Striker Luke Varney has stressed the importance of the Cheltenham fans ahead of three massive home games as the Robins look to steer clear of the Sky Bet League Two relegation zone.
Saturday’s 2-0 away defeat to Carlisle United was Cheltenham’s third defeat on the bounce, leaving them just two points above Saturday’s visitors Macclesfield Town in the relegation zone.
After the Carlisle game, boss Michael Duff described the next three home matches as “cup finals” and Varney echoed these sentiments ahead of this weekend’s clash.
“They’re all cup finals now and we really wanted to get up to that mid-table place, but we’ve let ourselves down a bit,” admitted Varney.
“We always knew about the block of games against the teams around us. Unfortunately, the last three defeats have come in a row, but it was a reality check and a bit of a wakeup call to show us that we’re not clear of that (relegation battle) yet.”
The Robins entertain more teams fighting at the foot of the table after the visit of Sol Campbell’s side on Saturday, when Cambridge United and Yeovil Town visit the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.
Varney has scored three in his last five league games and he is hoping he can add to his tally in the coming weeks to help the Robins secure crucial victories as they look to get back up the division.
“People cliché on six pointers but ultimately they are,” the 36-year-old added.
“It’s going to be massive to pick points up off the teams around us and we keep going back to that performance against Notts County where there was no chance that we were going to lose that game.
“I think back to the games where I’ve scored and we’ve won – I was buzzing after the games, but the Tranmere one I felt a bit deflated. Hopefully I can score a goal in these next three games so we can get a positive result.”
Varney recalled the incredible atmosphere after he got Cheltenham back on track in the Gloucestershire derby against Forest Green Rovers at the end of Christmas last year – and he is calling for the Robins faithful to replicate that atmosphere on Saturday.
“The atmosphere from the Forest Green game to the Oxford one in the Cup it just goes to show, even for me to have that kind of atmosphere and even in the MK Dons game where I was on the bench – it was just brilliant.
“You could tell it drove the lads forward, especially towards the bottom end of the pitch where the fans really drive us in.
“It’s a big thing and these next three games we’re going to need them because we’ve got teams coming to us who need the point just as much as us. Hopefully we can react in the right way from our losses.”
Join us on Saturday and help bring the noise in our huge game against the Silkmen as Duff's side look to rediscover their impressive home form from December by buying your tickets online here.