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

Two sides that were promoted from League Two last season will face each other on Tuesday when Cheltenham Town host Morecambe in League One and just a single point separates the two sides in the table.

The hosts occupy 14th position after accumulating 15 points this term, while Morecambe sit a point behind in 16th place.

Match preview

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Mid-table Cheltenham will be boosted by ending a three-game winless run in the league at the weekend, when they emerged victorious over Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

In that encounter, it seemed as though the spoils would be shared, but Kyle Vassell scored his first league goal for the club in the 79th minute to give Cheltenham all three points.

The Robins will be aiming to improve upon their finishing, after only scoring two goals in their last five league games.

The defence also needs improvement, with Cheltenham conceding in 10 of their 12 league games this term, but they can take encouragement from the fact that they have not conceded in two of their last three home games.

Cheltenham have collected 10 points at home this season and they will be confident ahead of Tuesday, knowing that three of their four league wins this term have come on home turf.

Morecambe have adapted well to life in League One, with The Shrimps enjoying their first season in the third tier of English football.

The Shrimps have collected 14 points this term, but manager Stephen Robinson will be concerned with their previous two league results, which have seen Morecambe slip to consecutive defeats in League One.

On Friday evening, Liam Gibson gave Morecambe the lead away to Burton Albion, but three goals for the home side gave The Brewers the advantage and a Cole Stockton goal in stoppage time could not prevent The Shrimps from falling to a 3-2 defeat.

Like Cheltenham, Morecambe have struggled defensively by conceding 21 goals in the league this season, however, Morecambe have been exceptional at the other end of the pitch, scoring 22 goals this term.

A large factor in their fine goalscoring form has been Stockton, who is the current League One top goalscorer with 10 goals to his name, and if Morecambe are to get a positive result on Tuesday then Stockton will be crucial to the visitors.

Team News

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Cheltenham will be without Callum Wright, while Liam Sercombe is also not expected to be fit enough to feature on Tuesday due to a groin problem.

Charlie Raglan is still nursing a knee problem and is set to miss out on Tuesday.

Although, there was some good news for Cheltenham boss Michael Duff at the weekend, with William Boyle returning from injury to play the full 90 minutes against Accrington Stanley.

After being dropped for the league game against Wycombe Wanderers, Ryan Cooney has started the last two competitive fixtures for Morecambe, and the right-back should keep his place for Tuesday.

Stockton has scored three goals in his last four appearances, and the forward will lead the line once again for The Shrimps on Tuesday.

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

Flinders; Long, Pollock, Boyle; Blair, Chapman, Thomas, Crowley, Hussey; Vassell, May

Morecambe possible starting lineup:

Letheren; Cooney, O'Connor, Wootton, Gibson; McCalmont, Diagouraga, Phillips; McDonald, Gnahoua, Stockton

We say: Cheltenham Town 1-2 Morecambe

With only a point separating the two sides in the league table, this encounter is likely to be close, but Morecambe have won three of the last five meetings between the teams and we think they will prevail on Tuesday.