Cheltenham Town entertain Leicester City this coming weekend. But don't worry Foxes fans, LCFC haven't dropped down to English Football League Two all of a sudden. The East Midlands side haven't been chosen for a mid-season relegation punishment. In all seriousness, the match is a Third Round FA Cup contest. As previously mentioned, two leagues separate the teams at present. Though if City carry on the way they are - there may only be one separating them next season!
However, the Robins are not enjoying a great campaign at EV Charger Points Stadium either. Cheltenham are currently 18th in EFL Two. Therefore the visitors to Gloucestershire will be massive favourites for the win. Although, if history tells us anything, sides from 'the bigger leagues' tend to rotate their best lineups somewhat for these early cup clashes. Yet that strategy would seemingly be very unwise from a Leicester supporter perspective.
City's Blue Army fan base will not want another repeat of the Huddersfield Town embarrassment from August. The Terriers (EFL One) knocked their Championship foe out of the League Cup (Carabao Cup) First Round in the summer of last year. If LCFC head coach Marti Cifuentes has any sense, he will deploy a stronger collective than some observers probably expect. Analysing that scenario is the aim of this very piece.
Cheltenham Town v Leicester City, FA Cup Third Round
Prediction
0-1 (after extra time).
FA Cup Kick-off time
Be ready for a 12:15pm start (UK time) on Saturday, January 10.
Television and streams
The action will be live on TNT Sports 7. Radio Times note that no national radio coverage is reported.
Injuries
City have many injury problems at the moment. First of all, recovering centre back Harry Souttar has now undergone surgery. Meanwhile a host of others are sidelined:
"You know about Aaron, but there’s nothing elseAssorted Leicester Mercury quotes
We are working to see if he [Boubakary Soumare] can be available for the Coventry game
City also have Victor Kristiansen on the sidelines after knee surgery, while Harry Winks and Wout Faes do not appear to be in contention for selection. "
Predicted XI
Stolarczyk; L.Thomas, Okoli, Vestergaard, Ricardo; Choudhury, Skipp; Monga, Page, Ayew; Daka.