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Blues squad: Darryl Flahavan, Daniel Gay, Stephen Broad, Dave McSweeney, Damon Searle, Danny Kerrigan, Leon Cort, Phil Whelan, Rob Newman, Leon Johnson, Marek Szmid, Stuart Thurgood, Carl Hutchings, Scott Forbes, Barrington Belgrave, Tes Bramble, Mark Rawle and Tony Richards.
It is expected that Rob Newman will play himself tonight despite the ex Norwich City player rapidly approaching the Forty years of age mark. Blues are expected to return to the defensive formation of 5-3-2 against the strong and physical Robins.
Stuart Thurgood looks likely to line up in midfield alongside Carl Hutchings with goal scoring hero from Tuesday night Leon Johnson being given a chance in midfield should Mark Rawle fail a fitness test on his groin injury.
Ten goal leading goal scorer Tes Bramble is the other player facing a fitness test, Bramble also has a sore groin, Barrington Belgrave is fit and raring to go and Tony Richards stands by.
The five man defence will be the usual five of Darryl Flahavan, Stephen Broad, Damon Searle, Leon Cort, Rob Newman and Skipper Phil Whelan.
Marek Szmid who played well for the reserves on Monday in the 1-1 draw with
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Probable side: Flahavan, Broad, Searle, Whelan, Newman, Cort, Hutchings, Thurgood, Rawle or Johnson, Belgrave and Bramble or Rawle or Richards.
The following Cheltenham Town team news is from the Official Cheltenham Town web-site
Steve Cotterill is hoping that striker Tony Naylor will shake off the stiff hamstring that plagued him in last week's cup tie against Burnley when the Robins take on Southend United on Friday at Whaddon Road (7.45pm).
But Cotterill had better news regarding Lee Williams, who has recovered from his back strain. "I think that Lee Williams will be OK," said Cotterill. "Tony Naylor we’ve just got to wait and see. He’s got a training session to do first so we’ll just have to see how he is after that." Cotterill explained that the squad have enjoyed the extra media attention that the FA Cup has brought them, although they have been careful not to let the limelight get in the way of the 'bread and butter' business of preparing for League matches. He also explained that once the win over Burnley was out of the way neither he nor the players had particularly dwelled on it. "We’ve enjoyed the attention but the trouble is with all of it is that it makes you very busy, and I think it becomes a little bit tiresome with pre-match press conferences," said Cotterill.
"It probably hasn’t stopped over the last week or two really so I’m quite pleased of the break for a little while. "We haven’t really spoken about the Burnley game. I’ve given the players two days off and it's quite an anti-climax really. "I don’t dwell on it. I enjoyed the moment, the best moment probably the final Cotterill says the players are looking forward to getting back down to Division Three business and accelerating the team's push for a promotion or play-off spot.
"Tomorrow will be an interesting night for our boys," he said. "I think it’s a very big game it’s important that they’re all mentally spot on for that one. Southend are a young side, we’ve seen them play quite a few times this season and they’ve either hit heights or they haven’t - that’s what happens with young players.
"But they've beaten quite a lot of the top teams, so it’s definitely up to us to be up for the game. "Whilst it’s a big test for our players, I think it’s a big test for our supporters tomorrow night as well. How many are going to turn up and are they going to turn up and just expect us to win, or are they going to be as vocal as they were last week. "Both sides of the fence is a bit of a test tomorrow night and between the players and the crowd, I think they could get us the three points but they’ve both got to be on top form again," he added.
Steve Connolly
www.thelittlegazette.com