Ian Perkins (Page 40)

Mark Cooper hailed this afternoon’s 1-0 win at Eastbourne Borough as a ‘brilliant three points’. A first half goal from Frank Nouble was all it needed on a windy afternoon in East Sussex.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour, the gaffer said: “It’s a brilliant three points. It was a horrendous afternoon, the wind, pitch, lack of atmosphere. These are the places you have to come and get three points if you have aspirations of having successful season.”

“The wind was horrendous and the pitch; you know, I’m not a fan of. I don’t think anyone is of 3Gs, we understand why they are at this level, but they’re such a leveller.  We had chances to kill the game off. I can’t recall any clear cut chances.”

Yeovil scored in controversial circumstances, according to the Eastbourne Borough supporters, after Rhys Murphy was sharpest on a drop ball. Cooper couldn’t understand the complaints, however.

“I’m not too sure what was going on, to be honest. It was like a referee had blown up for, I don’t know. He blew up just before that for we don’t know what it was. I think he said he felt a buzz on his arm. And then, just after that, he gave a drop ball and our players said that the Eastbourne player touched it. So once he touches it, it then becomes live. That was brilliant from Murphy. Taking it right into the box and played the lovely pass for Frank [Nouble], great finish.”

Cooper also reflected on the defensive improvement of his side. After a bit of an iffy patch (in comparison to 14 wins in a row) the Glovers have kept two clean sheets in a row.

“I thought we defended magnificently well. And a couple of weeks ago we lost at Welling in the league. Then we lost in the Trophy and we conceded a few goals. So there was a lot of work went on again on the training ground and we reinforced the basics of how we defend and Morgs (Williams), Wans (Wannell), Smudge (Smith), Joe (Day), Jay’s (Foulston) come in, Whits (Whittle) and the midfield players have defended magnificently.”

Heading into Christmas Day, Yeovil are eight points clear at the top of the National League South with 50 points and Cooper was full of praise for his table-topping greens.

“It’s so easy to knock to knock the players when they lose a game. And we, the players, have done unbelievably this year from where they’ve come from. They’ve showed a real attitude and a commitment to the club. And, you know, the difference between now and where we were last year’s chalk and cheese.

“They deserve all the credit, the players, all of them. They’ve been tremendous and they’ve come to places like this, difficult afternoons, given everything. We’ve not played well every week, but we’ve given everything and accumulated a real good number of points,” he added.

Taunton Town head to Huish Park on Boxing Day and they won’t be resting on their laurels and are looking forward to a packed Park.

“They’ve had their troubles of late and you know some financial issues. But, you know we can’t be sentimental. We have to go and win the game. And I’m sure they’ll provide a tough test. But we have to do what we do and make sure we’re at it.

“[It] should be a big, massive crowd. We love playing at home and we’ve been brilliant at home. Our supporters get right behind the boys. Hopefully they’ve not had too much turkey and they can cheer us on.”