Nouble: It is so frustrating
2025-03-01
Yeovil Town goal scorer Frank Nouble admitted conceding a goal late in the 2-2 home draw with Southend United had left the dressing room feeling deflated.
The striker made it three goals in as many games when he put the Glovers ahead after 17 minutes following a disastrous start which saw them go behind after just 30 seconds at Huish Park.
It looked as if they were going to hold out for the three points before visiting defender James Golding struck with just 40 seconds of second half injury time left to play.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah after the game, Nouble said: “It is a bit deflated in (the dressing room) after conceding so late in the game. Everyone is out on their feet. In the first half I think we showed a lot of good qualities after conceding that early goal as well. It is a bit frustrating because it feels a bit like a defeat right now. But when you consider where we have been in recent weeks and they are a good side, we have to give them some credit, and we are down to the bare bones as well.”
He added: “Everyone is working hard and fulfilling the requirement, but it is our job to do that. I think it is important that supporters can see that, everyone is trying for the shirt. It is just so frustrating with the goal coming so late, but again we played a good team and we will keep going until the end. There are still lots of points to play for and we will be there fight, that is for sure.”
The 33-year-old has now scored three goals in his last three matches – after strikes against Tamworth and Maidenhead United – having previously not scored in almost a year.
On his own form, he said: “It has been a funny season. Performance wise I think we have all played well, but I think maybe the numbers were not there to show what we were doing goals-wise. I have got a few assists, but I want to be scoring goals because I know when I do that, the team will do well. I will keep going as long as possible and it has given me a bit of confidence now, when you score one or two things tend to land for you a bit more and long may that continue. We are not going to get too high or low about today, I am far too experienced to know that I am not going to let a few goals go to my head. I just want to win games and we just need to keep doing that until the end of the season because nothing is safe and nothing is too late either.”
The experienced frontman was pleased to see strike-partner Kyrell Wilson open his account for Yeovil in his sixth appearance since joining on loan from Swansea City at the end of January.
Nouble said: “I think I was screaming at him to take a touch, but he is a great young player, we have a few of them in the squad now and you want them to progress and do well. They come to us older boys about where they need to be and what they need to do, but they need to go out there and experience it themselves and that is what (Kyrell) is doing, the same with Ciaran (McGuckin) or when Sean (McGurk) plays. There are a lot of young players and the more we can help them to do that.”
Next the Glovers travel to league leaders Barnet on Tuesday night before a long trip to sixth-placed FC Halifax Town next weekend and Nouble knows both games will be testing for a threadbare squad.
He said: “Barnet are the best team we have played and we know they are going to be a tough side. I am assuming their pitch is better than a lot of pitches, that is what we see on the video anyway. So we are hoping to go out and play our style and hopefully cause them some trouble. All we can do is that.“
Cooper: I am devastated for the players
2025-03-01
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper hailed the effort of his threadbare squad after they suffered late heartbreak at the hands of Southend United today.
The Glovers were forced to settle for a point when visiting defender James Golding fired home an equaliser in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time.
They had fallen behind after just 30 seconds when Charley Kendall took advantage of poor defending to open the scoring, but the home side scored twice in four first half minutes through Kyrell Wilson and Frank Nouble before Golding broke their hearts late on.
Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Jack Killah after the game, the boss said: “I am devastated for the players, I thought they put an amazing shift in. You can see we are low on numbers, we lost another one (in striker Ciaran McGuckin) after (43) minutes with a sore calf, I don’t know what that is about, and we are asking players to play defensively that have not played there before. We gave an incredible rearguard action. We got two goals games and then we defended for our lives and we had a minute to see out and we had a chance to put the ball in the corner, kill the game, and we kick it right to their centre back. Then the ball bounces in midfield, one of our lads dives in and the lad gets a free shot, but we had four players going to charge the ball down and it rolls through three of their legs. But it was a brilliant performance, the players are giving everything.”
Defender Jake Wannell, who has been playing with the captain’s armband since the departure of Matt Worthington, ruled himself out with a calf injury on Friday meaning Dom Bernard and paired alongside Finn Cousin-Dawson in the middle of defence from the start. But, with Southend piling on the pressure in the early stages, Cooper dropped midfielder (and son) Charlie Cooper in to a back three.
In the second half, they turned in a stout rearguard action to keep an impressive Southend side, who were unbeaten in their previous three matches coming in to this game, only to be sucker punched by Golding’s late strike.
The manager added: “We felt we were getting a bit overrun in the first 20 minutes, so we put Charlie back in as a middle centre back and even though (Southend) had possession, our goalie (Aidan Stone) didn’t have anything to do. They kept pushing and we kept defending, but we switched off for one minute and it cost us. But the boys at the back, Charlie, Dom (Bernard), who is a full-back really, and Finn (Cousin-Dawson) are not accustomed with playing with each other.”
On his goalscorers, he added: “(Kyrell) has huffed and puffed and tried his socks off. He has pace and there were two good goals for us. Frank was great again, he is a handful when he is in that mood. I am just disappointed for the players because they gave so much today for one point, it would have been our best three points of the season when you look at the players we had available. Losing Jake Wannell on Friday morning when we had no inclination he would not be fit, so we did not have a chance to get another centre back in.”
With two minutes of the first half remaining, on loan Rotherham United striker Ciaran McGuckin limped off with an injury that his manager did not have too much time for. He said: “He says he has a sore calf. I’m not sure, I think the game has changed a bit, he should get on with that for me. Let’s see what it is, I might be doing him a disservice, but if it is a tight calf, you have just got to get through it.”
Yeovil travel to leaders Barnet, who picked up a 3-0 win away at Oldham Athletic this weekend, with a threadbare squad. Cooper said he was hoping to be able to strengthen the squad with new recruits before the trip to North London which is followed by a visit to sixth-placed FC Halifax Town next weekend.
He said: “We need a couple of players. We cannot fill the bench. We need cover in midfield and we need cover at the back, so there will be no rest (for the coaching staff). We will be scouring all the (scouting) tools, looking at substitutes’ benches (at other clubs) to see what is available.
“We are just giving everything now. Sometimes as a player you think you are (giving everything) but it is clear when you watch the game back that you are not. We have stripped it right back and every player out there today has given everything for the cause, and we have to keep doing that for the rest of the season. We have two tough games now, going to Barnet who are champions elect and then Halifax who are play-off contenders next Saturday.
“It will be tough (against Barnet), but the boys that put their hand up today to march forward were incredible and they will have to do it again on Tuesday.”
Match Report: Yeovil Town 2 Southend United 2
2025-03-01
Yeovil Town suffered late heartbreak as they were forced to settle for a draw by a late Southend United equaliser at Huish Park.
The Glovers had the worst start when poor defending gifted the visitors Charley Kendall the lead with around 30 seconds – yes, seconds – on the clock, but they roared back with Kyrell Wilson’s composed finish drawing them level on 13 minutes before Frank Nouble put them in front with his third goal in as many games.
The second half was all about the hard work of the home side, led by an outstanding Charlie Cooper who dropped in to a back three for the second period, as Southend struggled to break them down – but defender James Golding’s stunning strike with four minutes of five added on at the end game saw the game finish even.
First half
The home side could not have started worse as they went behind after 30 seconds against a Southend United who have scored the fewest away goals in the National League Premier Division. A ball bouncing around in the midfield and Leon Parillon was allowed to get away down the left side, the cross came in under no pressure from the Yeovil defence and Charley KENDALL was able to take a touch and fire past Aidan Stone.
The visitors could have doubled their advantage when Michael Smith struggled with Jack Bridge running at him down the left side and fell to Parillon on the half-volley on the edge of the box and fortunately his effort went wide. Three opportunities and they have all come down the left side.
But, having been up against it for the opening 13 minutes, Yeovil pulled level out of nothing. A looping ball over the top from Charlie Cooper found Kyrell WILSON who did superbly to control it and lift it over the on-rushing Southend keeper Nick Hayes to draw his side level. Good composure from the Swansea City loanee and a nice finish.
Four minutes later they were ahead. Michael Smith’s ball down the right was perfect to find McGuckin he took his defender to the byline and his cross was perfect to find captain Frank NOUBLE who took a touch and fired in his third goal in as many games.
Southend have had by far the better opportunities, but Yeovil have reacted superbly to going behind. It’s a funny old game, isn’t it?! As for the celebration, let’s say the former Colchester United man enjoyed his celebration in front of his old Essex rivals.
A word for Frank who has been reborn since half-time in the 2-1 home win over Tamworth. From a player on the transfer list to three goals in as many games to add to some outstanding work-rate, that is some response.
On 27 minutes, Southend threatened when Kendall had a shot blocked before it was played back in to the danger area by Tom Hopper who found the dangerous Gus Scott-Morris. Alex Whittle did superbly to flick the ball away from his fellow full-back, who has 14 goals already this season.
Two minutes later Nouble proved a hero at the other end, clearing off the line when Goodliffe headed goalwards at the back post. A minute later, Aidan Stone pulled off a superb reflex save to deny Bridge who had been found by Scott-Morris who had got past McGuckin too easily. A superb save by Stone.
McGuckin appeared to roll his ankle moments before Scott-Morris went past him and on 43 minutes he went off injured and was replaced by Harvey Greenslade with 43 minutes played.
The first half finished with Charlie Cooper playing in the middle of of a three-man defence alongside Finn Cousin-Dawson and Dom Bernard with Whittle and Smith in the wide positions. It was something of a backs to the wall display from Yeovil after they went ahead – but ahead at the interval they are.
Half time: Yeovil Town 2 Southend United 1
Second half
Yeovil came out for the second half with the same defensive unit as a back five with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Brett McGavin as a midfield two. In front of them, Greenslade and Wilson appear to be playing higher with Nouble dropping a little deeper in to a freer role which has seen him impress in recent weeks.
The visitors had to make a change with Oli Coker going off injured with seven minutes of the second half played, he was replaced by Keenan Appiah-Forson.
The opening 20 minutes was quite in terms of opportunities with neither side seemingly wanting to do anything too risky. The first opportunity came on 63 minutes when visiting defender James Golding headed a free-kick just wide.
With 20 minutes remaining, there was a moment when Cousin-Dawson slipped on the byline and there was a spell of about five crosses in to the Yeovil box. Nothing came from any of them for Southend, but the Glovers don’t seem to be able to get out.
On 73 minutes, Josh Sims replaced Kyrrel Wilson off the bench. The goal will have done the 20-year-old the world of good and he has put in another high-energy performance. There was a lot of effort from everyone in green-and-white, even if they have not done much to threaten Nick Hayes in the visitors’ goal.
As the game drew on, Yeovil sat very deep and made themselves hard to break down. Southend had plenty of the ball, but could not find a way past their hard-working hosts.
But, after piling on the pressure, the visitors grabbed an equaliser with four minutes of the five additional minutes played. Great work by Kendall to hold up the ball and found defender James GOLDING on the edge of the box, he showed some superb technique and rocketed a shot past Stone.
A point is a good result against a decent Southend side, but the way it happens – with a goal in the first 30 seconds and the last 30 seconds – is absolutely gutting.
Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Southend United 2
Match Details
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 1st March, 3pm kick-off
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Charlie Kendall 1 (0-1), Kyrrell Wilson 13 (1-1), Frank Nouble 17 (2-1), James Golding 90+4 (2-2)
Pitch: Looking better than it has in recent weeks, a bit bobbly
Conditions: A glorious Spring day
Attendance: 3,508 (354 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: None
Southend United: Oli Coker 50
Referee: William Davies
Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)
Substitutes: Harvey Greenslade (for Ciaran McGuckin, 43), Josh Sims (for Kyrrel Wilson, 74), Corey Koerner, Lewys Twamley, Sean McGurk, Matt Gould.
Southend United: Nick Hayes, Guss Scott-Moriss, Jack Bridge, James Golding, Leon Parillon (for Josh Walker, 78), Ben Goodliffe, Tom Hopper (for Macauley Bonne, 84), James Morton, Charley Kendall, Oli Coker (for Keenan Appiah-Forson, 52).
Substuitutes (not used): Anssi Jaakkola, George Wind, Daniel Waldron, Joe Gubbins.
Cooper: Wannell loss is a big blow
2025-03-01
The loss of captain Jake Wannell from the Yeovil Town defence will be a “big blow” for the Glovers, according to manager Mark Cooper.
The central defender is out of today’s match with Southend United at Huish Park with a calf injury which was only confirmed yesterday, leaving the boss not enough time to bring in any defensive cover.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah ahead of kick-off, Cooper said: “We were not aware that he had an issue until Thursday when he said his calf was tight, but we were told he was going to be fit. But then (Friday) morning he said he was too sore to play, so we are then scrambling to try and get another central defender in but there was not enough time to do that. It is a big blow for us, but Dom Bernard has 200 Football League games who comes in and has to do a job for us.
“You do not keep picking a team for the sake of it, if the players are not performing, that is what you have a squad for. Now the players are starting to perform and give everything and, if they do that, you can put up with the odd sub-standard performance, but with Jake not playing the players around him have to do a job and a bit more and make up for (Jake’s absence).”
The manager was asked to remember the 1-0 win at Southend United when he was unhappy about the post-match “shenanigans” after an ill-tempered match which saw the Shrimpers’ on loan keeper Zach Jeacock red carded after half-an-hour and manager Kevin Maher sent to the stands.
Cooper was complimentary about today’s opponents who are unbeaten their last three league matches and sit two points above the Glovers in the National League Premier Division table, in particular right-back Gus Scott-Morris who has scored 14 times this season.
The Yeovil manager said: “They are a good team with good players who are well coached. Both teams are set up right and it should be a good game.”
On Scott-Morris, he added: “A lot of them have been from set-pieces, so (left back) Alex Whittle will have to make sure he stops him.“
Team News: Southend United (home)
2025-03-01
Jake Wannell is missing from the Yeovil Town squad for today’s match with Southend United at Huish Park (3pm kick-off).
The defender is replaced by Dom Bernard who was an unused substitute in last weekend’s 2-0 win at Maidenhead United.
Under-18s’ captain Corey Koerner is one of just six substitutes named by the Glovers.
Foot In The Opposition Camp – Southend United (H)
2025-03-01
Chris Phillips is back on the Gloverscast to talk to Ben about today’s visitors, Southend United.