Cheltenham Town boss Darrell Clarke says first goal is monkey off their back

Darrell Clarke (right) was overseeing his second game in charge at Cheltenham during their draw with Derby

Cheltenham got the "monkey off their back" by ending their record-breaking wait for a first league goal of the season, said head coach Darrell Clarke.

Rob Street's goal in the 39th minute of their 1-1 draw with Derby was their first in 12 League One games.

Their goal drought had set a new English Football League record for consecutive games without scoring at the start of a season.

"It's nice to get that off our backs," Clarke told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"It obviously plays heavy on the club's mind, it's not nice to be a laughing stock if I'm honest with you.

"But it's a good way of doing it; Derby at home, get a point, get a goal and then it puts us into the right frame of mind moving forward."

The draw with Derby was Clarke's second game in charge since taking over from Wade Elliott, who left the club last month.

It was only the second point they have picked up this campaign and the team remain bottom of the table, eight points from safety.

Yet while Cheltenham conceded a Rams equaliser deep in first-half stoppage time, Clarke said he was pleased with the performance.

"The lads have given me everything. Backs against walls at spells but then we've had our spells as well, a fully committed performance and while I never get too carried away with a point it's nice to get that goal and a point against a team that's going to definitely be in the top six," Clarke said.

"I don't want to criticise my players too much, I thought they gave everything for the shirt and they can go away heads held high - certainly haven't had that for a while."

The Robins host Newport County at home in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday but now have a two-week break from the league because of international games next weekend, meaning their next League One fixture is at home to Cambridge United on 21 October.

"I'm not going to stand here kidding myself, there's a hell of a lot of work to continue to keep doing," Clarke added.