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"The performance at Oldham on Tuesday night was good, the players defended valiantly at the end under pressure but even before the Hereford game we had been playing well. Little things have gone against us but we've been working hard and the standard the other night was very good. We know there will be ups and downs - I said that when I came here - but as long as the players have the right attitude, as long as they have a go and work on the things we do on the training pitch then what will be will be. On Tuesday night they did that."You're always looking for more consistent performances but as I say, even before the Hereford game the players were doing well on a consistent basis. We had one game where it was not good at all but in the second half if you watch the video there were plenty of chances for us. Even in the first half there were a couple of chances where if they had gone in it might have been a different game, but that's life. I'm really looking forward now and not dwelling on Hereford.
"The win on Tuesday and clean sheet has been great for the players and given them all a lot of confidence. We've been back at training and kept working on the team. We can't just sit back and hope it takes place, we've got to all work to make it happen with the best preparation we can make. Everything is planned and we'll be ready to go. We try and take care of everything and I treat the players how I would have wanted to be treated as a player and I expect more professionalism from them. We are getting that.
"The players stay out later and practice and they come in early and practice. They are a conscientous bunch of players and there are certainly no big time charlies. We've had to trim down the squad because when you've got disappointed people hanging round the place it doesn't help them or us. Things are moving in the right direction and I'm confident that given time things will be right."
Injury-wise for the Robins tomorrow experienced right-back Darren Kenton is rated as 50/50 to take part in the game as he recovers from a leg injury. Definitely sidelined though are midfielder and captain John Finnigan (heel), defender Shane Duff (achilles) and former Bristol City midfielder Alex Russell (ankle).
Transfer-wise it continues to be a busy time at Cheltenham, boss Martin Allen at one point having eight loan players on the Whaddon Road books. One of those, in left-winger Jonny Hayes, has extended his loan spell from Leicester into a second month, while Allen is also hopeful of retaining the services of midfielders Lewis Montrose from Wigan and Josh Payne from West Ham when the second month of their loan spells ends next week.
Out of the exit door defender Michael Townsend has extended his loan at Barnet to two months, while fellow defender Craig Armstrong has joined Burton Albion on loan for six weeks. Meanwhile left-winger Aaron Ledgister has rejected the offer of a financial settlement to cancel his contract while Scott Brown has agreed a contract termination, the midfielder now joining Port Vale, but on loan due to the vagaries of the transfer window system, until the end of December.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Karl Evans from Leigh in Greater Manchester, and he will be assisted down the lines by Gary Beswick from Newton Aycliffe in County Durham and Darren Handley from Wigan. Meanwhile the fourth official is Billy Khatib from Sunderland.