Cheltenham will focus on performance

HAVING reached the top of Sky Bet League Two, Cheltenham are determined not to change their approach to the rest of the season, writes Jon Palmer.

The Robins went top of the fourth tier in midweek, one point clear of Cambridge United with two games in hand, while county rivals Forest Green and fourthplaced Tranmere are a further point back having played the same number of games as the Whaddon Road side.

Cheltenham host fourth-frombottom Port Vale this afternoon.

Taking on pre-match media duties, Robins coach Wade Elliott said: “The manager (Michael Duff) said something quite good before Tuesday’s game (1-0 win over Southend, pictured).

“He told the players they can’t affect the result and that anything could happen with the referee, or a night when we are very unlucky.

“All that they can affect is their performance, so if they focus on that and get that right, we’ll take whatever comes with it and I think that’s a good approach to take into every game.

“At the end of the game, we’ll see where that leaves us. Keep chalking off the games.”

Port Vale have proven tricky opponents for Cheltenham in recent times, but have yet to win under former Bristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke.

Elliott added: “It’s a difficult one because Darrell has always been 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, going all the way back to Salisbury, and he’s never really deviated much from that.

“They started with a back three the other night, but lost their two wing-backs to injury. They went to a 4-3-3 and ended up playing a diamond, so they could come and do anything.

“We know that they’ll look to get after us and they’ll press because that’s what Darrell’s teams have always done. They’ll have a right go.”

Forest Green could have moved top themselves with a midweek victory, but fluffed their lines in a 3-0 defeat at mid-table Stevenage.

Mark Cooper’s men are on the road again this afternoon, this time at rock-bottom Grimsby, who are four points adrift of the safety line.

Meanwhile, in the National League, Yeovil Town will look to maintain their steady progress up the table. They visit a Chesterfield side two points below them but with three games in hand.