Cheltenham Town will have the opportunity to do the double over Exeter City this Saturday as they host the Grecians at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium.
It will be an opportunity for Wade Elliott’s men to go four league games unbeaten for just the second time this season and having crushed play-off hopefuls Peterborough United 3-0 last week, the Robins will be full of confidence coming into the tie.
“The staff pulled out a stat from the last game that we applied the most pressure against a team than any other side has done this season, so it shows you the intensity of our play and we need to replicate that again,” Elliot said.
“It was at the end of a really long block of games so that will tell you we’ve got a young, fit and hungry group with energy and good legs, but we can’t rest on our laurels, it’s about how we can go and build on that.”
Elliott spoke highly of his opposite number, Gary Caldwell, praising the manager while also picking out their threats.
“We know they’re a good team. I know Gary well; he’s started to implement his own style, so they have changed a little bit. They play a bit more football now, but they do still retain a direct threat with Sam Nombe and Jay Stansfield. They’re a good side in good form and I’m expecting a difficult game.”
With none of the teams around Cheltenham winning last week, it allowed the Robins to jump up to 17th, but still only seven points adrift of the relegation zone.
Elliott explained: “Generally, it’s almost irrelevant, because we know that 40 points won’t be enough for us to stay up, we need to keep moving forward and this Saturday is another chance to do that and get to where we want to be regardless of where everyone else is.”
Elliott said there are no fresh injury concerns and that the squad is “in good shape” going into the last stretch of the season. He also revealed how his players used their day off this week for their “mental recovery”.
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“The players went (to Cheltenham Festival) on Tuesday and to be fair that has been in the schedule for a long time so like I said, it’s come after a long block of games and the effort has been top draw so it was a good opportunity for them to reset and help us strike the balance between work and mental rest to make sure were ready to go for Saturday.
“I think it’s given us a chance to give the players a day and switch off for a bit but the aim of that is to be totally switched on for what’s coming at the weekend so it’s all about striking a good balance for them between recovery and work.”
Every win will be invaluable for Cheltenham within the final eight games of the season as they’re desperate not to be dragged back into the relegation battle and consolidate their League One status.
The game will also be a great chance for home fans to be able to watch Cheltenham Ladies as they take on London Bees at 18:30, just an hour after the Exeter game concludes, and Elliott has encouraged fans to stick around.
“Hopefully there will be a big crowd, I know there’s a little bit of a gap, maybe an hour or so, but get in the bar, have a few drinks and stay to enjoy the ladies game,” he said.
The match will kick off at 15:00 at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium and tickets can be bought from the clubs official website here: https://cheltenhamtownfc.ktckts.com/
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