Steve Cotterill happy Cheltenham’s patience with Mo Faal rewarded

Manager Steve Cotterill felt Mo Faal’s Cheltenham impact was worth the wait after his stoppage-time goal sealed a 2-1 home victory over Gillingham.

The forward joined on loan from Wrexham at the end of the January window, knowing he was several weeks away from returning after a hamstring injury suffered during a spell at Port Vale.

But he has gradually built up his minutes from the bench and, after going on in the 59th minute, played a major part in the equaliser before volleying in a superb winner.

Isaac Hutchinson 20th goal of the season had cancelled out Ronan Hale’s opener for the Gills, allowing Faal to seal maximum points at the death.

“It was an incredible finish and I am really pleased with that,” Cotterill said.

“Mo couldn’t train on Monday because he felt a bit poorly, so we were hoping he’d be okay.

“Thankfully he turned up and he was okay today. Let’s hope he gets that sickness bug before every game!

“I thought he was excellent when he went on and that’s why we wanted to bring him in and were willing to wait for all that time.

“I said he’d get us three points at some point this season and he’s done it already.

“The lads didn’t really get going, but all credit to them in the end because we just about shaded it overall.”

The Robins’ EFL survival was secured with an emphatic 4-0 win at Walsall on Saturday, but they fell behind to the Gills in the 18th minute.

Sam Vokes set up Hale, who beat goalkeeper Joe Day with a shot inside the bottom-left corner.

Day pulled off fine saves to deny Gareth Ainsworth’s side a second before half-time, keeping out efforts from Armani Little, Bradley Dack and Hale.

But Gills keeper Glenn Morris was beaten in the 63rd minute when good work from Faal allowed Luke Young to deliver from the right, with Hutchinson slamming in from close range.

Faal then had the final say with his first Robins goal after George Nurse’s cross was cleared to him just inside the box.

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth felt his side did more than enough to win the game.

“We created enough chances to win two games,” he said.

“We have been guilty of not creating a lot of chances in the past, but that was great play, sensational stuff, especially in the first half.

“We had loads of chances to put the game to bed and we should be 3-0 up at half-time, which is probably being generous to Cheltenham.

“But if you don’t take your chances, you are going to get bitten and we did at the end.

“Ronan’s shot was brilliant and he is here to score goals, but we need to add to that and we need more goals after creating so many chances.

“Cheltenham created three or four and scored two.”