All we need now is a goal and a win

Ward was certainly happy with the way his players equipped themselves against the Clarets in the drawn game. “For us it was as good as last week against West Brom, but we kept a clean sheet and that was important,” Ward said.

“We talked before the game and said that if we can’t win against them, then we don’t want to lose. We want to win at home but we were playing a big team so I was pleased with the application of the players.

“We had two young boys at the back in Scott Brown and Mike Townsend who have not played in the first team. We know they can play and what you are sometimes not sure of as a coach is whether their temperaments are right. They have come on today against tough opponents and shown me that if I need to play them they are extremely capable.”

Steve Cotterill enjoyed his return to Cheltenham and was also delighted with the way we played. “I knew it would be a good day for us,” he said. “The fitness levels were excellent although I thought it took us 75 minutes before we really started to pass it.

“As first games go we were pleased with it. We had a new team last year and we have a new team this year, so it is important to start off with a clean sheet, a goal and a win. We’ve started with a clean sheet, so all we need now is a goal and a win.”

He received a very warm welcome from the Cheltenham fans, that was no surprise and he added, “It was nice to be back. I’d rather it was for a more competitive game though but it was a good day all round and I really enjoyed it.”

Of the new players he said, “It’s hard for them to be dropped straight in there, but I though they all did well. Johnny Mac and Wayne Thomas will get a good understanding going at the back and I don’t think either Danny Coyne or Brian Jensen had a save to make.”