New boss Duff encouraged by Cheltenham’s second-half display in draw with Crewe

Posted Sunday, September 16, 2018 by PA

New Cheltenham boss Michael Duff was encouraged by his side’s second-half performance as his reign started with a 0-0 draw at home to Crewe.

The Robins are still yet to win at home in League Two but former Burnley Under-23s coach Duff said there were plenty of positives as he bids to lead a club he spent eight years at as a player away from the lower reaches of the table.

“I thought the first half was scrappy, very scrappy to be brutally honest,” Duff said.

“In the second half we played a little bit more and there was a 20 or 25 minute spell when I don’t know how we didn’t score.

“We needed something to drop for us, but we were much the better side in the second half.

“We are disappointed not to win, but we’ll take the positives and it’s a point and a clean sheet.

“We need to add some quality into our play but I want to see sweat on the shirt and nobody that came here today can leave saying we didn’t have a go.

“In the second half we mixed it up a bit more and found a few passes, with better quality into the box and the service into the front was a lot better.

“They just have to believe in themselves a little bit more now.”

Crewe boss David Artell was pleased with his side’s work-rate, as they very nearly snatched three points and their first away goal of the season during time added on at the end of the 90 minutes.

“I thought out of possession we were very good,” Artell said.

“They have hit the post and in the first half it was a good save from Ben Garratt.

“That was the only real chance. Yes they have had a lot of the ball in the final third and crosses into our box, but they are hoping for a mistake from us and we didn’t make one.

“We defended really well and our shape was really good, but when we won the ball back we just whacked it.

“The best chances of the whole game fell to us and right at the death we should have scored.”

Cheltenham keeper Scott Flinders saved well at the near post to deny Perry Ng in the 19th minute.

From the resulting corner Jordan Bowery placed a free header wide as Crewe threatened.

The closest Cheltenham came to opening the scoring was a shot by Kevin Dawson that Ben Garratt turned onto the post during time added on.

Ryan Broom forced Garratt into another save low to his left in the 52nd minute.

Cheltenham always looked the most likely to break the deadlock, with Tyrone Barnett seeing an effort cleared off the line and Kelsey Mooney heading a cross from Dawson inches wide.

But Flinders had to make a superb point-blank block to deny Ryan Wintle in stoppage time as Crewe nearly snatched it.