Upturn in Form Sees Cheltenham Town Pull Away from League One’s Relegation Zone

Cheltenham had been struggling somewhat this season. Prior to the recent trip to Cambridge United, The Robins hadn’t picked up a league victory since the turn of the year and were eight without a win. As such, a number of sports apps and oddsmaking sites had tipped them for relegation to League Two come the end of the season. And to be honest, we didn’t blame them.

Last season, Michael Duff’s men impressed as they finished some 16 points adrift of the League One drop zone. They also picked up a number of impressive victories against the likes of Ipswich Town, Charlton Athletic, and Sunderland. But manager Duff left for recently relegated Barnsley in the summer, and while the club acted quickly to replace the outgoing boss with former Burnley winger Wade Elliott, they struggled to impose themselves on the third tier.

Early Season Troubles

The Robins won just one of their first seven games, losing four of them. They found themselves in the division’s drop zone until the eighth matchday of the campaign. That week, goals from Dan Nlundulu and Alfie May gave them a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Cambridge United. And Elliott’s side hasn’t found themselves in the relegation zone since.

New Year Woes

While Cheltenham had been doing enough to keep their heads above the water, 2023 brought with it a disastrous spell of form which saw them fall perilously close to the trap door. Four consecutive defeats against Bristol Rovers, Morecambe, Derby County, and Plymouth Argyle, had many fans fearing the worst, especially as Morecambe are a close relegation rival.

Second from bottom Accrington Stanley then headed north from Whaddon Road with a point on February 11th. But three days later, that elusive first win of the new year finally came. Goals from Elliot Bonds and Alfie May secured a close 2-1 victory away at Cambridge, and the whole club breathed a sigh of relief. The Robins are now five points clear of the relegation zone, but with a number of difficult fixtures on the horizon, Wade Elliot will have to ensure that his side remains focused.