Cheltenham v Southend preview

Team news for Saturday's League Two clash between Cheltenham Town and Southend at Whaddon Road.

Cheltenham will be without the suspended Darryl Duffy for the match this weekend. Duffy was sent off for two bookable offences during the Robins' 4-2 FA Cup win at Luton last weekend and serves a one-match ban. The Scot has led the line for Cheltenham of late, and his ban will give an opportunity for one of Jeff Goulding, James Spencer or Marlon Jackson to impress in the lone central forward role. Spencer, on loan from Huddersfield, said he and his team-mates are confident they can continue the sensational form which has seen them rise to third spot in the league table. "In football you've always got to have that belief that you can go out and win every game," he said. "We know we've got good players at the club so we have to keep pushing on." Other than Duffy, manager Mark Yates has no injury or suspension concerns ahead of the fixture. Meanwhile, Mark Phillips and Michael Timlin return to a Southend squad which has been hit with a virus. Centre-back Phillips and midfielder Timlin served one-match suspensions and missed Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern section semi-final exit to Swindon, a defeat which ended the Shrimpers' record-equalling 17-match unbeaten run. The league leaders will be looking to get back to winnings ways at Whaddon Road, but it will not be easy against a Robins side who are only two places and four points below them in the table. Manager Paul Sturrock has had to send a couple of unnamed players home from training due to throat infections, but is hoping they clear up prior to the weekend. As well as Phillips and Timlin, midfielder Jean-Paul Kalala and striker Liam Dickinson will also hope to be recalled to Sturrock's starting XI having been rested to the bench in midweek. Winger Jemal Johnson remains suspended pending an internal investigation into his off-field behaviour, while striker Barry Corr and midfielder Harry Crawford (both knee) are long-term absentees.