Notts County
- Notts County are 4th in League Two with 64 points from 36 games, very much in the promotion picture, while Cheltenham Town are 17th with 41 points and looking to settle for mid-table safety.
- Paterson has installed a possession-based system with a back three and wing-backs that makes Notts County a much more adaptable team in transition.
- The Magpies will play in either a 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-2 formation depending on the game, but always try to dominate possession and play through the wings.
- With their superior home record and attacking firepower, Notts County are expected to edge this one even if they are favorites at 1.53.
Cheltenham Town
- Cheltenham also play with a back three and wing-backs, but in contrast to Notts County, they are far more compact in defence, strong on set-pieces and prefer to get forward in numbers on the counter.
- Cheltenham’s form has been much the better of the two lately, going unbeaten in their last five League Two games (W2, D3).
- Both teams have the firepower to score with Matthew Dennis leading the County charts with 14 goals in 35 League Two appearances and Isaac Hutchinson top-scoring for the visitors with 12 in 33.
- Cheltenham have conceded 36 goals in 19 away League Two matches, so there is definitely scope for Notts County to punish them in the wide areas.
Head-to-Head
Notts County have won two of the last three head-to-head meetings in League Two (D0, L1) including a 2-1 away win over Cheltenham four months ago.
Key Players
- Matthew Dennis - 14 goals in 35 League Two appearances.
- Isaac Hutchinson - 12 goals in 33 League Two appearances and a recent surge of goals that has helped Cheltenham’s unbeaten run.
Betting Insights
- Notts County are the match favorites at 1.53.
- Both teams to score (BTTS - Yes) is priced at 1.85 and looks plausible given both sides’ attacking records.
Prediction
A home win looks the most likely result given Notts County’s superior home form and attacking options.