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Stevenage
League One | Gameweek 46
Apr 27, 2024 at 12.30pm UK
The Lamex Stadium
Cheltenham Town

Stevenage
2 - 1
Cheltenham

Hemmings (45+1' pen.), Freeman (90')
Roberts (50'), Thompson (74')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Taylor (53')
Nuttall (45+3'), Thomas (51'), Shepherd (84')

Preview: Stevenage vs. Cheltenham Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League One clash between Stevenage and Cheltenham Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

League One relegation-battlers Cheltenham Town enter the last-chance saloon on Saturday when they make the trip to Stevenage on the final day of the season.

Darrell Clarke's side ensured that their survival bid would go to the wire with a crucial win over Peterborough United in midweek, but they remain in must-win territory heading to the Lamex Stadium with two points still separating them from safety.


Match preview

Stevenage's Louis Thompson in action on January 6, 2024© Reuters

Stevenage will be extremely disappointed with how their season has ended up after they looked destined to be involved in the playoffs having spent the vast majority of the campaign within the top six.

However, March and April have seen the hosts win on just one occasion, losing four times and drawing a further six, seeing them fall away from the playoff places.

Steve Evans, who took the side from the bottom of League Two to just outside of the top six, left the club during that time after Rotherham United met the manager's compensation clause, leaving Alex Revell in charge of the final fixtures.

As Stevenage hold a six-point lead over 10th and trail eighth by five points, the hosts have nothing at stake in this one and will be playing purely for pride.

In stark comparison, Cheltenham's entire season comes down to this final match of the campaign, with relegation looming large over the Robins.

Two wins in their last three games has kept them in with a chance of survival, but with Darrell Clarke's men two points adrift of Burton Albion, all three points must be taken from this one.

Even if they are to win their safety is still out of their own hands with Burton only needing to match Cheltenham's result, while Cambridge United need to avoid defeat to ensure their survival.

Unfortunately for Cheltenham both Burton and Cambridge are set to face off against two teams who have already been relegated from the division, leaving the visitors needing a miracle if they are to remain in the league for a fourth successive year.

That said, the Robins do have a superior goal difference to Burton, meaning that a win in this one coupled with Burton dropping results would be enough for Clarke's side to pull off the great escape.

Survival would mark an incredible turnaround for a side that failed to win any of their first 15 games across all competitions this season and remarkably did not even score a goal in their opening 11 league outings of the campaign - the worst start to a season in English Football League history.

Stevenage League One form:

Cheltenham Town League One form:


Team News

Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke applauds fans after the match on January 8, 2022© Reuters

The hosts have a lengthy list of absentees going into this match with the potential of up to eight players being absent due to injury and suspension.

Dan Butler served the first of a three-game ban against Oxford United after being dismissed for violent conduct in the loss to Burton a fortnight ago.

Elsewhere, Taye Ashby-Hammond, Luther James-Wildin, Alex MacDonald, Jake Forster-Caskey, Finley Burns and Harvey White are all expected to be unavailable through injury.

The visitors are also set to be without a number of their squad for this one.

Lewis Freestone returned from injury in the previous outing against Peterborough United but was forced off in the 86th minute, leaving him doubtful ahead of this match.

Tom Pett also made his return and is expected to retain his place in the middle of the park.

George Lloyd, Aidan Keena and Robert Street all remain as doubts, leaving Joe Nuttall and Matty Taylor, who scored a goal each in the 2-0 win last time out, expected to lead the line once again.


Stevenage possible starting lineup:
MacGillivray; Smith, Vancooten, Piergianni, Guinness-Walker; Freeman, L Thompson, B Thompson, Roberts; Reid, Hemmings

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Long, Davies, Bradbury; Kinsella, Bonds, Pett, Sercombe, Ferry; Taylor, Nuttall


SM words green background

We say: Stevenage 0-2 Cheltenham Town

A quick glance at the league table would suggest that Stevenage, at home, should be firm favourites for this match, but strange things can happen on the final day, and Cheltenham's needs are far greater than that of their hosts.

The Robins have won two of their last three - including a huge win over promotion-chasing Peterborough in midweek - and so should be full of belief heading into this match, despite matters being firmly out of their hands.

Stevenage have only won one of their last 11 games and have nothing to fight for, so we are expecting the visitors to hold up their end of the bargain in their bid to pull off one of the greatest escapes in EFL history. Whether it will be enough will depend on results elsewhere.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Game History

How you voted: Stevenage vs Cheltenham

Stevenage
40.0%
Draw
10.0%
Cheltenham Town
50.0%
10
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