Two second half goals inspired the Robins to a crucial 2-1 comeback victory against Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.
A pair of headers from Matty Taylor and Curtis Davies 20 minutes apart hauled Town back from the cliff edge to secure a vital three points toward survival.
Steve Seddon had given Burton the lead on the stroke of half-time in a hard fought contest in Staffordshire.
“We knew coming into the game it was a must win,” said Robins manager Darrell Clarke post-match.
“We knew we were going to be tested physically but we had to test them physically.
“We were disappointed to go one-nil down from a set piece but the response second half was great, the character of the boys was great and it give us a fighting chance going into next week with it in our own hands.”
Predictably given the conditions, the game started in a scrappy manner with important headers from Town defenders Davies and Jack Shepherd keeping the scores level.
The hosts continued to come forward with Mark Helm dancing his way through the Robins midfield before his shot whistled past the far post.
And the deadlock was to be broken in first half stoppage time as a throw in was flicked on with substitute Seddon smashing the ball into the corner at the back post.
The perfect start to the second half the Robins craved arrived on 51 minutes. Jordan Thomas’ dinked cross picked out Taylor at the back post and the striker superbly looped his header over Max Crocombe on his return to the starting 11.
A new lease of life saw Town continue to find openings through the endeavour of Thomas with Liam Sercombe’s audacious outside of the boot effort bending just wide of the upright moments later.
And the pressure told in the 71st minute as Will Ferry’s whipped corner picked out the onrushing Davies - who powered a header home, netting his first goal in Cheltenham colours.
The Brewers failed to maintain any consistent pressure in the closing minutes, Joe Hugill’s header over the bar was the closest they came as the Robins held on to defeat their league rivals.
BURTON ALBION (3-5-2): Crocombe; Nsiala (Carayol 62), Hughes (c), Sweeney; Moon, Powell, Harper (Kamwa 57), Oshilaja, Hamer (Seddon 35); Hugill, Helm. Subs not used: Blackman (Gk), Ola-Adebomi, Gilligan, Hackford.
CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-5-2): Southwood; Davies, Bradbury (Thomas 46), Shepherd; Long (c), Sercombe, Bonds, Kinsella, Ferry (Williams 88); Taylor (Olayinka 82), Keena (Nuttall 19). Subs not used: Pardington (Gk), Smith, Harrop.
REFEREE: B Speedie
ATTENDANCE: 3,020 (Away TBC)
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