: L Ridley, K Haynes, W Puddy, T Lewis.
BURTON ALBION: A Krysiak; A Corbett, T James, T Parkes, A Webster; C Taylor (J Phillips 72), J McGrath, R Penn, J Maghoma; S Harrad (G Pearson 76), S Kabba. Subs not used: K Poole, R Walker, K Gilroy, O Thompson, J Knowles.
REFEREE: K Woolmer.
ATTENDANCE: 2,593 (201 from Burton).
STAR MAN: Andy Gallinagh.
26 Comments
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by bob houghton, france
Friday, February 12 2010, 7:30AM
“When I left Cheltenham to live permanently in France, it was only late 2006. I could never have dreamt that the nice, well organised, sensibly run club that I had supported home and away for over twenty years could sink so low, so fast. There seems to be virtually nothing left other than bad management, financial bungling, and players you don't care about who don't even try. How does this happen in three short years ?”
by colin sumner, tewkesbury
Thursday, February 11 2010, 7:46PM
“When we learn to pass to our own players, Learn to tackle and have a shot at goal now and then we may have some hope of staying in the football league. If the club want to save a lot of money they should pay the players on performance(not a lot to pay out).If we lose but try ,fair enough, but to play as we are (cant be bothered attitude) no way. This is not aimed at all the players. Sort it out before its to late, CS.”
by mark, cheltenham
Thursday, February 11 2010, 12:27PM
“It is really worrying that the comments on here are more pessimistic and critical (of the team) than they were under Allen or Schofield - then most of the negativity was aimed at the managers. Te fact remains that players who will join a club in such dire straits as CTFC will be barely Blue Square quality - basically the scrapings of the bottom of the barrel that no-one else wants. The strikers are either fat, slow, old, past it or just useless. What else are we likely to get ? Get real folks - there is only one reason why the Robins won't be relegated and that is if the two teams below us remain worse than we are. If either of them put together a couple of good results we are in real poop. Very recently someone posted a comment that said we were the third worst team in this division (fairly obvious looking at the table) and there were people denying it !! It could be we are soon to be the second worst.”
by Dan, Cheltenham
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 9:31PM
“I don't blame the lad for sliding in to try and win a last ditch tackle.
Kabba made a lot of the challenge which, in fairness, barely caught him since he through himself so high in the air.
If that Burton defender hadn't made a point of rushing over to Andrew and starting a scuffle, I don't think the ref would have sent him off.
Sadly, it was just one of those games. Poor performance, poor ref, poor result.
We need to turn the corner sooner rather than later, whilst the teams above us are still within touching distance.”
by Edwards45, here, there, EFW
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 9:11PM
“Pete, I'm with you on Danny, I agree with you and Joe that he let his anger get the better of him, but he will learn from this, and come back older and wiser. Steve Kabba did the right thing last night, a professional con job. Not only was he in Andrews face all night, he was gobbing off to our bench, gobbing off and whingeing to the ref, gobbing off to the..., erm..., linesperson(male or female?)and giving us the Teves ears in the Paddock, but he got away with it, so fair play to him. If it was on the other foot we would have been well happy, so why cant we do those dirty cheating tactics? Are we too nice? We were certainly too nice to them last night until Danny decided to take the law into his own hands. I dont blame Danny for last night, there are plenty others that need to stand up and be counted.”
by pete Boekestyn, spalding lincolnshire
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 8:54PM
“Thanks Joe , your sentiments are appreciated and I know Dan does too. I hope Cheltenham keep their league status and I have obviously become a Cheltenham fan for the remainder of the season”
by Joe, Cotswolds
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 8:04PM
“I'm not saying he is a bad player, I personally think he is one of the best players on the pitch. I think the frustration came out of that he wanted to do well and all of the squad had a hard game but you can't let it show espically in front of the fans. I think there is a reason why Steve Kabba was booed because he's a complete and utter moron, faking the injury. I hope all the worst to Steve Kabba and all the best to Andrew Pete, let him know that I think he should come to Cheltenham in the summer transfer season :)”
by Pete Boekestyn, Spalding,Lincolnshire
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 7:51PM
“Yes Joe, Danny knows he let himself and the team down.He learned a hard lesson against Steve Kabba, who abused him verbally and physically ( by sticking his fingers in his face) all night. All this is out of character and he will come back stronger as this is all he has ever wanted since he was an 8 year old kid in our youth team. The Cheltenham boss saw enough at his previous club where Dan was on loan to get him down to Cheltenham as his first signing.I,ll have a bet with you Joe , by the end of the season, Danny Andrew will be one of your best players, if not I will drive the hundred plus miles to the cotswolds to give you £50!”
by Joe, Cotswolds
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 6:55PM
“Pete, teach him not to let his frustration out on the pitch. Kicking the ball into the fans in the first half after taking it off the pitch then at the end just diving into a clear stupid tackle, thus him getting sent off. Fans are getting pretty restless at Whaddon Road considering all the shouting at players around the stadium espcially one fan shotuing at Richards to "Buck up". Jules and Barry are obviously better up front than Hammond and Richards but they don't have the fitness to play a full good 90 minutes. Andy.G was clearly the Man of the match working his socks off in defence. Who is the midfielder we have on loan? Ladabie or whatever his name is completely useless for us, we'd be better off playing Theo there instead. We were a completey different side at Bournemouth but we failed to score due to that Jules and Barry didn't make the trip so on the bench we had Jake Lee as our only striker, Lee is a good player though. CTFC seriously need to wake up, you have to get used to these lower class refs and linesmen. We can't blame them week in and week out. Your fans are getting sick, we'll be even sicker if we go down. I'll also loose my bet.”
by pete boekestyn, Spalding,Lincolnshire
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 3:42PM
“Let me jump to Danny Andrew's defence. As his youth coach for several years, here in Lincolnshire, you will not see a more honest and commited lad. Dont forget for 2 years at Posh he was never given a runout due to consecutive promotions. This is the start of his pro career and he could do with a bit more support from the fans and time to develop, the kid is only 19 after all”