Duff praises players after Cheltenham defeat Cambridge
Posted Wednesday, February 20, 2019 by PA
Michael Duff praised his Cheltenham team for their resilience and a touch of quality as they defeated 10-man Cambridge United 2-0.
An own goal from George Taft put the Robins in front and Conor Thomas doubled the lead from the penalty spot after a handball on the line from Jake Carroll, who was sent off.
Billy Waters missed a second penalty for Duff’s team, but the win took them nine points clear of the drop zone and made it three home wins in succession.
“I thought we mixed our play up well and showed a bit of the resilience we showed against Grimsby (1-0 away defeat on Saturday) but we added a bit of quality into our play as well,” Duff said.
“It’s the first time we’ve knitted the two together for a little bit, so that was pleasing.
“We had to dig it out a bit at the start because Cambridge have good players at the top end of the pitch.
“I was pleased and they were still going at the end and with some of the football we played at the end because it’s not easy, even against 10 men because you get a little bit jittery and a little bit nervous, but we kept doing it, while defending and doing the right things.”
Cheltenham took the lead in the 23rd minute when Chris Hussey’s free-kick reached Ben Tozer at the far post and his cushioned volley was headed into his own net by defender Taft.
Cambridge missed a clear chance to level after half an hour when Jabo Ibehre raced through on goal, but the frontman could only shot wide of the far post.
Hayden Coulson also saw an effort bounce on top of the bar for the away side in first-half stoppage time.
Ibehre forced Scott Flinders into a diving save to his right in the 52nd minute as Cambridge looked for a leveller.
But it all went wrong for Cambridge in the 58th minute when Carroll was dismissed for handling Rakish Bingham’s effort and stopping a certain goal after a low ball in from Billy Waters.
Thomas stepped up to send Dimitar Mitov the wrong way from the spot and make it 2-0.
Mitov made a fine stop to deny Ryan Broom in the 69th minute and at the other end, Flinders reacted well to keep out an effort from substitute Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.
Cheltenham were awarded a second penalty in the 82nd minute when Waters was tripped by Jake Doyle-Hayes, but after picking himself up, the striker fired his spot-kick high over the bar.
Cambridge boss Colin Calderwood admitted his side were far from their best.
“We didn’t have the same determination that they showed or come out on top of any tussles like they did,” Calderwood said.
“There was nothing between what we did and what they did, we just didn’t do enough.
“We didn’t use the ball well and didn’t look cohesive. They kept going though and showed effort.
“It was a below-standard performance and we probably didn’t deserve anything.
“Far too many of our mistakes were unforced. What we can be disappointed in was our overall levels. It was because we played poorly that we got beat.
“We’re not going to beat them with a stick though because they’re not hopeless.”
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