Iron manager Russ Wilcox has warned his side to beware of the ‘wounded animal’ ahead of their meeting with Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road on Tuesday night.
The Robins go into the game on the back of a dramatic 4-3 defeat to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, having conceded in the last minute to lose a game which they had previously led 2-0.That advantage had been completely wiped out by three Wimbledon goals in as many minutes during a frantic second half – leaving manager Mark Yates angry at the capitulation of his side.
Wilcox believes such a result makes Cheltenham a dangerous prospect for United in midweek, and the Hemsworth-born manager told The Iron Player: “He [Yates] will be looking for a reaction after Saturday.
“I saw him interviewed after the game, and I think that’s the best they’ve played all season, but they got beaten 4-3. Sometimes that happens, and as a manager you go out to win every single game, it doesn’t matter [where you are in the table].
“I know Mark really well, having played at Doncaster with him. He’s a good friend of mine, and a nice guy, which adds a little bit to the game but again it’s the same mind-set – the next game for us is the most important one, and it’s about our approach.
“We know it’s going to be a difficult game, as they’re a bit of a wounded animal after Saturday. Again, it’s another tough game.”
Cheltenham’s collapse against Wimbledon at the weekend was not the first time the Gloucestershire outfit have found themselves on the receiving end of a flurry of quick-fire goals, having also conceded four in seven minutes against Chesterfield United in February.
Such a trend has not gone unnoticed by Wilcox, who added: “Psychologically for them it’s a period they need to improve on, but our mind-set is on what we are going to do.
“We’ve not been a team who have scored and then sat back. We always try to get the next goal, and we showed that on Saturday by creating chances and obviously getting the penalty as well. That’s the way we work.
“This league is so tight that it’s small margins in every game, and tomorrow won’t be any different.”
See much more from Russ Wilcox and Marcus Williams on The Iron Player.