Manager Gary Johnson has warned his Robins that bottom club Barnet will be a dangerous ‘wounded animal’ when they arrive at the LCI Rail Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
The Robins won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Kevin Dawson and Carl Winchester when then teams met before Christmas at the Hive Stadium.
But head coach Graham Westley has now been installed in the hotseat at Barnet and Johnson knows they will be motivated to get a result as they bid to climb off the foot of the table.
“What normally happens when a new manager comes in is that he changes a few things and sometimes it gives the lads a new lease of life,” said Johnson.
“Graham’s tactics will be very different to Mark McGhee’s and the manager before that.
“The boys have to get used it. It is a percentage game they play and we have got to try and keep the flow going and get a goal up as early as we can.
“I don’t think Graham has changed his tactics since he has been out of the game. They looked better than a bottom of the league team against Lincoln.
“We haven’t had the results we would have liked and should have earned,” he added. “People also see a bottom of the table team as an easy three points, but we don’t see it that way at all.
“We have got to earn it and play well. The wounded animals fighting for their lives are always dangerous.”
Cheltenham will be without the suspended Danny Wright and Taylor Moore for the home clash, but Johnson is determined the Robins will overcome the adversity.
“We’re disappointed they are not available,” he added. “It wasn’t a frivolous appeal. But only in the Premier League do you get all the video angles.
“The lads are disappointed and feel they are doing the time and not the crime. But we have got to cope and we have a squad that can cope with a couple of people out.
“We can’t let what happened last week fester in our minds. We need to go on and get a few results in the next few weeks.
“I’m sure the rest of the lads feel sorry for them. It grates on you so we have to make sure we are professional and the three points are very important.”