Oppositions View – Cheltenham Town

Last updated : 30 April 2003 By

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SUPPORTING YOUR CLUB?
K:
18 years

WHO IS YOUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE PLAYERS FOR YOUR TEAM?

Could be out for Cheltenham's must win game
K:
Steve Brooks, Martin Thomas, John Finnigan

WHICH CHANT IS MOST LIKELY TO BE STARTED BY YOUR FANS?
K:
Staying up, Staying up, Staying up!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM YOUR SIDE HAS AT THE MOMENT?
K:
Biggest problem is taking the lead in games and then not winning. We've led something like 15 games that we haven't won, and three times this season, 2-0 leads away from home have resulted in draws, including one at Chesterfield which could be crucial.

HOW MANY OF YOUR FANS DO YOU EXPECT TO BE AT THE GAME?
K:
About 1,500 as this is the proverbial "it" for this season.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INJURIES TO KEY PLAYERS THAT COULD MEAN THEY MISS THE GAME?
K:
Leading scorer Julian Alsop is available after a three-match suspension, but missed a reserve outing on Monday with an eye infection that may keep him out.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE GAME EARLIER THIS SEASON BETWEEN THE SIDES?
K:
Not a great game for the Robins! Going 2-0 down inside three minutes was somewhat galling, especially as it was the first time all season we had played a club lower in the table! County belied their League position at the time and looked lively up front and it's no surprise to me that they've moved up the table since then. Mike Duff, who made his only two errors all season in those three minutes has played up front in the last two games as a makeshift striker, and has scored in both games!

WILL YOU BE COMING TO MEADOW LANE FOR THE GAME? DO YOU LIKE COMING TO THE LANE/NOTTINGHAM IN GENERAL?
K:
I'll certainly be at the game, as it will then be the 2nd time I've managed the whole season home and away without missing a game. First visit to either Meadow Lane or Nottingham.

Will Whaddon road be hosting Second or Third Division football next season?
SO FAR HAS YOUR TEAM LIVED UP TO WHAT YOU EXPECTED BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED? IF NOT, WHAT NEEDS CHANGING?
K:
I don't think any of our Robins fans expected much other than a relegation battle, and although I did think we'd finish two or three places higher, I also had a nagging feeling from the day the fixtures came out that it would go all the way to the last game.

SCORE PREDICTION?
K:
We are now seven games unbeaten, and if we play like last week, we should get a positive result, especially as County, with all respect, seem in the end-of-season doldrums (although your form wasn't great the last time we met either and look what happened then). 2-1 to the Robins, but having just beaten Blackpool 3-0, I'm not sure the Tangerines can stop Chesterfield doing something similar, and even a win for us may not be enough. It would be ironic indeed if we went down on the back of an eight match unbeaten run!

Keith also added a little note on to the bottom for all Notts fans regarding our present situation. Thanks Keith, much appreciated!…

I hope your club survives the administration period and that the League doesn't carry through it's threat to throw you out, even though it may well provide us with salvation in our relegation battle! County are far too old and respected as a club to have their existence terminated in such an inglorious way.