Robins have total freedom, believes Duff

HAVING seen his Cheltenham side earn promotion in midweek, Robins manager Michael Duff believes that a more relaxed set of players can go on and win the Sky Bet League Two title.

Victories at Newport today and at home to Harrogate next week will secure the fourth-tier crown for the Gloucestershire side, and matters could even be sewn up today depending on the result of Cambridge’s match at Harrogate last night, which concluded after the Daily Press deadline.

Cheltenham face a difficult task at Newport this afternoon, though, with the Exiles lying sixth in a tight race to reach the play-offs.

Robins chief Duff said: “We’ll be trying to win the game. There is total freedom now.

“The anxiety which has been in the last couple of performances, understandably, because they were on the edge of greatness as it (automatic promotion in the EFL) has never been done at this club.

“Now we can almost do what Carlisle did (against Cheltenham) on Tuesday. They had literally nothing to lose.

“The way they played, in the last ten minutes particularly, they had five up front and why not?

“Now we can go and play with that total freedom.

“The only pressure there is, is to try to win the League.

“We have done the important part, and it’s nice to look at the League table and see there is a ‘P’ next to our name.

“Obviously, you want that champions tag now, and the players will want that as well.”

As well as furthering their title aspirations, Cheltenham could also help out county rivals Forest Green by beating one of their play-off rivals.

Duff added: “We are chasing the title here, so we don’t need to be helping other people out, we need to help ourselves out.

“Newport are a good team and they have been for two or three years. They had a disappointing year last year, but they have been in and around it all season.

“They were top for a long time, they have the joint-best home record, the fourth-best defence in the League and they have got something to play for.

“We’re glad we got it done the other night as we wouldn’t want to go into this game having to win. We’ll be going all out there, though, we’ll be doing all we can against a very, very good team.”

■ Elsewhere today, relegated Swindon host Ipswich in Sky Bet League One, while Yeovil play away to Wealdstone in the National League.