Cheltenham Town face Newport County at the Jonny Rocks Stadium tonight in a top of the table clash.
The Robins sit sixth in League Two, three points behind Newport, who are currently in second, both teams on a poor run of form after starting off the season strongly.
Cheltenham are winless in the league in six games with their last win coming over Exeter, winning 5-3 at the start of December. Newport are winless in six matches, five in the league, with their win also coming at the start of December.
A win for Cheltenham tonight would help to significantly strengthen their bid for promotion this season and would see them above Newport on goal difference, however the Exiles have a game in hand.
Cheltenham’s Chris Hussey is a doubt ahead of Tuesday nights game after picking up an injury against Mansfield in the FA Cup a fortnight ago with manager Michael Duff saying a decision will be made on Hussey just before the game.
Fellow Robins, Liam Sercombe and Scott Flinders are also out of the clash against Newport tonight.
Newport are without Josh Sheehan who is suspended after being sent off against Salford whilst Tristan Abrahams is set to return having finished his isolation period following a positive Covid test.
There could also possibly be debuts for Jack Evans and 17-year-old Owen Windsor due to seven of Newport’s players returning to their parent club in this month.
Duff is hoping that Cheltenham are able to take all three points, “We have a chance and it’s a big if, because Newport are a very good team, but we have a chance to go joint top of the league and then go and have a free hit on Saturday.
“It is tight, it is condensed, someone will come out of the pack I am sure and we have to try and make sure that’s us.”
Ahead of the game Duff had this to say about Newport County, “If we beat them, we end up level on points with them. They have lost a few players, probably feel they are a little bit bare, similar to us at the minute.
“They are very similar, playing the same formation to us and it’ll be a really tight game I’d imagine. One thing they have is a good team spirit and they have scored a lot of late goals. We have conceded too many late goals recently so I don’t think I am giving anything away there, they’ll be fully aware of that.“
The Robins beat Michael Flynn’s side 1-0 in the Football League Trophy earlier this season, with the sides facing off in a 1-1 draw in their only matchup in the league last season.
Cheltenham are looking to build momentum with a win against Newport ahead of a massive FA Cup tie against Manchester City, on Saturday in the fifth round.
Duff described the league as the “Bread and butter” while the FA Cup tie is just a “Free hit” and he is hoping that players will be playing for their place against City “I’d like to think so. It was a poor performance on Saturday, there’s no getting away from it, but the effort levels were brilliant.
“It might not have looked it because the shape wasn’t right and the press wasn’t right, but that’s nothing to do with effort levels. They were there and they’ll have to be there again on Tuesday.
“Obviously everyone knows about the game on Saturday, but that’s a free hit. This is your bread and butter and we have an opportunity to go joint top of the league if we win.”
