Cheltenham v Burton Albion
TEAM NEWS:
BURTON Albion welcomed one joint top scorer back into their starting line-up but were left without another as they make the trip to take on Cheltenham Town.
Billy Kee started his first game since November but the Brewers were without Calvin Zola, who picked up a calf injury in training.
The Brewers were expected to go with a 4-5-1 formation, with Kee up front on his own.
The back four remained unchanged with left-back Aaron Webster still out with a hamstring injury – a problem which also ruled midfielder Jacques Maghoma out of action at Whaddon Road.
As a result, Chris Palmer came in to the midfield, while new signing Patrick Ada had to settle for a place on the bench.
Former Brewers midfielder Russell Penn was in the starting line-up for the second-placed Robins.
ROBINS (4-4-2): Butland; Jombati, Elliott, Bennett (capt), Garbutt; Low, Pack, Penn, McGlashan; Goulding, Spencer; subs: Lowe, Duffy, Smikle, Mohamed, Summerfield.
BREWERS (4-1-4-1): Atkins; Driver, Stanton, Austin, Blanchett; Dyer; Palmer, Bolder, McGrath (capt), Gurrieri; Kee; subs: James, Richards, Taylor, Phillips, Ada.
HALF-TIME: The visitors almost broke the deadlock in the second minute.
Marlon Pack’s corner from the right was headed back out to the midfielder, who whipped in a low cross which eluded both centre-back Alan Bennett and striker Jeff Goulding and fizzed just wide of the far post.
However, the Robins were in front three minutes later.
The hosts broke out of their own half and the ball was played to right winger Jermaine McGlashan 15 yards out.
He took a touch to create a yard of space and drilled a low shot past Brewers keeper Ross Atkins and into the far corner.
The hosts were certainly in charge early on and striker Jeff Goulding almost made it 2-0 on 24 minutes when his glancing from left-back Luke Garbutt’s free-kick inches wide.
Less than 60 seconds later, McGlashan was played into the box by striker Jimmy Spencer’s back-heel but poked his effort wide of the far post.
Atkins came to Albion’s rescue on 39 minutes, flinging himself to his left to turn away Goulding’s penalty after McGlashan had been bundled over by left-back Danny Blanchett.
That was Blanchett’s last action as he was hauled off and replaced by Ada on 42 minutes.
The Brewers almost went in at half-time on level terms as John McGrath played in Andres Gurrieri to the left of goal.
He tried to find the far corner but Robins goalkeeper Jack Butland palmed his effort away.
CHELTENHAM TOWN 1, BURTON ALBION 0
FULL TIME: Brewers boss Paul Peschisolido made a change at the start of the second half, with striker Justin Richards on for Gurrieri.
However, the hosts almost made it 2-0 inside the first minute, with Atkins saving McGlashan’s shot with his leg after Spencer had flicked on Marlon Pack’s corner.
Burton were more competitive at the start of the second half, but midfielder Josh Low hit a fierce drive just wide of the far post on 61 minutes.
Less than a minute later, the visitors were down to 10 men as Ada was sent off on his debut for a second bookable offense for a second foul on McGlashan in nine minutes.
That prompted Peschisolido to send on winger Cleveland Taylor for Kee.
It was nearly 2-0 two minutes later as McGlashan got on the end of a Pack corner which was flicked on, but his header was well saved by Atkins.
Penn then tried his luck from distance against his former club, but his effort was always just off target.
Against the odds, the Brewers were nearly level on 71 minutes when right-back Callum Driver sent Richards down the right.
He pulled the ball back for Bolder but his first-time shot was superbly saved low to his left by Butland.
And the hosts went straight up the other end and doubled their lead.
Pack’s corner to the far post was headed back across goal and there was McGlashan to prod the ball home.
Pack nearly made it 3-0 with eight minutes to go, but Atkins tipped his curling effort aimed at the top corner behind.
CHELTENHAM TOWN 2, BURTON ALBION 0
