Bristol City drew 0-0 with Cheltenham Town in their fourth friendly of pre-season under Gerhard StruberBristol City were held to a draw by Cheltenham Town(Image: Photo by Rogan/Bristol City)

Bristol City were held to a 0-0 draw by Cheltenham Town in the first of a pre-season double-header at the EV Charging Points Stadium on Friday evening, with Gerhard Struber’s side unable to make their chances count.

Struber named a mixed starting line-up for the Robins’ fourth outing of the summer. First team regulars Rob Dickie, Mark Sykes, Haydon Roberts, and Sam Bell were joined by the likes of Ruebin Sheppard, Elijah Morrison, and Adam Murphy, with the rest of the squad set to take on Plymouth Argyle at Home Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Robins started the better of the two sides without really managing to create an awful lot in the way of chances. Bell looked to acrobatically turn a Roberts’ corner towards goal in the opening exchanges, but could only find the former Derby County man with his effort before the attack fizzled out into nothing.

READ MORE: Cheltenham Town 0-0 Bristol City live: Struber’s Robins start on front foot in pre-season clashREAD MORE: Bristol City 1-0 Newport County recap: City seal friendly win at HPC with final kick

After a cagey opening 25 minutes, the Reds came close to breaking the deadlock when Dickie curled wide from 25 yards out. The defender had picked the ball up from a chipped Joe Lumley pass before racing into the Cheltenham half and trying his luck from range. Although his connection was good, it evaded the post of the scrambling Joe Day.

While the home side threatened with a couple of direct counterattacks, the next chance fell City’s way with less than 10 minutes remaining of the first half. Some smart work from Sykes ended with a chipped cross in the direction of Bell, but the academy graduate couldn’t hit the target with his headed effort.

With that, the first half came and went with the deadlock firmly intact. Despite the wealth of options on the bench, Struber only made one change during the break, with Harry Cornick replacing Fally Mayulu.

The substitute nearly made an instant impact when a smart flick set Elijah Morrison on his way down the left flank. The teenager saw his cross diverted into the path of Cornick via the hand of Cheltenham stopper Joe Day, and while the former Luton Town man got a shot away, it ended up well wide of the target.

Struber’s side’s positive start to the second period continued when Dickie again came close to an opener, this time following a corner. Roberts picked out the Reds’ captain for the night with a left-footed cross, and though his stooped header was hit powerfully, it ended up comfortably wide of the post.

Murphy was then the next to threaten just before the hour mark. The Ireland youth international picked up the ball on the halfway line and broke to the edge of the Cheltenham penalty area, only to see his low shot deflected behind for a corner.

Bristol City Live on Whatsapp

Join Bristol City Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol City stories sent straight to your phone

Bristol City Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.

Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol City news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.

To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.

We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.

To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Click here to join our WhatsApp community.

Minutes later, the hosts spurned their first chance of the half. George Miller managed to find his way into the Reds’ box before poking a low shot down to Lumley’s right. The experienced stopper got down well to turn behind for a corner, which eventually evaded everyone in the area.

It looked as though City’s pressure had finally told with around 15 minutes left to play when Yeboah pinched possession from Day. He threaded Cornick behind the Robins’ backline, and the forward looked to pick out Morrison at the back post. With the goal gaping, the teenager couldn’t make contact with his header, and the chance went begging.

The final opportunity of the game fell the home side’s way as Ethan Archer was picked out at the back post; however, the forward couldn’t compose himself and ended up miscuing his effort to ensure it ended as a draw.

Bristol City starting XI: Joe Lumley, Jamie Knight-Lebel, Rob Dickie, Haydon Roberts, Mark Sykes, Adam Murphy, Ruebin Sheppard (off for Louie Derrick, 64‘), Elijah Morrison, Sam Bell (off for Leo Pecover, 70‘), Fally Mayulu (off for Harry Cornick, 46’), Ephraim Yeboah (off for Jack Griffin, 76‘)

READ MORE: Bristol City to reject summer transfer offer from Championship rival for ever-present Zak VynerREAD MORE: Gerhard Struber shares Elijah Morrison and Jamie Knight-Lebel verdict as Bristol City eye ‘mix’