Cheltenham boss Duff hails ‘magnificent’ performance

Michael Duff described Cheltenham’s performance as “magnificent” as they beat Bradford 3-2 to move third in the League Two table.

Ben Tozer’s 80th minute header sealed the points after Cheltenham had hit back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 only for Bradford to level.

“I thought we were magnificent and it was a really good game,” Duff said.

“We scored some really good goals and showed character too. For all our good play, we went 1-0 down.

“Then we get the lead and concede from a set play, but we go again and saw it out in the end with nearly nine minutes extra at the end and the ball was coming in from everywhere. Scott Flinders making big saves.

“It’s not easy to win a game of football and you need everyone buying in. I said to the lads can we have eight players turning up today and I thought we 11 turned up.”

Gary Bowyer felt it was “mad” that his team did not take anything from the game.

“I am slightly, well more than slightly, angry that we’ve come away from home, scored two goals and not taken anything away with us,” he said.

“We haven’t been ruthless enough if I am being brutally honest in both boxes.

“I am disappointed not to have gone in with a lead, but we got our noses in front with a great counter attacking goal again, then conceded a soft goal from our point of view.

“The goals are poor from our point of view, yet we still had chances again and their goalie has made a great save from James Vaughan.

“We could have been talking about a Clayton Donaldson hat-trick tonight.

“It’s a bit mad we have not taken something away from it with all the chances we have created.”

All five goals came in the second half, with the Bantams taking the lead through Jermaine Anderson, who followed up to score at the third attempt in the 51st minute after a counter-attack and a cross from Dylan Connolly.

Cheltenham levelled through Gavin Reilly’s third goal of the season after Ryan Broom’s through ball in the 58th minute.

Jake Doyle-Hayes’ volley put the home side in front in the 69th minute, but Ben Richards-Everton nodded in Harry Pritchard’s free-kick to make it 2-2 in the 76th minute.

Both sides had chances to win it, but captain Tozer powered in a header from Chris Hussey’s free-kick to restore Cheltenham’s lead and this time they held onto it.

Scott Flinders made a fine save to deny James Vaughan late on as Cheltenham maintained their fine home run and moved up to third.

They had been on top for much of the first half, but efforts from Broom and Hussey were both well dealt with by Richard O’Donnell.