EFL League Two 2019/20: Cheltenham Town vs Colchester United – tactical analysis

Saturday’s round of English Football League Two clashes presented both Cheltenham Town and Colchester United with alluring rewards should they have been able to claim victory over their opponents. Depending on results elsewhere, Michael Duff’s Robins could have moved into an automatic promotion spot with three points, and John McGreal’s United into a playoffs spot with the same rewards.

However, a 1-1 draw at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium was only enough to see both sides remain where they had begun the day. With Cheltenham just inside the playoffs by a point – with a healthy goal difference advantage – and McGreal’s side sitting in tenth.

This tactical analysis will dissect the key tactics enforced by the two sides and use analysis to show how those features influenced the game’s outcome, with the points shared in a 1-1 draw.

Lineups

Duff opted with the same starting structure as he has done for the majority in recent months, with a 3-5-2, which has only been differed from recently for a 3-4-1-2. After the 1-0 away FA Cup victory over Swindon Town last time out, the Robins made one change in personnel. That being that Sean Long made way for Chris Hussey in the side’s midfield.

Like their opponents, Colchester stuck with a formation which has been preferred by McGreal in the vast majority for recent months, with a 4-2-3-1. Over United’s previous 12 starting formations, that has only been deviated from on three occasions, twice for a 4-4-2 and once for a 5-4-1. However, McGreal made a total of six changes to his starting lineup from the 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town in the Leasing.com Trophy last time out. Ethan Ross, Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu, Omar Sowunmi, Ryan Clampin, Tom Lapslie and Jevani Brown all made way for Dean Gerken, Ryan Jackson, Tom Eastman, Cohen Bramall, Brandon Comley and Kwame Poku.