False dawns?

COMING back from Luton a fortnight ago, all seemed rosy in the Cheltenham Town garden.

We’d seen a vibrant away performance, full of resilience, commitment and determination capped off with a much-needed victory.

The new signings were bedding in nicely it seemed, and this was the start of the upturn.

But it seems to have been a false dawn.

We’ve had a few of those this season - performances where we think the penny has dropped, everything has clicked and we are on our way.

The Crewe cup replay was one -  that was followed by a good display against Portsmouth but then a flat showing against a ridiculously out-of-form Colchester.

And that has been the story - one of inconsistency and an inability to string a series of performances together and to get a run of wins to put breathing space between us and the trap door.

Tuesday’s game at Stevenage followed a worrying pattern away from home - with that Luton win being the exception.

Cambridge, Hartlepool, Yeovil and Notts County all spring to mind as away performances where we have rolled over far too easily.

At Broadhall Way, things started brightly - then the penalty award affected us badly and we retreated into our shells allowing Stevenage to wrest the initiative.

A poor second goal conceded after half-time - again from a set-piece which is becoming an ever-more worrying trend -  left us a mountain to climb.

Even the red card for Charlie Lee failed to help as we failed to take advantage - it was too easy for Stevenage to set their two banks of four up and keep us at bay.

Kyle Wootton’s goal should have signalled a bombardment for the last 10 minutes, but it never materialised and so it was another miserable away day.

It was made worse by two late goals apiece for Notts County and Leyton Orient - but we can’t go desperately hoping for favours from others.

We are in charge of our own destiny, and it’s looking like a mini-league of six with fourth place of higher the aim.

Saturday’s home game against Yeovil is followed by a massive game at Leyton Orient, and points on the board are crucial now.

Gary Johnson has called for the players to do more - and they need to, but he also needs to look at himself.

The travelling fans’ reaction to Billy Waters’ withdrawal on Tuesday was stark.

Yes, Billy didn’t have the greatest game, but is he being played to his strengths?

Is our 12-goal leading scorer and fox-in-the-box poacher being best used when he plays out on the right - and was it the right decision to take him off when you need a goal and are chasing the game?

Nothing against James Dayton - another player I feel has been under-used lately – but the answer has to be no.

Waters  needs to go back up front with Wootton, who has worked hard with little support in the last few games, and got two goals from half-chances and his own anticipation.

Carl Winchester has shown he has good ability on the ball, but needs to stay in a central role so he can affect the game - but I feel our midfield needs some steel in it.

In those away defeats especially, teams have been able to break on us too easily and quickly and a Kyle Storer or Asa Hall type sat in front of the back four could be the way forward to break things up and free Winchester and Harry Pell to drive us forward.

Jordan Cranston’s two-match ban will allow Liam Davis free rein down the left hand side.

He looks a class act and has the ability to deliver dangerous crosses and decent set-pieces.

On the other side, Jack Barthram needs to play.

He was outstanding at Luton but was benched at Notts County and out of the 18 at Stevenage - a strange decision as I feel he gives a different dimension going forward and offers that width down the right.

He and Davis are our best wing-back options if we are going to use the 3-5-2 system, which has brought us the most success this season and is, I feel, the way to go from now.

My side for Saturday: Brown; Onariase, Boyle, O’Shaughnessy; Barthram, Storer/Hall, Pell, Winchester, Davis; Waters, Wootton.