Villa academy product Aaron Ramsey started his fifth game in a row for Cheltenham Town as their six-match unbeaten run came to an end.
The 19-year-old began the game very brightly, breaking away down the right-hand side in the first minute and squaring the ball to in-form striker Alfie May who was unable to convert.
An end-to-end first half resulted in plenty of chances for both sides, Ramsey drifting in and out of the action, struggling to get on the ball in key areas.
He had a good opportunity later in the first half as the Robins fans urged him to shoot from the edge of the box on his left foot after cutting in from the right wing, however the attacking midfielder opted to release the ball to a teammate.
Since coming into the side, Ramsey has failed to get on the ball enough to really make things tick.
Perhaps Cheltenham’s lower-half of League One style of play doesn’t quite suit him as they often bypass the midfield, which is used to press and break up play, and prioritise Alfie May getting on the ball and Spurs loanee Kion Etete getting in-behind.
A quick start to the second half resulted in Etete getting the equaliser in the 48th minute after a flick-on from May, Ramsey darting forward to support Etete on his left as the striker slotted home through the Crewe keeper’s legs.
The game’s momentum quickly died down after the Robins’ goal, become flat with both sides struggling to get a proper quick on the game.
Ramsey found it difficult to get significantly involved throughout the second half until his eventual substitution in the 60th minute, however, didn’t perform any worse than his midfield companions Elliot Bonds and Callum Wright, with the whole squad looking flat and out-of-place for most of the game.
Crewe went on to secure the three points in the 83rd minute, a big 1-2 win for them in their hunt for unlikely survival.
Cheltenham remain in 15th place in League One, ten points from safety.
It hasn’t been the most rosy start to life in the professional game for AJ who’s still learning and finding his feet; Cheltenham fans sceptical about his place in the team and at League One level, some thinking that U23s is where he belongs for now.
Maybe a step down to League Two in the summer would be beneficial.
After his struggles at Ipswich, Louie Barry moved down a tier to Swindon Town in January and has been performing brilliantly.
Kaine Kesler-Hayden also had his first loan spell at Swindon and hit the ground running before moving up a league to MK Dons in January.
LOAN WATCH | MALACHI OBREY
https://utvpodcast.co.uk/author/malachi-obrey/
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