NELSON Jardim got his first taste of frustration as a boss after AFC were cruelly beaten 3-2 at the death by Cheltenham in League Two. The Exiles looked the more likely winners in the second half at Whaddon Road yet suffered a ninth straight league loss. Cardiff City youngster Joel Colwill stuck the boot into his compatriots at in the 96th minute after getting in down the right and slamming in his second of the game.
The Bluebirds midfielder had got the ball rolling with a volley from close to the penalty spot in the 22nd minute and the Robins doubled their lead through Liam Dulson from close range in the 27th minute. County’s response was swift through a Courtney Baker-Richardson penalty and they were level at the break thanks to Oliver Greaves’ finish at the second attempt in the 43rd minute. Head coach Jardim could have been talking about two points dropped in his first game but instead he was denied anything, Colwill burgling victory against an Exiles side down to 10 men because of a serious-looking shoulder injury to substitute Hamzad Kargbo.
Jardim could borrow a Graham Coughlan phrase because County are looking to ‘crawl, walk, run’ when it comes to their new style. There is a determination to pass more and dominate possession but there is a time and a place, and plenty of room for improvement. The new boss no doubt would have liked his side to be braver on the ball at times but they worked their way into the game by going long to Baker-Richardson, a man who is.