Next Up: Away to Cheltenham Town

If you were to ask a City supporter, or possibly indeed Paul Tisdale, what his nightmare Christmas trio of games would be, he’d probably say “Team at the top of the table, local derby, and Cheltenham”. Well, with the match against the top side unsuccessfully negotiated and the local derby to come, it’s bogey side Cheltenham providing the festive cheer (or not) on Boxing Day. Tom Nichols once again looked the most likely to make something happen against Chesterfield, and he may be given another chance to shine, with Alan Gow likely to return to the starting eleven having been relegated to the bench last Friday. Pat Baldwin is pushing for a recall at the back although this would mean either Scot Bennett or the left-footed Jordan Moore-Taylor misses out. Jimmy Keohane is another player looking to start as well as Matt Grimes, both of whom were on the bench for the Chesterfield match.

Had this match taken place in the first couple of months of the season City might have hoped, nay expected, to gain something from the match against their archetypal bogey side. However, with his board having showed the sort of patience other more trigger-happy boards might not have done, Mark Yates has engineered a return to form and on Saturday Cheltenham went above City in the table for the first time this season. The Robins have in fact been unbeaten in the league since mid-October, albeit with a plethora of draws in amongst a few victories, their only defeat a shock 1-0 reverse at Tamworth in the FA Cup. There will be a couple of familiar faces in the line-up – Jamie Cureton signed for Cheltenham in the summer and has bagged four goals so far, while David Noble returned closer to home on loan from Rotherham. Byron Harrison is their 8-goal top scorer, while the likes of Jermaine McGlashan will also have to be watched closely.

And now the head-to-head record, and if you are of a nervous disposition, look away now. Played 8, Lost 8. Goals for 3, goals against 17. Eek. Last season, would you believe, Cheltenham did the double over City – a 3-0 thumping in Gloucestershire (Lowe with two and Lawson D’Ath, who’d enjoy a short loan spell with City, with the other) and 1-0 at The Park (Russell Penn). Wouldn’t it be a wonderful Christmas present for City to finally arrest this hoodoo?

Match Officials – http://www.exeweb.com/2013/12/22/match-officials-away-to-cheltenham/

Exeweb’s guide to Cheltenham and Whaddon Road. http://www.exeweb.com/2012/09/19/the-things-you-need-to-know-whaddon-road/