Johnson is totally nuts about nifty Nigel
GARY Johnson praised midfielder Nigel Atangana for his sparkling display in Cheltenham’s win at Barnet.
The goals came from Kevin Dawson and Carl Winchester in the first half.
But it was Atangana, making his first League Two for three months, who helped inspire the Robins to a second away victory of the campaign and first ever away win over the Bees in the EFL.
“Nigel had a super game and I thought he was fantastic,” Johnson said.
“He’s had an up and down season with injuries and he lost some of his confidence.
“I had to wait until he trained well and until I saw him as part of the group again, getting involved in training and with the lads.
“He’s a bit of a loner at times but he is a lovely lad and he was one of our men of the match.”
Cheltenham dominated the first half at the Hive, with Jamie Grimes seeing a header cleared off the line by Andre Blackman in the eighth minute after a corner from Joe Morrell.
Will Boyle was denied by Jamie Stephens’ diving save but Dawson popped up at the far post to turn in the opener in the 32nd minute after good work from Mo Eisa.
Winchester added the second six minutes later, weaving into the box and effectively playing a one-two with a Bees defender before finishing well inside the far post.
Barnet were booed off at the break, with boss Mark McGhee reacting to some of the criticism coming from the stands.
His side improved marginally after halftime but they failed to force Cheltenham goalkeeper Scott Flinders into a meaningful save while Grimes made an important block to deny Shaquile Coulthirst in the 51st minute. McGhee admitted his side were beaten by a better team on the day.
“Cheltenham’s strikers were lively and as a team, they were big and strong but played when they could,” he said.
“Was our performance that much different to last week (a 2-1 win over Morecambe)? Maybe it wasn’t but we got away with things then.
“We have to learn lessons from Cheltenham and pass it a bit more.
“I expect more from my strikers, who didn’t give us a lot, and in midfield, we were outrun and outfought most of the game.
“In the second half, we were a lot better but we were beaten by a far better team.
“Overall, we weren’t aggressive enough and we have some work to do because that was disappointing.”