DUFF SO KEEN TO SEE THE CROWDS RETURN

CHELTENHAM Town boss Michael Duff believes matches behind closed doors lack the intensity of games in front of crowds, but thinks the players are getting more used to performing in empty stadiums.

The Robins have won their last two League Two matches on the road – at Leyton Orient and Tranmere – and now return to their own Jonny-Rocks Stadium to host Crawley.

Asked whether he thought games behind closed doors had the same level of intensity as those with fans present, the Cheltenham boss said: “Probably not, and it is hard to recreate (the intensity).

“Last week we won 2-0 away from home and it almost felt flat. If there was a crowd, they’d have been getting onto their players and you can feed off that, or feed off positive energy on the flip side.

“I do think the players are getting used to it. I think the intensity has been there in the Trophy games, so maybe that the players are getting used to playing behind closed doors. We’ve tried to treat every game like an intensive training session.

“Hopefully we do get fans in quickly because we need them back and the players want them back, of course. They are the lifeblood of football and it is soulless. It isn’t the same. From a financial standpoint too, it is killing football.”

Having followed their openingday win at Bolton with three draws in a row, Forest Green Rovers journey to Scunthorpe this afternoon.

Head coach Mark Cooper said: “We have to maintain the performance level, but make sure we’re a bit more ruthless in front of goal. If we do that, we’ll win a lot of games.

“Scunthorpe have recruited quite young, so they’ll have a lot of energy. We know it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re playing well.

“We have to make sure we play we do all the basics right. If we stick to what we do, and try to get the first goal then we’ll be okay.”

While the Iron have lost two games thus far, they can jump above Forest Green with a victory.