Boss Duff delighted by Town’s comeback
CHELTENHAM Town boss Michael Duff was delighted by the character shown by his team after they battled back from conceding an early goal to win 2-1 at Walsall on Tuesday night.
Victory moved third-placed Cheltenham within two points of League Two leaders Cambridge, while Forest Green stayed one point ahead of the Robins with a 4-3 home win against Oldham.
Caolan Lavery put Walsall ahead early on before efforts from Sam Smith and Callum Wright turned things around prior to the break.
Duff said: “To be fair to their lad, it’s an unbelievable finish from where it is. A bit of sloppy play from us but you don’t expect goals like that at this level. It was a finish way above League Two. But the response was good and we dominated the first half and scored two good goals.
“To be fair to Walsall, they came out second half, changed their shape and we came out in protection mode. They were on top, then we changed our shape and that wrestled the momentum back.
“I can’t remember Josh (Griffiths) making a save. He’s come out and smothered one really well and they got a few knock downs, but really happy. They have lost as many games as we have this season so they have proved they are really tough to beat, so to go 1-0 down in the first five minutes and get the goals back and see it through was really pleasing.”
Duff was equally pleased to see Smith and Wright score on their full debuts.
He said: “Callum will learn a lot from that and I thought he’d learn a lot from watching the Harrogate game because it’s almost a different sport to what he’s used to. We saw what he can do with the ball. We think he can land on things, which he did with the goal. He still has to learn the other side of the game.
“Sam did what we want him to do: be a threat in behind, hold it up, he is a good finisher and a threat in the air.
“In the last 10 or 15 minutes he was starting to blow and he’s not had a lot of football. But really pleasing.”
Forest Green continued their push for automatic promotion from League Two as Josh Davison’s header earned them a 4-3 home win over Oldham.
Rovers were 2-1 up at half-time after a brace from Baily Cargill and Bobby Grant’s reply for the Latics.
A flurry of goals then followed after the break, with Conor McAleny equalising in the 54th minute, Jamille Matt putting the hosts back in front on the hourmark, McAleny levelling again three minutes later and Davison then heading what proved the winner four minutes after that.