Notts County can end the year in a League Two playoff position with a victory at Whaddon Road on Sunday versus Cheltenham Town.
The Robins did Notts a favour this week by defeating Crewe Alexandra 2-1, moving them up to 14th in the table, while the Nottingham side sit seventh following a 2-0 triumph against MK Dons.
Match preview
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Cheltenham are ending 2024 in good form, riding a six-match unbeaten run across all competitions into this weekend.
Their last three competitive games at Whaddon Road have ended in victory for the Robins, who have points in six consecutive League Two home matches.
If they can avoid defeat this weekend, it will mark the first time that Cheltenham will have claimed at least a point in each of their December league fixtures since 2018.
Michael Flynn's men have collected six points this season when conceding the opening goal, four of which were in their last two domestic affairs.
The Robins have won their final football league game of a calendar year just once in their previous 10 attempts, though they have not lost the last two.
Not since the 2018-19 season have they faced Notts County in an EFL fixture, with Cheltenham winning both League Two contests on that occasion by a combined margin of 7-1.
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Another solid defensive outing kept the Magpies in the hunt for a promotion, claiming consecutive domestic victories on Thursday for the first time since September.
Stuart Maynard's side are a mere two points below Doncaster Rovers at the moment and a second promotion in three seasons.
Notts have been among the best away teams in League Two this season, claiming 17 points as the visitors thus far while averaging 1.42 points per game on the road.
Finding the back of the net outside of Meadow Lane has not been a problem, with this side scoring the second-most away goals in League Two this season (17).
On Sunday, they have a chance to win their final EFL fixture of the year on consecutive occasions for the first time since 1991, having trounced Morecambe 5-0 at the end of 2023.
The Magpies have won just one of their previous five away contests versus Cheltenham, with the last one coming in September 2016 (3-2).
Team News
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On Boxing Day, Cheltenham were missing Ryan Haynes due to a knock, while Ryan Bowman and Tom Pett were the only newcomers who did not feature against Gillingham that saw the field the last time out, with both players coming on as substitutes.
Joel Colwill netted a brace in the final 20 minutes to bring his side back, while leading goalscorer George Miller saw his two-match scoring run end.
The Magpies were missing Jodi Jones earlier this week through injury, with Lewis Macari being the only new addition to the starting 11, replacing Lucas Ness at the back.
George Abbott netted his first of the domestic campaign, which held up as the winner against MK Dons, and Dan Crowley adding a little insurance with his first since September.
Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Day; Jude-Boyd, Bakare, Stubbs, Bradbury; Young, Pett; Thomas, Colwill, Archer; Miller
Notts County possible starting lineup:
Bass; Ness, Platt, Bedeau; Austin, Abbott, Palmer, Tsaroulla; Crowley; Brown, McGoldrick
We say: Cheltenham Town 2-1 Notts County
Cheltenham are getting their act together, and we have confidence they will continue to ride their strong home form to another three points on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
