TOWN boss Peter Jackson wants his team to sign off before a fortnight's break by going for goals and shutting up shop against Cheltenham at the McAlpine tomorrow (3.00).

Elimination from the FA Cup means Town, 10th in the Third Division, don't have another match until they visit Macclesfield on Saturday, December 13.

That marks the start of a busy festive schedule, and Jackson is desperate his side go into that crucial set of fixtures on the back of an eighth straight home win.

The Cotswolds club - now under the managership of John Ward after the departure of Bobby Gould, who was in charge when they drew 3-3 at the McAlpine in February - have lost their last five away games, at Bristol Rovers, Scunthorpe, Boston, Mansfield and Torquay, and are down in 18th place in the table.

But with the bookies offering 4/1 on a Cheltenham win, Jackson, determined to tighten up a team which has leaked late goals in the last three matches, has warned against complacency.

"People will look at the respective home and away records and assume it's a foregone conclusion," said Jackson, who recalls striker Andy Booth (hamstring), midfield duo Chris Holland (ankle) and Andy Holdsworth (back) and defender Steve Yates (suspension) to his squad.

"That's far from the case because if our attitude isn't spot-on, we'll get punished.

"John Ward is an experienced manager who will have got his side well organised and working hard, and I'm looking for a repeat of the way we battled, ran and harried against Hull a fortnight ago."

With midfielder Jon Worthington starting a three-match ban, Jackson has to make at least one change, and seems certain to bring back experienced striker Andy Booth, who missed last week's 3-3 draw at Mansfield with a hamstring strain.

Both managers have the chance to recall experienced left-backs - Town skipper Rob Edwards and Cheltenham stalwart Jamie Victory - while Jackson could also select experienced centre-back Steve Yates, who is available after a three-match ban and, like Edwards, had a solid work-out at Harrogate Town on Tuesday.

TEAMS

Town (from): Senior, Brown, Lloyd, Edwards, Hughes, Clarke, Yates, Scott, Fowler, Sodje, Carss, Schofield, Mattis, Holdsworth, Holland, Stead, Booth, Onibuje, Martin.

Cheltenham (from): Higgs, Bird, Brough, Victory, Duff (M), Duff (S), McCann, Devaney, Yates, Howells, Finnigan, Taylor, Spencer, Fyfe, Grifin, Brayson, Jones, Book.

Referee: Mike Pike (Cumbria).

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