Andi Weimann says scoring for Cheltenham Town gives him the same thrill as finding the net against Premier League giants. The 35-year-old Austrian forward made the point after heading home in the Robins' 3-1 away win at Crawley Town, a result that lifted the side to fourth in League Two.
Weimann connected with a Jordan Shipley cross to score in the 54th minute at Broadfield Stadium, adding to an earlier assist for Charlie McCann's second goal of the game. It was his second goal in two matches, having opened his account from the penalty spot in the 2-2 home draw with Grimsby Town a week earlier. The victory was Cheltenham's first on the road this season and part of a solid start that has seen them collect 11 points from six games, just one point behind leaders Barnet.
Weimann on his Crawley goal
The forward, who joined on the eve of the League Two opener, was pleased with his contribution. "Scoring a goal will always be nice," Weimann told reporters. "It was a really good ball in from Ships (Jordan Shipley) and all I tried to do was manage to get good contact and it was in."
He has now started the last four games after beginning the campaign as a substitute, and he credits a rigorous off-season for helping him reach match sharpness without a proper pre-season. Weimann mentioned doing a lot of running and even signing up for a half marathon shortly before the season started. "The manager wants to play front foot with a lot of running and that works for me," he said, adding that he hopes to continue running after his playing days if his body allows.
Partnership with McCann
A key feature of Cheltenham's early form has been the link-up between Weimann and summer signing Charlie McCann. McCann, operating as a number 10 behind Weimann, has scored six goals in six league appearances. "Almost every shot Charlie has had this season has gone in," Weimann observed. "He’s been doing it in training when we’ve done drills, his finishing is always on point and you can tell he has a lot of confidence at the minute."
The Austrian was happy to provide the assist for McCann's second against Crawley and believes the former Manchester United and Rangers prospect possesses real quality. "If he keeps scoring in every game, it will be good for us," Weimann said. The pair are still developing their understanding, but the early signs are promising for manager Steve Cotterill's attack.
Perspective from the top
Weimann's career includes spells in the Premier League and Championship, with memorable goals against Manchester United and Liverpool. He once played alongside Christian Benteke in a match at Anfield and has also scored against France. Yet the selfless runner insists the buzz from contributing to a Cheltenham win is no different. "We have started the season well but want to keep improving and working hard for each other," he said.
Cheltenham's recent form shows two wins, two draws and one loss from their last five outings. They have scored 13 goals and conceded 10 so far this campaign. The team now looks ahead to a trip to face Colchester United on Saturday afternoon. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page and see how the table shapes up in the standings.
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