Varney’s passion is powering the Robins

CHELTENHAM boss Michael Duff says veteran striker Luke Varney’s “love for the game” is rubbing off on the club’s youngsters after victory at at Walsall moved the Robins up to fifth in League Two.

The 37-year-old drilled home just before the hour mark after Josh Gordon’s penalty had cancelled out Ben Tozer’s firsthalf opener for the visitors.

And Varney was unlucky not to claim a hat-trick, seeing a header disallowed for offside and having two other efforts superbly saved.

Duff said: “People who watch him in training know he’s still a kid. He’s not doing it for money, he’s not doing it because he thinks he can get back to the Premier League.

“He’s doing it for pure love of the game. It’s brilliant because you get the younger ones ask ‘Why do I have to do this? Why do I have to do that?’.

“Well, have a look at him because he’s 37 and he’s scored in front of the Kop, and he’s doing it. He harnesses what we are all about really.”

Varney almost opened the scoring inside 20 minutes but his near-post header from Sean Long’s cross was foiled by Saddlers keeper Liam Roberts. Walsall should have led after 31 minutes, when Robins stopper Scott Flinders fumbled a routine ball, but Gordon steered wide of an open goal.

At the other end, Roberts was punished after 35 minutes when he fumbled a corner and Cheltenham skipper Tozer pounced to fire the visitors ahead.

Walsall levelled after 52 minutes when Gordon slotted home his first goal of the season from the penalty spot after being fouled by Chris Hussey.

But Varney collected Gavin Reilly’s pass to fire a 58th-minute winner past Roberts.

And the Cheltenham frontman later saw a header ruled out for offside as Walsall, in 19th, suffered a third straight defeat. The Saddlers sit 19th, having taken just five points from 21 at home and boss Darrell Clarke fumed: “It was not good enough. There’s a fear factor at home at the minute and I understand that.

“I don’t blame my fans for that, I blame myself because the mentality of the players is something I touch on all the time.

“We’re killing ourselves and the mentality of the players that I’ve brought into the club has to be a lot better.”