Manager Gary Johnson has urged his Robins to be ready for a battle when they face a highly motivated Mansfield Town in Sky Bet League Two on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3pm).
Cheltenham won the corresponding clash at the LCI Rail Stadium back in September as goals from Brian Graham, Joe Morrell and Danny Wright wrapped up a 3-0 victory.
Johnson admits it was one of the best performances from the Robins this campaign – but he knows Steve Evans will have the Stags fired up for revenge.
“The game at home was undoubtedly one of our best this season,” said Johnson. “We scored early on and we defended well when we had to.
“Just because we won 3-0 at home it doesn’t mean we can just go to Mansfield and win. They have done well and have an experienced team that work hard and we have got to match that.
“I like Steve Evans and he is a very competitive man,” added Johnson. “He’s a decent fella and when he puts on his manager’s head he gets very competitive.
“He will remind them of what happened here. I am sure that is how he will motivate them.
“They are a strong and uncompromising team that can play so we have got to be ready for that.
“I am confident we can go and put in a performance. But we can’t make the mistakes that put us behind last weekend and we must get the goals with our first opportunity.”
Johnson is aiming for an improved showing from his Robins - at both ends of the field - after the 2-0 loss to Accrington Stanley at home.
“The teams that are at the top are the consistent teams,” he added.
“Accrington showed why they are up there. On the day the game could easily have gone either way.
“We had the first few chances and they certainly didn’t have more of the ball or more chances than us.
“In the important parts of the pitch, both penalty areas, things didn’t go okay. You only need a few mistakes and we couldn’t get our goal to give us confidence to keep going.”