Cheltenham v Wycombe Play-Off Preview

Last updated : 18 May 2006 By Thetashkentterror
John Ward
Town manager John Ward spoke exclusively to Cheltenham Town's official website about the big game tonight which sees the Robins holding what could be a crucial one goal lead in the tie :


"The important thing will be for us to keep level headed, to keep the game as simple as we can and work along the same lines as we did prior to Saturday. I don't talk about other ways of playing. We're saying that if we get things right we will give ourselves the chance to win. If we do that we won't have to rely on other things or consider other results. My players wouldn't expect anything different so it a case of trying to keep as good a routine as we can. We did going into the first leg and it's important that we do the same now.

"We went through the video of Saturday and stressed some things that we thought were pretty good and some that we felt we needed to be better at. We do that with all our matches but it was important with the close proximity of these two games that we identify the things we need to improve at and the things we need to keep going.

"I'm pretty clear like I was last week on what I want to do team-wise and I'm sure Steve Brown will be the same. If he makes a couple of changes they will not be new to me or my team. We will be aware of those players and hopefully we will deal with them.

"The teams have seen each other three times and we know we're pretty close. We've done pretty well in terms of results but Wycombe will feel they've got a chance of beating us as well. Maybe there are one or two twists and turns in this game yet. There was on Saturday with the last minute goal and I think that sets it up quite nicely. We didn't want that to happen to us but it did and it cuts away any thoughts of complacency on our part. We know this is a very difficult game and whoever gets through is either going to be lucky or will have to work very hard for it.

"It's a question of cool heads and patience and I think that's where people have made mistakes before. They've got wrapped up in the occasion and the situation. We dealt with it well on Saturday and I also thought Wycombe did as well - there was some good football played - so I'm not sure that will be a problem. The difficulties for the two teams will be good players on both sides and the things they can do.

"I've got to pick what I think is the best 16 for 90 minutes and if it goes beyond that we'll work hard at it. I think we're fit enough and strong enough but it was interesting that on Saturday even Steven Gerrard said he had to energy left in extra-time in the Cup final. It's no surprise then that our players get tired and get cramp because it's emotion as much as the physical side that tires people.

"We've had a few big games this season and I think that will stand us in good stead going into this final game. It is important for the crowd to get behind us. Of course they will be anxious to win and they will get frustrated with mistakes but I can guarantee there will be errors and mistakes. It's very important that the crowd stay with the players because nobody makes a mistake on purpose. On the pitch we will stick together and support each other. Off the pitch we would like that to be the same as well. There will be a big crowd in tonight and if we all stick together then hopefully we can enjoy the result together."




Wanderers' stand-in boss Steve Brown spoke exclusively to Wycombe's official website about the match, talking about the fantastic atmosphere that should be around Whaddon Road on the night :


"I'm so excited and it's superb to know that it's going to be a sell out. It's a showpiece and I think the game could be very much like when we played against Wimbledon Selhurst Park in the FA Cup. It could be on a par with that in terms of excitement but I hope there is less drama.

"I'm ready and the players are ready. We're positive and focused that we can do it. We have to focus on winning. That is the main objective. Before the other semi final on Tuesday Russell Slade said that ne goal in a two legged game isn't enough. John Ward will probably be thinking exactly the same.

"Once there is a one goal deficit the game is a long way from over. oth us and Cheltenham know what we have to do. t's a different scenario from any other game which is good. On a normal away day you start off level and if ou go a goal down and get one back you take a draw which you can sometimes be happy about. That won't be the case tonight. The moment we hit Whaddon Road we know we have to win and that's good because there are no grey areas."




Cheltenham have only one injury problem for the game, Jamie Victory being the man missing, the left-back out for the season with a groin injury. Influential midfielder JJ Melligan comes back into the squad after being forced into isolation for the game at Wycombe, his girlfriend's son suffering from chicken-pox at the time. The Robins go into the game on the back of some good recent form, winning their last three games and scoring nine goals in the process. At Whaddon Road they are unbeaten in the league since losing 3-2 against Bristol Rovers in mid-January, so a John Gorman-less Wycombe will have all on if they are to claw back their 2-1 first leg deficit.

Tommy Mooney's 90th minute goal at the Causeway Stadium on Saturday did at least give the Chairboys some hope in the tie though, and they, like Cheltenham, go into the match with little to worry about injury wise. Argentinian midfielder Sergio Torres is absent from the action with a season-ending ankle injury, and Ian Stonebridge received a broken toe in the 2-1 defeat against Town, the injury sidelining the striker for six to eight weeks. Good news for the visitors however is the return to the fray of veteran playmaker Rob Lee, who had to be substituted in the first-half of the opening leg after suffering a bad cut around his eye which required eight stitches in total. Wanderers have won their last two away games but you have to go back to the middle of February then for anything else than a defeat on the road, the Buckinghamshire outfit losing four on the bounce on their travels after that 3-2 victory at Notts County.


The match is broadcast live on Sky Sports One, kick-off at 7.45pm.