Back up win, urges Robins boss Clarke

DARRELL Clarke says Cheltenham Town must try to follow up their Good Friday victory at Fleetwood with another positive result at home to Exeter City this afternoon,

Aidan Keena, below, ended a 327-day goal drought to earn the Robins all three points in the North West after teammate Liam Sercombe had seen his opener cancelled out by Ryan Graydon.

Clarke said: “(Friday) was a massive game and it’s a big three points for us, so we’ll try to back that up on Monday now.”

Cheltenham remained 22nd and in the relegation zone despite their Good Friday triumph, but could be above the safety line by tonight if they can defeat Exeter and other results go their way.

The manager added: “We knew it was a big game (at Fleetwood). They are all big games now and we have eight big games left.”

On his Good Friday goalscorers Clarke continued: “(Sercombe) has that quality in the final third to produce that bit of magic.

“A great finish and he’s done it all his career. He’s our top scorer on nine goals as well. Massive credit to Liam.

“I am delighted for Keeno as well. His performance was very good, aside from the goal, but the goal will give him a lot of confidence and hopefully moving forward he’ll kick on.

“For me, it’s about the lad’s attitude and how he goes about it. He is a great character in the changing rooms. He has a lot of bad banter, but he is working very hard to improve his game.

“That’s all you can ask from your players, showing that great commitment and desire and when you work hard and play well you get those opportunities to be able to score.

“It was a nice bit of play, with a great little ball from Joe Nuttall, who is getting fitter and stronger by the day, which is good because we are going to need him with the injuries to our centre forwards.”

Bristol Rovers could have given their West neighbours a helping hand on Good Friday, but they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at lowly Port Vale.

Today they host Shrewsbury – another side that Cheltenham could do without adding three points to their total.

Rovers themselves are 14 points off the play-off places and 11 clear of the drop zone, and their season appears to be rapidly tailing off into nothing.

After the defeat at Vale Park, Rovers defender Connor Taylor admitted: “We’ve got to be better all over the park.”