Michael Flynn ‘over the moon’ as Isaac Hutchinson earns win for Cheltenham

Michael Flynn hailed the impact of deadline-day signing Isaac Hutchinson after his superb free-kick earned Cheltenham their first league win of the season at Accrington Stanley’s expense.

The loan arrival from Bristol Rovers was fouled near the edge of the box after just 20 seconds, and he stepped up to curl in a fine free-kick beyond the dive of Oliver Wright into the top left corner.

That proved enough to secure a 1-0 victory, and Flynn said: “I know the quality Isaac has got, having worked with him at Walsall.

“I’d like to say all my ex-players love me and can’t wait to work with me again, but it’s not true!

“If everybody likes you, it means you are a bit of a mug because you have to upset people along the way and I’m not everybody’s cup of tea.

“But thankfully Isaac likes me so it’s good to get him in the building, and he is a very, very good footballer, who is only going to get better with a run of games and more fitness.

“I was over the moon for him to score and he provided that bit of quality we’ve maybe lacked a little bit.”

Cheltenham were the better side in the first half but Stanley nearly levelled in the 20th minute when a floated cross from Tyler Walton rebounded off the bar, with goalkeeper Joe Day beaten.

Home skipper Scot Bennett saw a shot blocked in the box after Lee Angol’s nod-down as Cheltenham looked for a second and Hutchinson’s effort flew wide after a scramble in the box.

Day dealt with a long-range strike from Liam Coyle just before half-time, but Stanley rarely threatened as Cheltenham held out for their first clean sheet and three points of the campaign.

Accrington boss John Doolan was disappointed his team did not stand up to Cheltenham’s physical threat as their wait for a first win continues.

“We were not good enough all over the pitch,” Doolan said.

“OK, in the first minute we give a free-kick away, whether it’s a free-kick or not, and then it’s a great strike that goes in the top corner.

“But after that we didn’t have enough men on the pitch who wanted to win first contact and pick up second balls.

“Cheltenham play long to Lee Angol, play in the channels with balls into your box, and they had a physical presence which we didn’t have.

“We got our decision making wrong on when we should play and when we shouldn’t, and it just wasn’t us at all. I didn’t like any of it for 95 minutes.”