James Heneghan's Cheltenham Town v Northampton Town preview

Date/time: Monday, June 22, 8pm kick-off

Venue: Whaddon Road

Forecast: 19C, sunny

Outs and doubts: Cheltenham: Scott Flinders, Luke Varney. Northampton: Shaun McWilliams

Betting: Cheltenham 7/5, draw 11/5, Northampton 21/10

Form guide: Robins WDWWWW, Cobblers LLWLWL

Possible line-ups: Cheltenham: Evans, Raglan, Tozer, Boyle, Long, Broom, Thomas, Doyle-Hayes, Hussey, Reid, Nichols. Northampton: Arnold, Goode, Turnbull, Wharton, Hoskins, Adams, McCormack, Watson, Olayinka, Smith, Morton

Man in the middle: Leigh Doughty

Last time out: Northampton 0 Cheltenham 2 (Raglan, Thomas)

Most recent meeting: Thursday, June 18, 2020 - Northampton 0 Cheltenham 2 (Raglan, Thomas)

Record v Cheltenham: P35 W11 D9 L15

James Heneghan's preview: It's common for football fans to think their team always does things the hard way but if the Cobblers somehow pull off a spectacular comeback and overcome Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road this evening, they will claim that crown once and for all.

Recovering from a two-goal deficit away at a team who haven't conceded three goals in a league game since April 2019 - you have to go back a further three months since they did it at home - looks a tall, almost impossible order, but strange things can happen in play-off fixtures.

For inspiration, the Cobblers only need look at their own history. They famously came from two goals down against Bristol Rovers in 1998 and would have done so again six years later, this time against Mansfield Town, if not for some controversial refereeing.

So it can be done but much will hinge on the first goal. If Cobblers score it, it's game on and nerves might begin to jangle among the non-existent home crowd. But if Cheltenham get ahead, it could be a long and frustrating evening.

Town boss Keith Curle will at least be able to call upon top scorer and one of his mainstays of the team this season in Sam Hoskins, who was suspended for the first leg following his red card against Mansfield in the last game prior to lockdown.

Hoskins could slot in at wing-back or up front and Curle could also freshen things up elsewhere following the quick turnaround, with Paul Anderson, Harry Smith, Andy Williams and Mark Marshall among those hoping for a start.

The new normal felt a bit too familiar for the Cobblers last Thursday when their poor form before lockdown continued with a seventh defeat in nine. If Curle's men are to reach Wembley and keep the promotion team alive, they will have to snap that run in spectacular style this evening.

Prediction: Cheltenham 1 Northampton Town 1