No disgrace as Robins go down fighting in Millwall cup defeat
gloslivesport@reachplc.com
MANAGER Michael Duff described his team’s performance as ‘excellent’ as Cheltenham Town’s interest in this season’s Carabao Cup was ended at the second round stage by Millwall, who ran out 3-1 winners at The Den.
The Championship team led 1-0 at half-time thanks to Ryan Leonard’s drive in the 19th minute and Cheltenham threatened just before half-time with Alfie May seeing one effort flash just wide and another disallowed for a marginal offside after Reuben Reid’s pass.
Any hopes of an upset were extinguished early in the second period when Connor Mahoney made it 2-0 in the 49th minute.
Half-time substitute Finn Azaz saw an effort charged down in the box for Cheltenham, but former Robins youngster Matt Smith added the third for Millwall in the 63rd minute, finishing from close range after Shane Ferguson’s pass.
There was some consolation for the Robins in the 69th minute as Azaz crashed in a shot from outside the box for the first goal of his professional career.
“We were in no way disgraced tonight... I thought we were excellent,” said Duff.
“The only difference was in the two boxes. I can’t remember Josh (Griffiths) making a save.
“They have scored with the three chances they had. We had loads of good opportunities and that’s probably the only difference in the levels, but I’d take that performance any day of the week.
“We have to show that belief. We have come away from Peterborough and put in a really good performance, we have come to a Championship club and put in a really good performance.
“We played half an hour on Saturday with a really good performance. Don’t come off it. You have to have that underdog spirit and be at it all the time.
“The first goal is from a diagonal, their lad sees it quicker than our lads, lands on it and has the quality to hit it from outside the box. Real fine margins and that’s what happens when you go up levels.
“I’d like to see the possession and shot stats and Alex (Addai) could have been slipped in two or three times, but just couldn’t find the right weight of pass. They changed their shape at the end to see the game out.
“We were 3-0 down with half an hour left, but we didn’t stop. That’s what I was really pleased with, the mentality of the group. All in all, it sounds a bit stupid when you’ve just been beaten, but I am absolutely delighted.”
West Brom loanee Azaz came on at half-time and scored the goal in a bright performance.
“He showed what we brought him in for,” said Duff. “He could have scored on Saturday and could have had an assist with Willo’s (Andy Williams) chance on Saturday.
“He came on and scored today and could have had another one. We believe he’s a good footballer, but it’s a lot to ask him to play 46 League games.
“The mentality, he is already learning after 10 days of the season, how we want to play and certain things we are asking him to do differently.
“It was his first goal in men’s football as well so he’ll remember this night for a long time.”
Former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe was at the game, and Duff said he was impressed with Cheltenham.
“I’ve just been chatting with him and he was very complimentary,” said Duff. “He said we looked really good.”
I’d take that performance any day of the week Michael Duff