Michael Duff celebrates his birthday with ‘very good’ Cheltenham display
Posted Sunday, January 12, 2020 by PA
Cheltenham manager Michael Duff was given the perfect birthday present as his side breezed past Walsall with a comfortable 3-1 home win.
The Robins boss was celebrating his 42nd birthday and goals from Max Sheaf, Conor Thomas and Alfie May put them firmly on course for a return to the top three.
A late consolation from Elijah Adebayo could not dampen the party atmosphere inside the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.
“I thought we were very good today,” Duff said.
“I had a bit of a pop at half-time because I wasn’t happy with 1-0. We dominated the game and should have had more to show for it.
“We came out of the traps in the second half, their keeper has made an unbelievable save at the near post and then we’ve gone and scored the second.
“From that moment, we were a bit scruffy and maybe didn’t land on enough second balls but it’s difficult to dominate a game from the first minute to the last and teams are going to have moments.
“I thought in general play we dominated and to be fair to Darrell (Clarke, Walsall boss) when he shook my hand, he said we thoroughly deserved that, so I think that’s pretty conclusive.”
Cheltenham seized the initiative immediately and they took a deserved lead when Chris Hussey set up Sheaf for his second goal in two games in the 18th minute.
Walsall were forced to defend for most of the first half but Wes McDonald’s heavily deflected 41st-minute shot hit the post.
Cheltenham nearly scored again in the first minute of the second half when May forced Liam Roberts into a reaction save.
The home side were celebrating again in the 48th minute when May fed Sean Long on the right and his pull-back was fired in by Thomas for his fifth goal of the season.
Adebayo headed wide for Walsall from a good position in the 53rd minute after fellow Cameron Norman’s cross from the right.
May raced onto George Lloyd’s pass and finished well in the 72nd minute for his second strike in two games since joining from Doncaster.
The result was not in any doubt but ex-Robins loanee Adebayo touched in Caolan Lavery’s ball from the right to give the 812 away fans something to cheer in the 78th minute.
Saddlers boss Clarke admitted his side were beaten by a far superior side on the day.
“We were by far the second best team on the pitch,” he said.
“We can’t paper over that. In the first 45 minutes we were awful. We were sloppy and lethargic in our performance and the players have to learn from it.
“You have to take your medicine and we were beaten by a good Cheltenham team.
“The second goal killed us. I had harsh words at half-time but then we concede a sloppy goal straight away.
“With the injuries and illnesses we have, we can’t afford to put in many performances like that.”
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