Cheltenham boss Michael Flynn was heartbroken to be denied his first win at Salford.
Kadeem Harris’ stoppage-time header rescued the hosts a 1-1 draw after George Miller had given Cheltenham a League Two lead for the first time this season.
And while the Robins broke their duck by picking up a first point of the season, Flynn was frustrated after getting so close to earning all three.
“I am gutted for the boys because they put in a hell of a shift tonight against a very good Salford team,” Flynn said.
“I have never won here as a manager, so while I probably shouldn’t have expected too much, a 93rd-minute equaliser is frustrating, but I am so proud of them and the shift they put in.”
There were plenty of positives to take for Flynn, who singled out 19-year-old Freddy Willcox for praise.
The academy product was handed his first EFL start at left centre-back and delivered a committed display.
“Freddy was excellent tonight,” Flynn added. “For his first start in the EFL, he’s a smashing kid, who gives his all day-in, day-out.
“He’s probably been unlucky that I haven’t thrown him in before.”
Salford dominated much of the game but Cheltenham stunned the home crowd in the 56th minute.
Luke Young found Arkell Jude-Boyd on the right and his low ball into the middle was turned into the roof of the net by Miller from six yards.
Salford pushed Cheltenham further and further back and eventually the visitors crumbled, with Rosaire Longelo’s fine cross headed in by Harris to ensure honours finished even.
City boss Karl Robinson admitted his team are lacking in the final third.
“We got into good areas, but we didn’t ask enough questions so we need to be more ruthless in the final third,” he said.
“We were just looking for that bit of magic and sometimes you get games like that, when you go home scratching your head, wondering why we didn’t score three, four or five.
“It’s not good enough, it really isn’t in that final third, for me.
“We are still looking for strikers, 100 per cent. Nico (Siri) only came in yesterday from Uruguay, so you are seeing a different version of him, but he looked bright and he’ll only get fitter and better.
“You can’t see many bad things about the team, other than not scoring goals.”
