Sleepless nights after Saturday defeat, morale-boosting comeback and praise for Liam Kinsella - Cheltenham Town boss Michael Flynn after Accrington Stanley win


You wanted a reaction after Saturday and in the end, did you get it?

I thought it was chalk and cheese in terms of getting close to them, the way we competed, the battles, that was the big difference. I am not going to get carried away about that because Accrington could have scored a few. I thought they were a very, very good team, dangerous on the break. Owen Evans has made two of the best saves I've ever seen in League Two. Again, everything is coming from us. They have a corner, 95th minute and we leave one of the tallest men on the pitch free. We have to learn because we are shooting ourselves in the foot and making it difficult for ourselves. The character today, even if we'd lost, was a lot better and more like what we expect as a team and what the supporters deserve. It was chalk and cheese compared to Saturday.

Do you feel like you've got away with one a bit?

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No, I don't feel like we've got away with one. We had a couple of opportunities: Tom Pett could have scored, there was an unbelievable ball put across the front there. No, but I do acknowledge Accrington caused us a lot of problems and it's only a matter of time before they turn it around because I thought they were a very good team in spells.

It's a priceless win isn't it, in the end?

We are new, it will do wonders for the group and for the supporters in terms of short little steps and a bit of belief. But we are wafer thin at the minute. I've had to put Freddy Willcox on the bench and he trained today, stepping up his recovery from injury because Liam Dulson has done down with an illness. Hopefully we'll have Liam and Jordan Thomas back for the weekend as well to give us a few more options.

What did you say at half-time?

I mean this respectfully, but Accrington at the minute are not used to winning games and seeing them out. They are a good team, but we know we can score. Teams have scored against them already, so we had to keep believing. We've had somebody who's scored his first ever goal in the League (Manni Norkett) and made a bit of history because Ryan Bowman is the first player to score wearing a number 12 shirt for Cheltenham Town in the EFL, which is a crazy stat. When you have a first League goal and a number 12 that has never scored before for the club, you start to feel it is your night! I am trying to evolve myself and be a little more cautious on the touchline. I know some of the fans don't know how to take that. But I know what I am doing, I am an experienced manager now. But tonight, I thought the players needed it, especially after Saturday and I wanted to show the supporters I do care because I am telling you I do. I haven't had a good sleep since Saturday and that doesn't show the characteristics of someone who doesn't care. I care deeply and because first and foremost I am a professional and I want to do well and secondly, I enjoy being at Cheltenham Town.

The water bottle you booted down the touchline after that late header shows you care

I obviously care. I am a passionate person, but I have a young group and I am not sure they can always handle me being full throttle. I am doing my post-grad course with the LMA and there are all different types of leadership and how you can become a better leader and it doesn't always have to be autocratic and there are a number of ways to become a good leader. I am working on that and it's something I will continue to do because I want to improve and be the best version of me I can be.

Manni Norkett was a nuisance when he came on and that's a big moment for him isn't it?

I thought he was excellent. I have to be honest, we had a behind-closed-doors game against Bristol Rovers and he looked a little bit unfit if I am honest. So it was touch and go, but Lewis Payne has missed out tonight because I thought he needed that little break, being out with a hamstring and again, I am trying to do things for the right reasons in terms of not risking more injuries. So we went positive, with another striker on the bench, or attacking player and it's paid off. I will take the credit for that one!

Ryan Bowman has done that all his career hasn't he, when you put the ball in the right area

Yes. He has been a little bit short on his own personal standards of late. I don't mean that in a detrimental way, but he has a lot more to offer and hopefully that'll give him the boost he needs to keep going and scoring goals for Cheltenham Town.

How much of a lift does that give everybody?

It does because if you win any game, it's something to build on and grow from. I think the manner of Saturday's defeat and the way it was, was a very poor game from us and today was the right way to do it. A little bit of excitement, well a lot of excitement, which is not always good for managers. If you look at Fleetwood's result tonight (6-2 win at Walsall), it goes to show we did well to keep it to two..!

Barrow away next on Saturday...

Another very good team, organised team of men, very long journey, we go there and try to get a result.

You went with a more experienced team tonight - was that a conscious decision?

It was and I thought Liam Kinsella was outstanding tonight, I thought Tom Pett was outstanding tonight. There are still a lot of things to work and improve on and I am not getting carried away at all, but it was a good antidote to Saturday's performance. I am pleased for them because they care. People may say after Saturday they don't but they care, they are a good group and they need our supporters behind us. We are going to have a lot more ups and downs as we go, but we have to stick together. The email from the board today, was a very clear and conscious message to what's going on and we have to be united on and off the pitch and for me, that's what I aim to do and aim to make sure everybody is.

You need stability at a club as a manager and that's not something you've always had in the past

You haven't always had that, but I don't look for excuses and I've made mistakes, could I do things better at certain times, yes. Have I need unfortunate with a lot of injuries, yes, loans going back, yes. It's done and dusted now and I am here to do a job for Cheltenham Town. We have a complete rebuild to do and we are going to have a long, up and down season. When it's down, we need you even more.

Can Liam Kinsella compete for a regular starting place at right-back after that performance?

100 per cent. He did it the other day against Bristol Rovers and he was outstanding as well. Liam is no problems, he comes in, does his work, works to his maximum day in, day out. I've had him now at three clubs and he's never changed. In the team, doesn't change and get above his station, or have an ego, out of the team, again, works hard and sets an example. There are a lot of people who can learn from him in terms of the way he goes about his business.