Cheltenham boss Michael Flynn praised Tommy Backwell after his first EFL goal helped fire them to a 2-1 home victory over Salford.
The Bristol City loan midfielder was making his full debut and opened the scoring in the 31st minute, with Jordan Thomas adding a second 10 minutes from the end.
Curtis Tilt pulled one back for Salford with almost the last touch of the game, but Cheltenham ended a run of three league games with a win, condemning Salford to their second successive defeat since a run of six consecutive victories.
“I have to be honest, for the first 10 or 15 minutes Tommy was a bit nervous, but he has so much energy,” Flynn said.
“We knew it’d be a scrappy game today and that’s why we went for Tommy in that number 10 position.
“He gets around the pitch and I am really pleased for him. I am sure he’ll have a good night, but we had to take him off in the second half because he was running on empty, he’d completely gone.”
Both teams had chances to score early on, with Ryan Watson off target from a good position for Salford after Rosaire Longelo’s cross, before Backwell’s header from Arkell Jude-Boyd’s cross was parried by Matthew Young.
The deadlock was broken when Ethon Archer’s shot was parried by Young and Backwell followed up from close range.
Salford nearly responded immediately, with Joe Day blocking well from Conor McAleny, who was through on goal.
Cheltenham made sure of the points when Tom Bradbury’s low cross from the left was converted at the far post by winger Thomas.
Tilt’s header from Liam Shephard’s corner was fumbled over the line by Day in fifth minute of time added on as Salford pulled one back, but Cheltenham had done enough.
Salford boss Karl Robinson said he could not fault his players’ efforts, but he was disappointed with the goals they conceded.
“I have seen certain aspects I can be pleased with, but certain components you wouldn’t be pleased with,” Robinson said.
“When you come away from home at this level, you are just hoping that when you do well, you take your chances and when they get their momentum, it doesn’t fall for them, but today it did once or twice and they took their opportunities when they came along.
“We felt that we could have negated their goals by things tactically that we’ve spoken about consistently, but I am pleased with the players’ attitude.
“We kept going right to the end of injury time and I can’t ask for any more in that respect. Injuries have caught up with us a bit but I know there is more to come from us.”