Cheltenham vs Macclesfield preview
Friday 25 January 2019 11:21, UK
Cheltenham boss Michael Duff is checking on the availability of a number of players ahead of the Sky Best League Two clash with Macclesfield.
Sean Long, Nigel Atangana and Manny Duku missed the 2-0 defeat at Carlisle because of injury and will be given fitness tests. Club captain Johnny Mullins was an unused substitute against Carlisle and, having now fully recovered from injury, could be ready for some game time.
Sol Campbell's Macclesfield are negotiating a grim period on the injury front. Elliott Durrell and James Pearson have undergone surgery on the knee problems sustained over the Christmas period and will not return until next month.
Ben Stephens and Ryan Lloyd are also missing as they continue to recover from ankle issues. Rhys Taylor (hip and groin) and Danny Whitaker (back and hip) remain in the treatment room and will not return in the short term.
Opta stats
Cheltenham have only won one of their last four home games against Macclesfield in League Two (D1 L2), although that was their last such encounter in September 2011 (2-0).
Macclesfield have won just one of their last five games versus Cheltenham in League Two (D1 L3), a 1-0 win in April 2011 thanks to a Tyrone Barnett winner - who now plays for Cheltenham.
Cheltenham have won three of their last five home games in League Two (D1 L1), as many as their previous 23 combined.
Since Sol Campbell took charge of his first League Two game with Macclesfield in December, the Silkmen have picked up 14 points from nine games (W4 D2 L3), one more than they had in their opening 20 matches of the season before his arrival (13 points - W3 D4 L13).
Scott Wilson has scored five of Macclesfield's last nine league goals, including two of their last three.
