Last updated at 13:37, Wednesday 23rd May 2012

Robins could revert to hold firm

Mike Holden

Mark Yates threw caution to the wind with his tactics in the first leg of the League Two semi-final against Torquay and reaped the rewards by securing a two-goal advantage in an entertaining encounter at Whaddon Road on Sunday.

But now we should expect the Cheltenham boss to revert to the system that has served him so well on the road and stake our claim with a bet on under 1.5 goals in the return at Plainmoor on Thursday, an outcome that would see the Robins progress.

In dropping regular starter Russell Penn to accommodate an extra forward in adventurous 4-4-2 formation, Yates caught his opposite number Martin Ling slightly unawares and though Cheltenham had to survive a few scares as the Gulls found gaps early on, it was a move that ultimately paid big dividends.

Goals from Jermaine McGlashan and Ben Burgess did the damage either side of half-time, with McGlashan turning provider with a pinpoint cross from the right flank for the second, and that's full credit to Yates because neither player would have been guaranteed to start had he stuck with the usual system.

Back under 1.5 goals Torquay v Cheltenham at 12/5

However, it's the flexible 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation that is much better suited to the job now facing Town as they attempt to close out the deal in Devon and Penn should be in line for a recall alongside Luke Summerfield and Marlon Pack as a solid central midfield three.

And the visitors' job will doubtless be made easier by the absence of Torquay player-of-the-year Rene Howe, who limped off with a hamstring injury after 20 minutes at Whaddon Road. Taiwo Atieno is almost certain to step in for the 14-goal top scorer.

Throw in a possible return for the impressive Everton loanee Luke Garbutt at the centre of defence for Cheltenham and the positive-negative ratio stacks up firmly in favour of the Robins.

Ling is promising a controlled and patient performance from the Gulls and assuming that he's not calling our bluff, it's an approach that would play firmly into our hands with this bet.

Back under 1.5 goals Torquay v Cheltenham at 12/5