Preview: Cheltenham Town vs. Exeter City - prediction, team news, lineups

On Tuesday, Exeter City will make the trip to Whaddon Road to face Cheltenham Town in the first round of the EFL Cup.

The Robins have begun their campaign with consecutive defeats, while the visitors have taken four points from their opening two league games.

Match preview

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After finishing 16 points clear of the relegation zone last season, Cheltenham will be targeting another steady season in League One this term.

However, the Robins have got off to a less than ideal start, losing their opening two matches, which leaves them as one of three teams yet to pick up a point in League One this season.

They looked on course to collect three points in their opening league game after taking a two-goal lead into the interval, but three second-half goals from Peterborough condemned Cheltenham to a 3-2 defeat.

Another loss followed at the weekend with Barnsley edging out the Robins to clinch a 1-0 victory, and Cheltenham will look to bounce back from that defeat to claim their first win of the season on Tuesday.

Ahead of the midweek contest, the hosts can draw confidence from the fact that they have won two of their last three meetings with Exeter.

The visitors, meanwhile, ended their 10-year stay in League Two last season with a promotion-winning campaign that resulted in a second-placed finish.

Although their first priority will be to avoid a relegation battle, Exeter's performances in their opening two games suggest that they could be set for another successful season.

Tom Hopper grabbed a second-half equaliser in their opening match against Lincoln City to help his side clinch a point before they claimed their first win of the season with a comprehensive win over Port Vale on Saturday.

Harry Kite opened the scoring in the 24th minute before Jevani Brown netted a brace, while Sam Nombe wrapped up a 4-0 victory with a strike 15 minutes from time.

Exeter will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season on Tuesday as they attempt to reach the second round of the EFL Cup for the first time since 2018-19 season.

Team News

With a busy fixture schedule ahead, Cheltenham boss Wade Elliott could make a few changes from the side that lost on Saturday.

Shaun MacDonald could replace Luke Southwood in goal, while Daniel Adshead may come into midfield for the midweek contest.

There may also be a change up front, with Dan N'Lundulu expected to drop out of the side for George Lloyd.

As for Exeter, they could also make a number of alterations to the side that cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory at the weekend.

Josh Coley, Matt Jay and Jake Caprice are set to be given starting opportunities, although Jamal Blackman will keep his place in goal after making his debut at the weekend.

Following his brace at the weekend, Brown could continue in the forward line alongside Nombe who has scored in Exeter's opening games.

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

MacDonald; Long, Raglan, Taylor; Jackson, Bonds, Adshead, Perry, Sercombe, Freestone; May, Lloyd

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Blackman; Sweeney, Diabate, Hartridge; Caprice, Dieng, Coley, Jay, Sparkes; Brown, Nombe

We say: Cheltenham Town 1-3 Exeter City

While Cheltenham have started the season with two defeats, Exeter will be in confident mood after collecting four points from their opening games, and we expect the League One side to continue their unbeaten start with a victory.

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