Martin Allen heaped praise on acting skipper David Bird as Cheltenham Town finally ended their long wait for a victory against Hartlepool United on Saturday.

Goals from Elvis Hammond and Nicholas Bignall sealed the Robins first win of 2009 and broke a run of 16 matches without a win.

In the absence of injured club captain John Finnigan, Bird was given the armband and moved back into midfield, where he was one of the star men at Whaddon Road.

Allen said: "David Bird has been superb recently and he is a model of consistency.

"In every game he gives 110 per cent and he is a leader through example. He is a local lad, who is Cheltenham through and through and he is the future.

"He is going to be the way forward playing in midfield, which is his best position. It was a terrific captain's performance from David and I have a lot of respect for him as a person and a player."

Bird was not the only outstanding performer and Cheltenham were cheered off the pitch by their fans at the end.

Allen said: "The fighting spirit, camaraderie and unity in the team were outstanding."

"I am delighted for the players because they have worked so hard, but they kept getting knock backs. They fought for every ball and this is a big result for us."

Allen reflected on what has been a testing three month period on and off the pitch, but said his faith in his players never wavered.

"It's been hard for me personally over the last couple of months, but I have gone about my work and my belief in the players has never dropped," he said.

"It's been difficult, but in a strange way it's part of a management challenge.

"It's not easy when you are losing games and you have had to make people available for transfer because I needed to raise some money.

"The players have worked hard, trained hard and some of the performances have deserved more than the points we have got. Now, bring on Tranmere."

Cheltenham welcome Tranmere to Whaddon Road tomorrow night and Allen said Damian Spencer, Nicholas Bignall, Paul Connor and Elvis Hammond are all injury doubts.

Finnigan, Ashley Vincent, Gavin Caines and Alan Wright are also sidelined, but Reading loan youngster Michail Antonio could return to face Huddersfield Town next weekend.