Duff’s taking the positives from defeat

CHELTENHAM manager Michael Duff was impressed with his side’s second-half display despite their 4-1 defeat to Preston North End at Deepdale in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

Speaking afterwards, Duff said: “I am not bothered about the final score. I was disappointed with the first half, but really pleased with the second half. The fact we’ve gone out of the tie doesn’t really bother me.

“It wasn’t a 4-1 game, but 2-0 down at half-time and we never really laid a glove on them. We didn’t compete, didn’t get on the ball, or do any part of the game well.

“We tweaked it and I had a bit of a pop at them, but that’s a young team.”

Championship side North End, who are into the fourth round of the competition, took the lead when defender Andrew Hughes powered in a header from Ben Whiteman’s corner. Joe Rafferty then bundled in Greg Cunningham’s cross before the break.

Cheltenham pulled a goal back through Kyle Vassell’s fierce shot, but Sean Maguire and Emil Riis Jakobsen scored late to confirm the win.

It’s another trip up the M6 for the Robins on Saturday when they return to League One action against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

Cheltenham Town loan midfielder Callum Wright is likely to miss six months of the season after suffering a knee injury. The 21-year-old Leicester City prospect missed Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Oxford United and on Tuesday night Duff said: “Callum looks like a bad one and it could be a six month job, which is disappointing. He’s done his lateral ligament. It was innocuous. It’s a blow as he’s been a big player for us.”

Club captain Will Boyle is set to miss around a month with a calf injury.