The Robins are eyeing a fourth home win on the bounce in another massive game on Saturday when Port Vale are the visitors to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium (kick-off: 3pm).
Tuesday’s win over Cambridge United has set Cheltenham up nicely for the visit of Port Vale this weekend, and three points for Michael Duff’s side will provide another huge lift in the quest to secure League Two status for another season.
The visitors will provide difficult opposition though. They’re desperate to claw themselves away from the bottom two themselves and are keen to secure a first win under their new management team.
It’s half-term and a big crowd is needed to give the Robins the extra edge. Buy your tickets now online or on the day at the turnstiles and help play your part in another vital home fixture.
Team news
Luke Varney (hamstring) and Jordan Tillson (groin) are fitness doubts while Alex Addai and Nigel Atangana are definitely out.
Forward Tyrone Barnett is fighting for fitness and could face his old club, while Johnny Mullins played 60 minutes in the reserve team win over Forest Green on Tuesday and Sean Long could be involved in the matchday squad again.
Watch Michael Duff’s pre-match press conference looking ahead to the game:
Opposition
Saturday’s opponents travel to Gloucestershire desperate to find a way back into form having taken just one point out of a possible 18 from their last six games. They recently appointed former Macclesfield boss John Askey as manager, with ex-Robins coach Dave Kevan as his assistant, but it has been a tricky start for Askey having lost his first three games.
They’ll therefore be determined to get something from Saturday’s tie and occupy 21st place after a loss to Tranmere on Tuesday at Vale Park. Their last win came at Crawley in mid-January.
With captain Tom Pope in attack they carry a goal threat, and with fellow attackers Ricky Miller, Ben Whitfield, Cristian Montano and Cardiff City loan youngster Mark Harris, who spent the first half of this season on loan at Newport County, they will be keen to get the ball forward into the attacking third.
Their experienced heads come through the likes of David Worrall and Antony Kay – who scored the last gasp equaliser in stoppage time at Vale Park when the Robins and Vale last clashed.
There’s one recognisable former Robin in their squad. Goalkeeper Scott Brown (pictured below) had two spells at Cheltenham, with his first lasting for nearly a decade and his second a lengthy loan spell from Wycombe Wanderers in the 2016-17 campaign.
Last time we met
A chilly and windy meeting back in December saw Nigel Atangana’s 90th minute goal, which looked all but set to be the winner, ruled out deep into stoppage time by an Antony Kay equaliser to deny Michael Duff’s men all three points at Vale Park.
Cheltenham were aiming to follow up a last gasp home win over Grimsby the week before, but saw Cristian Montano’s well-worked opener put Vale in front after just 13 minutes.
Sam Jones, on loan from Shrewsbury, levelled as he followed up Ryan Broom’s shot which had been saved by Scott Brown, and then late in the second period Atangana stroked home accurately to give Cheltenham a late lead that all but looked to make it two late wins in a row.
Port Vale had other ideas though and a set piece in stoppage time was headed in by experienced midfield man Kay to ensure the spoils were shared.
Watch back the highlights from that fixture earlier in the season:
Tickets
You can buy online for Saturday’s game by clicking here. Tickets are also available to buy on the turnstiles when they open at 1.30pm.
The ticket office is open before kick-off and after the game for fans wanting to buy tickets for upcoming home matches and away travel for next week’s trip to Mansfield. The club shop is also open with a range of CTFC merchandise on sale.
Coverage
Follow @CTFCofficial on Twitter for team news and match updates. You can also check out team news and goal updates on the club’s Facebook page. After the game visit the club website to see the reaction to the result and read a match report looking back on the 90 minutes.
Listen to match commentary via iFollow or on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.