We cannot rely on help from others, insists Duff

MICHAEL Duff insists that Cheltenham Town cannot rely on other teams to help them in their quest to win promotion from League Two this season.

With the top three promoted to League One, the Robins are two points behind leaders Cambridge, two points ahead of third-placed Bolton, and a further point clear of Morecambe, in fourth, ahead of this evening’s match at Stevenage. The Gloucestershire side also have a game in hand over all those rivals.

However, they have taken just seven points from their last five games, including their most recent clash, a 1-0 defeat at Crawley Town on Friday night.

Duff is trying not to get caught up in the promotion race, and is keen that his side focus on themselves and take things one game at a time.

The Whaddon Road boss said: “It doesn’t matter what other people do.

“Are we going to sit and hope that 72 points gets us promoted?

“We’ll be waiting a long time, because it won’t.

“We need to take it on, not rely on other people. We have got ourselves into a brilliant position, so now it’s trying to see it through.”

Tonight’s opponents had been on a lengthy unbeaten run, but have now lost their last two matches.

Duff added: “They’re a good team, well coached. They play a version of a 4-4-2, but it’s a really narrow, almost 4-2-2-2.

“They are doing well, look like they all know their jobs. They were unlucky to lose the game (against Mansfield at the weekend), they had enough chances to probably win it, but definitely to draw.

“They have been on a brilliant run and I know they have lost their last couple, but they went 12 or 13 games unbeaten, which is difficult to do in this League.”

Duff also had his say on the Super League proposals, saying: “It’s disgraceful that people are trying to run a separate competition when 150 years of history has worked so far.

“It’s about money, and I don’t see it working. I can’t see UEFA letting them run it side by side with their competitions. It’ll have to be a proper breakaway, so they have their own competition and everyone else will just have to readjust.

“You don’t know if the television companies will pull out because they want to show this European League, so money falls out of the Premier League, which is going to have a knock-on effect elsewhere.

“The TV companies might still like the idea of the Premier League, which will be more competitive, from first to last, closer, and there won’t be a ‘big six’ with more money than anyone else.”

Forest Green Rovers remain in the League Two promotion hunt having arrested their slide with a 3-2 victory over Scunthorpe on Saturday, and they host Exeter, who lie just outside the play-off places, this evening.

Meanwhile, time is running out for Bristol Rovers and Swindon to save themselves in League One.

Swindon could be relegated this evening if they lose to Portsmouth and other results go against them, while a worst case scenario would leave Bristol Rovers nine points from safety with three matches to go if they lose at home to MK Dons.