Belief is back as Robins impress to end long wait for a home win JON PALMER looks back on Saturday’s superb 2-1 win over high-flying Newport
Aremarkable transformation
IT has been a long time coming, but Cheltenham Town’s first home league win since April 7 was so impressive, it was almost worth the seven month wait.
With confidence coursing through the team after their recent improvement, Michael Duff’s side opened up a two goal lead during an outstanding first half performance that took their resurgent form to a new level.
A week earlier they had dismantled a poor Notts County side 3-0 at Meadow Lane to move out of the bottom two on goal difference.
On this occasion, they made a good Newport County team look ordinary for an hour, with Will Boyle and Tyrone Barnett on target before the break.
Willed on by 936 travelling fans, the Welsh club threw everything at their hosts in the closing stages, missing a penalty and then pulling one back to set up a tense finish.
But the Robins held on to make it four victories in a row in all competitions. Michael Duff ’s men are unbeaten in seven and have conceded just one goal in five games.
Duff, who may be one of the most grounded individuals ever to play in the Premier League and internationally, will ensure his team remain fully focused on pulling away from the bottom of the table.
But their transformation since the 2-0 home defeat by Stevenage on October 27 has been nothing short of remarkable.
Newport’s change of formation a major compliment
MIKE Flynn has done a superb job since taking over at Newport in March 2017, with 3-5-2 his preferred shape throughout that period.
But Cheltenham’s recent success using the same formation prompted Flynn to switch to 4-3-3 at the Jonnyrocks Stadium, paying their hosts a major compliment in the process.
Cheltenham dominated the middle of the pitch during the first 45 minutes, with Nigel Atangana one of many impressive performers and a pass fro the Frenchman which set Ryan Broom free on the right must go down as one of the best seen from a Robins player this season.
Wing-backs Broom and Chris Hussey had plenty of freedom on the flanks and Newport-born Broom’s cross led to Boyle’s headed opener in the 18th minute, the defender’s fifth of the campaign.
Hussey then saw a shot fumbled by goalkeeper Joe Day, allowing Barnett to score for the third match running a minute before the break.
Flynn admitted after the match that his tactics from the start were wrong and he made a double substitution at half-time, reverting to his more accustomed back three, but by then the damage had been done.
Ben Tozer’s penalty mind games pay off
WHEN Boyle tripped Mickey Demetriou in the penalty area, Newport were handed a chance to pull a goal back with four minutes plus stoppage time left to be played.
Former Newport favourite Tozer, who turned down the offer of a new deal to join Cheltenham on a two year contract in the summer, had a word with his goalkeeper Scott Flinders as Demetriou prepared to take his spot kick.
Flinders dived to his right and the Newport captain’s penalty flew wide of the goalkeeper’s left post, but Tozer may well have unsettled his former team mate and planted a seed of doubt.
The miss was costly and while Newport did find a breakthrough in the 89th minute, with Bristol City loanee
»
»
»
»
Antoine Semenyo finishing well after good work from ex-robins loanee David Pipe on the right, it was too little too late.
Cheltenham survived four added minutes of tension to register their first ever home Football League win over Newport, with Tozer playing a major part in the Exiles’ downfall with another accomplished display in the middle of the back three, well supported by Boyle and Jordon Forster.
Cheltenham can approach their tough FA Cup date with genuine belief UNTIL recently, any match Cheltenham approached looked daunting, but now they suddenly look capable of giving anyone a game.
A combination of improved fitness levels, renewed confidence and a formation that has seemingly benefited every player mean they can go into their next two away trips to the north west with a genuine belief they can claim another scalp or two.
FA Cup second round opponents on Saturday Accrington Stanley, meanwhile, lie in the lofty position of 10th, 19 games into their first ever campaign in the third tier.
Cheltenham will still do extremely well to emerge from Saturday’s game with their FA Cup hopes intact, but based on recent events they have a fighting chance.
The pack are now within touching distance
GOING into their match at Notts County, Cheltenham were in danger of being cast adrift at the bottom, but back-to-back League Two wins for the first time since last September means they are well placed to begin a climb up the table.
Notts County are likely to get their act together under newly-appointed boss Neal Ardley, while bottom club Macclesfield Town picked up only their second win of the season against Yeovil Town on Saturday, with Sol Campbell thought to be in talks to become their next manager.
There is still plenty of work to be done to ensure Cheltenham remain a Football League club beyond the end of this season.
But more performances as spirited and assured as Saturday’s should allow to look up rather than nervously over their shoulder in the coming months.
»