CHELTENHAM Town boss Michael Duff says they will head to Rodney Parade with "total freedom" after securing promotion with two games to spare.

The Robins got the first job done by drawing with Carlisle at Whaddon Road to guarantee a spot in the top three.

However, celebrations didn't get out of hand on Tuesday evening with Cheltenham travelling to Newport County AFC with the aim of taking a step towards the title.

"The lads didn't go mad," said Duff to Gloucestershire Live. "They had a few drinks after the game like we said, it was only the local ones as most of them had to drive anyway.

"We will be training properly and we'll be trying to win the game. There is total freedom now.

"The anxiety which has been in the last couple of performances, which was understandable because they were on the edge of greatness as it's never been done at this football club [has gone].

"Now we can almost do what Carlisle did on Tuesday night. They had literally nothing to lose. The way they played, in the last 10 minutes particularly, they had five up front and why not?

"It doesn't matter if you lose Saturday, so we can go and play with that total freedom."

The draw against Carlisle earned Cheltenham a two-point lead over second-placed Cambridge going into the penultimate weekend.

Cheltenham Town manager Michael Duff celebrates after being promoted to League One at the end of the Sky Bet League Two match at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, Cheltenham. Picture date: Tuesday April 27, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Cheltenham. Photo

Cheltenham Town manager Michael Duff celebrates after being promoted to League One at the end of the Sky Bet League Two match at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, Cheltenham. Picture date: Tuesday April 27, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Cheltenham. Photo

"We have done the most important part and it's nice to look at the league table and see there is a 'P' next to our name," said Duff.

"Obviously you want the champions tag now. The players will want that as well. There was a bit of partying on Tuesday night, but it wasn't a 5 or 6 in the morning job, or anything like that.

"They can do that on May 8, when they hopefully have a medal around their neck. We did a deal with them two or three weeks ago, when we looked like we might be able to do it, but we didn't want to limp over the line or lose the last three games and nick it by two goals or something like that."

Cheltenham being fired-up is good news for Forest Green Rovers and Exeter, who are looking to break back into the top seven.

County need to avoid defeat if they are to stay in control of their push for the play-offs and Duff is full of admiration for Michael Flynn's side.

"They are a good team and they have been for two or three years," he said.

"They have been in and around it all season. They were top for a long time, they have the joint best home record, the fourth best defence in the league and something to play for.

"You are glad we got it done the other night as we wouldn't want to go into the game having to win. "We'll be going all out there. To chuck it in now would be pointless and stupid, there would be a lot of regret.

"We might not go up as champions. It might not happen, but don't let it be for lack of application, effort or professionalism. We'll be doing all we can against a very, very good team."

Top scorer Alfie May replaced George Lloyd in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Carlisle and will hope to start after being benched recently.

Will Boyle (knee) and Chris Clements (hamstring) will miss the final two games of the season.

Cheltenham triumphed 1-0 when they headed to Rodney Parade in the EFL Trophy in September.

Schoolboy Sonny Lewis, at 15, became the youngest County player in their history but the game was settled by a header from experienced forward Reuben Reid, who is now with Yeovil.

The spoils were shared in Cheltenham in January when Matty Blair cancelled out County 'keeper Tom King's freak opener from a goal-kick.