Exeter v Cheltenham preview

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Exeter will be without captain Danny Coles for their clash with Cheltenham.

The centre-back saw red in their 2-0 loss at Bury last Saturday and will now serve his one-match suspension against the Robins, meaning Paul Tisdale will be forced into a change.

Scot Bennett could revert to the heart of the defence with Matt Grimes replacing him in central midfield or Pat Baldwin could earn a recall to the starting line-up as City look to avoid suffering their 10th successive loss to Cheltenham.

Aaron Dawson was handed his first start of 2014 at Gigg Lane after an injury to Danny Butterfield and the right-back will hope to have done enough to keep his place.

Cheltenham midfielder David Noble is hopeful that he will line up against his former club Exeter.

The 32-year-old, who played 88 times for the Grecians during two seasons in League One, was forced off just after half-time on Saturday with ‘soreness’ and his team-mates went on to throw away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Southend.

The Robins could also be without Ashley Vincent and Terry Gornell as they look to record the double over the Grecians. The pair sustained knocks in training this week and will be monitored.

Experienced defender Steve Elliott has missed their last two games with an ankle problem but the Robins hope he can come through a training session and declare himself available to travel.

Exeter v Cheltenham preview

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Exeter striker John O’Flynn is an injury doubt for their must-win clash with the Robins.

The former Barnet forward had to be substituted at half-time of their 2-2 draw with AFC Wimbledon on Saturday with a foot injury and the medical staff are nursing the Irishman ahead of kick-off.

Young striker Jamie Reid will hope to keep his place in the starting line-up after two goals on his first start for the club earned the Grecians a point against the Dons.

Another positive from that display was the return of Alan Gow for the first time since rupturing ankle ligaments back in February. The Scot is expected to be on the bench once more as he builds his match fitness.

Matt Oakley (shoulder) and Liam Sercombe (ankle) remain sidelined for the Grecians while Kevin Amankwaah had surgery on his ankle this week.

City, who have never beaten the Robins in their seven meetings, are a point off the play-off places and know that anything other than maximum points could see them miss out.

Cheltenham goalkeeper Scott Brown will be fit to line up against the Grecians as the Robins look to continue their automatic promotion push.

The shot stopper received special praise from manager Mark Yates after he played through the pain of a foot injury to keep a clean sheet in the 1-0 win against Gillingham last Saturday.

And the long-serving keeper trained with his team-mates on Thursday and is not a worry for Yates ahead of the trip to Devon.

Meanwhile, on-loan striker Paul Benson is progressing well from his ankle ligament sprain but the clash with the Grecians looks to have come a little too soon for the former Charlton striker.

Cheltenham make the trip two points behind third-placed Rotherham in League Two with two games remaining.