Darrell Clarke: Keeping Cheltenham in League One would be 'biggest achievement'

Cheltenham Town had only one point when Darrell Clarke took over the League One side in October

Cheltenham Town manager Darrell Clarke said it would be his "biggest achievement in football" if he kept the club in League One this season.

The Robins equalled an English Football League record by not scoring in their first 11 league games of the campaign.

They had just one point when Clarke took over in October and are now within four points of safety and up to 21st.

League One survival would ensure a club record fourth consecutive season in the third tier.

"It would be my biggest achievement in football, with giving teams a 25% start of the season," Clarke told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"Looking at the achievements that I've had, the promotions that I've managed, to get hold of this would be up there as the best achievement with the worst start in English football history.

"We've had that collective goal since I've come in the building, I've got the mindset of the players to be bought into that and they've bought into that superbly."

Cheltenham have taken 32 points from 23 matches since Clarke took over.

"That would be 64 points full season and the [club's League One] record is 56 points," he said.

"That's a credit to the players for reaching where we've reached so far, but it'll all be scant consolation if we don't get it over the line.

"That's the determination and drive I have in me and my players have."

Cheltenham, who host Burton Albion on Saturday, are without a win in their last two games, having drawn at Wigan Athletic a week ago and lost at Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday.

The club are three points behind Reading, but have a worse goal difference, although they have two games in hand on the Royals, Charlton Athletic and Shrewsbury Town, who occupy places 18-20 in the table.

"I don't think anybody gave us a chance after the first 11 games of the season with no goals and only one point," Clarke said.

"If you'd have said to me when I come into the building that we'd be on 33 points after 33 games I'd have probably given you a slap because I think you'd be taking something you shouldn't be taking, but we are in that situation."