Cheltenham Town vs Leicester City prediction, H2H and probable lineups - 10 January 2026
Cheltenham
One of the standout fixtures of the FA Cup third round takes place on Saturday at Whaddon Road in Cheltenham, where the local side hosts Leicester City. Let’s break down this clash and look at a betting angle, factoring in the gulf in class and the cup pedigree of both teams.
Match preview
Steve Cotterill’s side are enduring another "bottom-half" campaign in League Two, but their FA Cup form has been spirited. Following a confident 3-0 victory over Crawley Town and convincing performances against Bradford and Buxton, the club is eager to extend their unbeaten home streak in the competition.
However, the January transfer window has taken a toll on the Robins’ attacking options: top scorer Isaac Hutchinson has been recalled from his loan, while Hakeeb Adelakun has left the club. This could hamper Cheltenham’s ability to challenge a higher-tier opponent.
The Foxes, meanwhile, are pushing for a Premier League return, mixing strong wins with occasional stumbles. Their last-gasp victory over West Bromwich was a timely psychological boost, especially amid rumors of possible sanctions looming over the club.
Despite some absences, Leicester still boast significant squad depth and the ability to rotate. Their away form has been inconsistent lately, but facing a fourth-tier side, the visitors will be highly motivated to advance—especially with memories of their 2020/21 FA Cup triumph still fresh.
Probable lineups
- Cheltenham: Day, Tomkinson, Cundy, Wilson, Stevenson, Jude-Boyd, Young, Kinsella, Thomas, Bickerstaff, Miller
- Leicester City: Begović, Pereira, Vestergaard, Nelson, L. Thomas, James, Skipp, S. Thomas, Page, Mavididi, Daka
Match facts and head-to-head
- The teams last met in a 2019 friendly, with Leicester winning 2-1.
- Cheltenham are unbeaten in their last six official home matches.
- Leicester have scored at least two goals in three of their last five away games across all competitions.
Prediction
Cheltenham will show plenty of fight, but injuries and the clear gap in quality hand the visitors a major advantage. Expect Leicester to make their attacking superiority count and progress to the next round without much drama.
