Luton resilience pleases Still

Luton boss John Still was delighted with his side's resilience as they emerged 1-0 winners over Cheltenham.

Mark Cullen's goal after just eight minutes proved enough as Town recorded their first home victory of the campaign against a side who were yet to lose going into the match. Still said: "We found the way we played first half really good, and in the second half, the word we had to come up with was resilience. "They were pushing people on, got lots of balls in our box and I thought we defended it really well. "Tyles (Mark Tyler) has done well without making a save you would (call) fantastic, but I think the thing that we had was that resilience which I think was vital. "We had it last year, maybe not that much, but certainly had to have it in places like Macclesfield and here against Lincoln and here against Halifax and they're all part of it. "So to have that and it's in your team, can get you over difficult times." Cheltenham mounted a second-half onslaught as they were denied by home goalkeeper Mark Tyler as Robins manager Mark Yates added: "Second half I thought we were outstanding and I think if we'd have got one we would have got a couple, but it wasn't to be. "I won't fault the lads as long as I get effort like that. We've been built on hard work and effort and commitment and I got that for all the game. "Credit to them, they had something to hang on to and managed to do so. Their 'keeper has made a few good saves, but it's just how we respond from this now." A strong start from the hosts paid dividends as after Ross Lafayette saw his shot blocked and Cullen's header was cleared off the line, they took the lead on eight minutes. Scott Griffiths swung over a cross from the left and Cullen nodded beyond Trevor Carson. The hosts had further chances. Lafayette had another effort cleared, while Luke Guttridge flashed just wide from distance. Cheltenham threatened only sporadically, with Joe Hanks off-target twice and Steve McNulty making a superb block from Koby Arthur. After the break, Hatters thought they had a second when sub Jim Stevenson turned in from close range, but he was denied by a very late linesman's flag. The Robins then enjoyed wave after wave of attacks but found keeper Mark Tyler in inspired form. John Marquis' free kick was parried by Tyler, who then beat away Jason Taylor's fierce drive and stood up well when sub Omari Sterling-James raced through. Guttridge sent an acrobatic volley over Carson's bar and Cullen's touch let him down, but Robins kept going, as Tyler saved the day late on reacting well to block from Arthur's goal-bound effort.