Cheltenham Town will be looking to build on their recent good run of form as they face fellow early-season high-flyers Exeter City at The Jonny-Rocks Stadium.
The Robins come into the game undefeated in seven in all competitions, most recently coming from behind to beat Bradford City 2-1.
Meanwhile Exeter have scored 13 goals in their last three games, which included a dominant 4-1 triumph over Grimsby Town on Tuesday.
Exeter in detail:
- Founded: 1904
- League position – 3rd
- Nickname – The Grecians
- Recent form – (W,W,W,L,W)
The manager – Matt Taylor
All associated with Cheltenham Town will be very familiar with the man who will be in the away dugout at Whaddon Road as Matt Taylor spent part of his playing career in Gloucestershire.
Upon his arrival in Cheltenham he was immediately made club captain by Mark Yates, but only spent one season with the Robins before joining Newport County.
Taylor, who made 160 appearances for Exeter City as a player, became the manager of the Grecians following the departure of Paul Tisdale in 2018.
In his first season in charge at St James Park he guided the club to 9th place in League Two, which after two play-off runs in previous seasons was a disappointing season to most fans.
However, City did lose captain Jordan Moore-Taylor, influential play-maker Ryan Harley and experienced forward Robbie Simpson, who all joined up with Tisdale at MK Dons.
In the following season Taylor brought in eight signings, with Nigel Atangana, who spent two seasons at Cheltenham, veteran defender Tom Parkes from Carlisle United and well-travelled forward Nicky Ajose from Charlton Athletic, the most notable.
A very positive campaign was brought to a crashing halt as Northampton Town comfortably beat Exeter 4-0 in the play-off final at Wembley.
Following the embarrassing defeat, Taylor admitted changes needed to happen at the club in the following season.
And after lining-up with a back five for the majority of his time at the club, the 38-year-old chose to revert back to the traditional back four, bringing in well-known league full-backs, Lewis Page and Jake Caprice.
Despite those arrivals, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant effect on many lower-league clubs, including Exeter, resulting in the club turning to their very successful academy, which has already produced the likes of Ethan Ampadu & Ollie Watkins.
Josh Key & Joel Randall have burst onto the scene this season, earning regular minutes under Taylor.
Joining Matt Jay, Jack Sparkes and Archie Collins as players who came through the Grecian’s youth system.
Exeter currently sit in 3rd place, just two points behind Cheltenham after going on an impressive unbeaten run which up until the defeat against Oldham Athletic, was the longest of any team in England’s top four divisions at 13 games.
Player to watch – Joel Randall
Despite being 21-years-old and having just broken into the first team, Joel Randall has been a superb attacking threat for Exeter so far this season.
The winger has scored eight goals this season in all competitions making him the club’s joint-leading scorer alongside Matt Jay, while also earning three assists.
While he was unable to get on the score-sheet against Grimsby, Randall bagged a brace in the FA Cup victory over League One opposition, Gillingham.
Head-to-head
This will be the 21st meeting between Exeter and Cheltenham.
The Robins haven’t beaten the Grecians since 2013 when a goal from Jamie Cureton, who played 88 times for Exeter, was enough to secure a 1-0 victory on boxing day.
Exeter’s last visit to the Jonny-Rocks stadium came in 2019 and ended in a 1-1 draw, while the game set for Early April of this year was postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
- Cheltenham wins: 9
- Draws: 3
- Exeter wins: 8
Last Encounter
Exeter City 0-0 Cheltenham Town – 16 November, 2019
The last time these two sides met the game ended in a goalless stalemate with both teams deploying similar formations.
Exeter City 1-0 Cheltenham Town – 3 September, 2019
An early goal from Nicky Ajose gave Exeter a slender win in the group stages of the Leasing.com trophy which put the Grecians top of Southern Group E.
Match Prediction:
This will most-definitely be one of the best games in League Two on the weekend.
A win for the hosts would put more pressure on table-topping Newport County, while Exeter would go above Cheltenham with a victory.
Neither side will want to lose this game as it would be a big blow to their early-season good form and with Cheltenham looking strong in defence and Exeter flying in attack, the two teams could well end up cancelling each other out.
Prediction: Cheltenham Town 1-1 Exeter City
