Chris Beech says Carlisle United must win the tactical battle against an accomplished Cheltenham side tonight.

As the Blues aim to continue their recent good form, they face a promotion-chasing Robins side sitting seventh in the table.

Although Cheltenham have never won a league game at Brunton Park in 12 visits, head coach Beech says Michael Duff’s side are strong.

He said: “I think it’ll be a Plymouth-type performance from Cheltenham so we’ve got to be very wary of that.

“They use the full width of the pitch, they’ve got a good experienced operator [Luke Varney] up front with some good young energy around him, so we’ve got to make sure we get it right tactically, match them, then surpass them and get the three points.”

Beech could again be without the injured Joshua Kayode tonight, with Harry McKirdy and Stefan Scougall being assessed.

Cheltenham currently hold the final play-off place after emerging as surprise contenders this season.

Their challenge has been built on strong home form with a more mixed return on their travels.

They have not won in their last six away games, including Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Scunthorpe.

Fit-again frontman Reuben Reid is pushing for a start after returning as a sub against the Iron, while Tom Nichols and Max Sheaf are also trying to force their way into Duff's XI.

Cheltenham's only victory at Brunton Park came in the FA Cup in 1933.

Duff acknowledged that United have improved since Beech took charge.

The two men encountered each other at an event last week.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Duff said: "They [Carlisle] are unbeaten in five and they've lost four in 17 games, so they are much-improved from earlier in the season.

"They have some good footballers and a way of playing. They got a good result on Saturday.

"He's a good man, Chris. I was with him on Wednesday at an LMA event, which was quite weird because I sat and had lunch with him and I didn't want to give anything away!

"He has his way of playing, we have our way of playing.

"We might have to play the conditions because the forecast isn't great and it might not be a free-flowing spectacle, but we are in League Two and we are going to come across difficult pitches, teams that play a totally different way to the way other teams do."