Darrell Clarke: Cheltenham boss hails 'best win' against league leaders Portsmouth

Cheltenham's win against league leaders Portsmouth was their sixth of the season and moves them within three points of safety

Cheltenham head coach Darrell Clarke said beating League One leaders Portsmouth was the best result of his tenure at the club.

Liam Sercombe scored twice in three minutes as the Robins came from a goal behind to beat Pompey 2-1.

The Robins have now won six games this season having been on a record-breaking losing run when Clarke took over from Wade Elliott in September.

"It's a massive three points for us," Clarke told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"Especially when you put in the circumstances of the injuries that we've got, the illness that we had in the camp, Will Ferry's had to come off his sick bed and had to play the majority of the game.

"The way the boys put their bodies on the line was absolutely tremendous. To go a goal down as well and to come back and win the game I'm over the moon with it.

"I think that's the best team we've played in the league so far, they're worthy top of the table at the minute so you have to ride your luck on one or two occasions but I thought we defended our box absolutely superbly at times."

Cheltenham are still in the relegation zone but have moved within three points of safety having been seemingly cut adrift and on a downward spiral in the autumn.

Clarke said last year he believed his team needed 15 wins to ensure their survival.

"We know we need to get better as well, there's loads of areas of our game we can get better but we're competitive, we're trying to be competitive in every game we play, but still loads of work to be doing on the training pitch to get us to be the side I want us to be," he said.

With the transfer window now open Clarke said he was hopeful of new signings this week having offered financial terms to some players.

He has also started looking for a new assistant manager following the departure of Adam Murray who left this week to become manager of National League South side Eastbourne Borough.

"I've got a real good staff in here, inexperienced but they're hungry, they can't give me any more and I'm trying to add to that and it will take as long as it takes. I want to get the right person," Clarke added.