Robins In Da Hood

Updated:

By Pete H

…and so it’s all coming down to this, a match that Boro’ must win and hope other results play ball! Nothing has changed much since last weekend. There’s a two-point gap to make up between us and the playoffs, and about a billion clubs ready to pounce if Newport or Exeter naff it up. Start thinking about the last-minute winners and equalisers we’ve conceded over the course of the season and it’ll make you weep with the “what if…”.

Don’t even get us started on losing indoors to Notts County. Ah sure, it is what it is. And we’re still in the hunt. In fact, although the chances are slipping away it’s a good time to search out some free bet no deposit offers at betandskill.com because – whether we make it or not – you might just end up with at least a little smile on your face in a few weeks.

 

Stevenage v Cheltenham Town: The Lowdown

It’s our Notts nightmare that makes us not want to stick our neck on the line and say that ours is the easier job out of all our playoff rivals. On paper, we certainly do have the pick of the fixtures (or pi-xtures?), but…

Newport – at Morecambe, who might be able to help us out. But don’t bank on it.

Exeter – off to Forest Green, taking on a side who have won four on the bounce.

Colchester – away to champions Lincoln, who surely want to go out with a bang?

Carlisle – long trek south to already-relegated, free-from-fear (hopefully) Yeovil.

So, the smart money would suggest that we’ll do our job but at least one will fail to do theirs. We’re looking at you Morecambe, and probably Yeovil too. Oh well. It was worth it for last week’s banging win at Mansfield.

 

The Opposition

P16 W7 D4 L5 F23 A13; last result: Cheltenham Town 0-2 Stevenage, 27/10/2018

The Robins will have to go against recent history if they’re going to upset our applecart. We haven’t lost to ’em since our early days in the Football League; a 1-0 defeat at their gaff in September 2010. Since then, we’ve won seven out of eight and normally scoring at least twice doing so. If it all comes down to goal difference between us and Carlisle, we could do with another chunky win against ’em. But now we are getting demanding.

Just three points again, please.

 

The Referee

P27 W5 D10 L12 F32 A40; last result: Macclesfield Town 2-2 Stevenage, 23/03/2019

It’s not long since we last came across Dean Whitestone as our man in the middle – and not long enough based on our record when he’s in charge of things. It’s one point from the two of ours he’s reffed this term. But if you need a small cause for hope, he was in charge of our last home match of last term. We beat Exeter that day. It’s not much to go on, is it? Mr Whitestone hasn’t sent a man off since October, as an irrelevant aside.

 

The Form

Now then, we know what sort of nick we’re in. But what about them. WHAT ABOUT THEM?! Well, they’re going to finish refreshingly clear of the relegation kerfuffle this season. In fact, they’re only 10 points behind us. We can probably pin a lot of this on their run of two defeats in 10. Or one in seven. You choose. Bizarrely, the most recent defeat for ’em was a 4-0 whopping at Morecambe. Maybe the Shrimps do have it in them?

Anyway, the Robins come to us with a pretty mediocre away record – conceding at least one goal in each of the last 10 on the road. And their defensive record overall is as bad as already-relegated Yeovil. So, there’s that too if you want it. Most of our recent joy has come away from the Lamex to be fair, but you can’t have the pomp we had last week and tit it up this week. That isn’t, for the avoidance of doubt, a bet lads.

Just go out with a bang. And enjoy it. What will be, will be…

 

• MORE ABOUT ‘EM: Cheltenham Town club profile