Cheltenham Town manager Steve Cotterill insisted his team were unlucky to lose 2-0 at Accrington Stanley on Saturday. The defeat at the Wham Stadium saw Cheltenham dominate possession but fail to convert their chances, with two late goals from Charlie Warren sealing the win for the hosts.

Cotterill was particularly critical of the officiating, especially the second yellow card shown to midfielder Charlie McCann. "It's days like today that make you stronger," Cotterill said. He argued the dismissal was harsh, claiming McCann had both feet on the ground and did not make significant contact. The manager felt the referee got the major decisions wrong, which changed the complexion of a game he felt was heading for a draw.

Late goals settle tight contest

The match was a tight affair for long periods, with Cheltenham, who sit fourth in League Two with 15 points from nine games, controlling the ball. The visitors had opportunities but lacked the final touch to break the deadlock. The game turned decisively in the 78th minute when Accrington's Charlie Warren scored, capitalising on a defensive lapse. Warren added a second nine minutes later to confirm the three points for Stanley.

Cotterill acknowledged his team's effort but pointed to the need for better execution in the final third to turn such performances into results. He said the team kept probing but that Accrington got lucky with their two goals on the day. Despite the setback, the manager's faith in his squad remains unwavering. "We lost today's game, but I wouldn't swap one of my players, not one of them," he said.

The result leaves Cheltenham one point behind leaders Salford City, whom they face at home next weekend. That fixture, on October 10, represents a direct chance to return to the top of the table.

Injury news remains a concern, with Cotterill providing updates on Joe Tomlinson and Shaun McWilliams. He stated he did not know about Tomlinson's availability and was hopeful McWilliams might return next week after missing this game. The team will need to regroup quickly ahead of the key top-of-the-table clash, where a win would see them leapfrog their opponents. The latest squad information is available on our squad page.

Cheltenham's recent form had been solid, with two wins and two draws in their last five outings before this loss. They had beaten Chesterfield 2-1 the previous weekend, with goals from Charlie McCann and Andreas Weimann. The challenge now is to bounce back immediately against the league leaders at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium.

More detail at gloucestershirelive.co.uk