Former Cheltenham Town favourite Steven Gillespie insists his old club will soon pull clear of relegation trouble.

Gillespie, who left Whaddon Road for Colchester United in a £400,000 deal last summer, scored on his first appearance against his former employers to condemn them to a 3-1 defeat in Essex on Saturday.

The reverse saw Cheltenham slip to second-from-bottom of the League One table but Gillespie believes his old team-mates showed enough to suggest they will win their fight for survival for a third successive season.

He said: "I spoke to a few of the lads after the game and they are still in decent spirits even though they got beaten.

"The team has changed a bit in the short time since I left but the lads who are still there are good players and I think they have got enough to put a little run together and get out of trouble again.

"It was pretty much the same in the time I was at the club. It was a case of fighting relegation and we managed to survive in the last two seasons.

"There are a few old heads that have been there and done it so I think that will hold them in good stead."

Robins' manager Martin Allen also believes his side are good enough to get out of their current predicament and he added: "I've got full confidence in these players who've been playing with great commitment and trying to pass the ball about the pitch. We're a decent side and we showed that against a team that have been on a great run."

Meanwhile, Allen is facing up to a crippling player shortage ahead of tomorrow night's FA Cup third-round replay at Doncaster Rovers.

Recent loan signings Chris Westwood, who scored Cheltenham's goal at Colchester, Lewis Montrose and Nicholas Bignall were all handed debuts on Saturday but are ineligible to play at the Keepmoat Stadium.

John Finnigan will also miss out after picking up a one-game ban following a sending-off at Colchester for two bookable offences just six minutes after coming on as a substitute. Paul Connor is also doubtful with a hamstring injury that saw him replaced after 15 minutes.

"John can't play and Paul is doubtful so we are down to 12 fully fit professionals," said Allen. "There isn't much we can do about that and I have full confidence in whatever team I pick to face Doncaster."

Allen is still hopeful of adding a new face to his squad ahead of next Saturday's match. Cheltenham will play either Brighton or Premier League giants Aston Villa at Whaddon Road depending on the outcome of tomorrow night's clash.

"I'm still trying to bring an extra player," Allen confirmed. "When you want good players it's hard to get them and there are other clubs interested as well."