Duff takes positives from dour stalemate

NEW boss Michael Duff was encouraged by his Cheltenham Town side’s second-half performance as his reign started with a draw at home to Crewe.

The Robins are still yet to win at home in League Two, but former Burnley U23 coach Duff said there were plenty of positives as he bids to lead a club he spent eight years at as a player away from the lower reaches of the table.

“I thought the first half was scrappy, very scrappy to be brutally honest,” Duff said.

“In the second half we played a little bit more and there was a 20 or 25-minute spell when I don’t know how we didn’t score. We needed something to drop for us, but we were much the better side in the second half.

“We are disappointed not to win, but we’ll take the positives and it’s a point and a clean sheet.

“We need to add some quality into our play, but I want to see sweat on the shirt and nobody that came here today can leave saying we didn’t have a go.

“They just have to believe in themselves a little bit more now.”

Crewe boss David Artell was pleased with his side’s work rate, as they very nearly snatched three points and their first away goal of the season, during time added on at the end of the 90 minutes.

“I thought out of possession we were very good,” Artell said.

“They have hit a post and in the first half it was a good save from Ben Garratt. That was the only real chance.

“We defended really well and our shape was good, but when we won the ball back we just whacked it. The best chances of the whole game fell to us and right at the death we should have scored.”

Cheltenham keeper Scott Flinders saved well at the near post to deny Perry Ng in the 19th minute.

From the resulting corner Jordan Bowery placed a free header wide as Crewe threatened.

The closest Cheltenham were to opening the scoring was a shot by Kevin Dawson that Ben Garratt turned on to a post during time added on.

Broom forced Garratt into another save low to his left in the 52nd minute.

Cheltenham always looked the most likely to break the deadlock with Barnett seeing an effort cleared off the line and Kelsey Mooney heading a cross from Dawson inches wide.