LIAM'S DOUBLE STUNS POMPEY

DARRELL Clarke hailed midfielder Liam Sercombe’s influence after his quickfire brace sealed a shock Cheltenham win over leaders Portsmouth.

- Martin Rogers

Pompey had taken the lead through a 49th-minute own goal, but the Robins responded quickly, with Sercombe’s first brace for the club sealing three valuable points in their battle against the drop.

The vastly experienced Sercombe has scored four goals in his last five and is clearly enjoying life under Clarke, who also managed him at Bristol Rovers.

“Sercs has done that all his career and he knows where the back of the net is,” Clarke said. “They were great goals and he is leading by example. He’s an important, senior member of my team and he’s done the business today. He did his job and then I took him off to shore it up in midfield and said ‘come and sit with me Sercs – two brilliant goals mate!’ but he was excellent.”

Cheltenham remain in the bottom four, but their sixth win in 15 games under Clarke has given them renewed belief that they can survive.

“The way the boys put their bodies on the line was absolutely tremendous,” he said.