Cheltenham v Exeter preview

Team news for Thursday's League Two clash between Cheltenham Town and Exeter City at Whaddon Road.

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale is set to shuffle his pack for the trip to Cheltenham as they look for their first Boxing Day win since 2007. The Grecians, who suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Chesterfield on Friday night, look likely to recall influential playmaker Alan Gow and creative midfielder Matt Grimes, who both had to make do with substitute appearances against the League Two leaders. But Tisdale remains without captain Danny Coles, who has undergone a knee operation, and midfielder Matt Oakley, who is targeting a February return from his ankle injury. City lost both meetings against the Robins last season. Cheltenham will be without defender Steve Elliott for the visit of Exeter. The experienced centre-back has been ruled out for the Christmas period with an ankle injury which kept him out of their impressive 2-0 win over Fleetwood on Saturday. It means Connor Goldson looks likely to retain his place having made his first start last weekend since signing on loan from Shrewsbury. Mark Yates' squad, who will be given Christmas Day off in the build-up to kick-off, will include young midfielder Kemar Roofe after the West Brom loanee returned to training with his Robins team-mates on Monday.