Two games indoors, two wins and six league points in the bank. That’s lovely Alan! STOP – hammertime, and in the name of love while we’re at it, though. That’s not how it all ended up working out. The plan for our double header with Crewe and then Port Vale was rock solid. The execution, less so. Look back at the charred remains of the week gone by and we’ve more red cards than goals scored; a lonely soldier of a point our scant reward.
Next up then, and giddy up with it, is a trip across the land to Cheltenham; one half of what used to be one of the building society sector’s brightest double acts. Our hosts this weekend were among the sides fighting for survival last term. In the end, however, it was comfortable for ’em; finishing five points clear of the drop zone in 17th – one more point than the gap to ourselves a place ahead of them. How comparable are we this time?
Cheltenham Town v Stevenage: The Lowdown
The Referee
P1 W1 D0 L0 F1 A0; last result: Stevenage 1-0 Morecambe, 18/08/2017
We’ve really hit the repeat button with the refs at the moment. The man in the middle this weekend is Matt Donohue; a chap who we have a lot of love for based on the one time we’ve met before. Our win at home to Morecambe may not have been spectacular, but it’ll do given our current mini-run of results. Donohue’s tally for the season so far stands at 12 games, showing 44 yellows and two reds in the process.
The Opposition
P15 W6 D4 L5 F21 A13; last result: Stevenage 4-1 Cheltenham Town, 01/01/2018
The Robins used to be one of those teams we couldn’t beat for love nor cash prizes. We’d either draw or (more often) lose against ’em, and that was the case for our first eight encounters. Since the ninth, however, it’s been all us – with some hefty wins thrown into the mix. Our unbeaten record against the Robins now runs back more than eight years. How well done would you like those stakes? Defeat is almost inconceivable these days.
The Form
And that’s the worry. Crewe were poking around looking for a first away win of the season last week, and they got it. Cheltenham, by comparison, are scurrying around for their first three points indoors; their two victories so far coming on the road. Doctor Stevenage is an earnest young thing, but it’s all a bit worthy innit? Let’s look at the numbers that matter when we talk about this week’s patient in small hushes in the clinic staff room.
The Robins are without a win in seven; have conceded at least once in all but one of their home games (Crewe, as it goes); and have failed to score in two-thirds of their games indoors. Two-thirds of their matches at home, meanwhile, have been won by the visitors. It’s no surprise they have the worst home record, the second worst attack and the sixth worst in the defence in the division. Let’s hope we’re not the doc on call this weekend.
Here’s our recent form from kickoff.co.uk:
• MORE ABOUT ‘EM: Cheltenham Town club profile
