Match-winners earn praise from boss Duff
MICHAEL Duff was delighted with the way his Cheltenham players went about their business to win at Scunthorpe in League Two.
Sam Smith and Callum Wright scored first-half goals as the Robins maintained their third position in the standings, one point behind Gloucestershire rivals Forest Green and two behind Cambridge at the summit with two games in hand.
Robins boss said: “I’m really pleased. I thought that it was a very professional, clinical performance.
“We got the two goals fairly early and in the second half we were quite prepared to sit in and see the game out. We could have had a few more moments regarding freeflowing football, but then you look at some our away performances this year when we’ve gone to teams and absolutely played them off the park but not won.
“We are at the stage of the season when it’s more about mentality. In the last ten minutes we were as comfortable as you can be in this League with a 2-0 lead. For all their possession, they didn’t really knock on the door.”
Asked about the contribution of loan players Smith and Wright, Duff added: “We are happy with them, and Indy (Vassilev) has been unlucky because Alfie (May) has been in such good form. Callum we thought was a goal-scoring
SCUNTHORPE UNITED ... 0 CHELTENHAM TOWN ..... 2
midfielder and he’s proved to be that, even if he doesn’t score a goal for the rest of the season.
“He has a good habit of landing on things and arriving in the box at the right time and he’s a good footballer as well.
“Sam is a different animal, a lot more experienced in terms of games. His physicality is what we wanted and another player who can hold the ball up. He was excellent, holding it up, running in behind, good value for his goal.”
Smith fired in on the half-volley midway through the first half, with a poacher’s finish from Wright shortly before the break securing the points and allowing the Robins to sit back and soak up pressure.
The Iron were not without their chances, and in the 67th minute visiting goalkeeper Joshua Griffiths pushed away a free-kick from Kevin van Veen.
Scunthorpe: Howard, Clarke, McGahey, Taft (Onariase 6), O’Malley, Gilliead, Spence, Karacan (Beestin 61), Green, Van Veen (Hallam 77), Loft (Eisa 46). Not Used: Watson, Brown, Rowe. Cheltenham: Griffiths, Raglan, Tozer, Long, Blair, Wright (Vassilev 65), Thomas, Azaz, Hussey, Smith (Williams 79), May (Lloyd 65). Not Used: Flinders, Freestone, Horton, Chamberlain.
Booked: Thomas.
Goals: Smith 25, Wright 41.
Referee: Chris Pollard (Suffolk).