BLUES PREVIEW: GLOUCESTER CITY v CHESTER FC

The Seals travel to Gloucester City on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways after Easter Monday’s defeat to Alfreton Town.

Gloucester are in the midst of a relegation fight in which they face an uphill battle to avoid the drop, with the Tigers sat 11 points away from safety.

In the reverse fixture Calum McIntyre’s men cruised to a comfortable victory over Saturday’s opponents, with Iwan Murray, Tom Peers and George Glendon grabbing the goals in a 3-0 win.

It has been a miserable campaign for Gloucester after a successful one last season, when they reached the National League North play-offs before losing on penalties to Brackley Town in the quarter-final.

THE OPPOSITION

As previously mentioned, the Tigers have had a tough season and are on the verge of relegation barring a sensational turnaround in their final four games.

Chester have visited Meadow Park three times since the ground was reopened in 2020 and are still searching for a first win, with the last meeting in Gloucestershire being a 1-1 draw in February 2023.

In the club’s most recent home fixture Gloucester almost took three points off fourth-placed Brackley Town on but George Carline equalised for the away side in the 89th minute.

THE GAFFER

The boss at Meadow Park is Mike Cook, who returned the club for a second spell in September after his previous tenure between January 2019 and November 2019.

After departing the club in 2019, the 55-year-old joined Chippenham Town in the National League South before managing Swindon Town Women for five months until September 2023.

Cook played in the Football League in the late 1980s and early 1990s, featuring for Cambridge United and York City.

Unfortunately he was forced to retire from professional football at the age of just 22 due to a spinal injury.

ONE TO WATCH

Experienced forward Theo Robinson has been in good form since arriving at Meadow Park in January, scoring seven in 14 for the Tigers.

The Jamaican international has played for 19 clubs during an impressive career, appearing most notably at Huddersfield Town, Derby County and Doncaster Rovers.

Robinson netted the only goal in Gloucester’s most recent home win, a 1-0 victory over Scarborough Athletic on the 24th February. 

The 35-year-old has been a vital part of Mike Cook’s side since joining the club, being directly involved in over a third of City’s goals in the second half of the season.

LEAGUE FORM GUIDE

Gloucester City | W9 D9 L24 | F46 A74 | Pos: 23rd

Last three

Spennymoor Town (A) | L 3-0 | Scorers: None

Brackley Town (H) | D 1-1 | Scorers: Harry Pinchard

Peterborough Sports (A) | L 1-0 | Scorers: None

Chester FC | W17 D14 L12 | F51 A33 | Pos: 11th

Last three

South Shields (H) | L 0-1 | Scorers: None

Buxton (A) | W 1-4 | Scorers: Declan Weeks, Harrison Burke, Adam Thomas, Tom Peers

Alfreton Town (H) | L 0-2 | Scorers: None

Match preview by Tom Bird.

MATCH DETAILS

Kick off is 3pm at the TigerTurf Stadium on Saturday.

The postcode for the ground is GL2 5HD.