Player interviews

Yeovil Town took home all three points from Southend this afternoon but Mark Cooper was far from pleased with his afternoon in Essex. The Yeovil boss praised the ‘incredible’ travelling support and his players, but during his interview with BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins, took aim at Southend, the FA and some of the things he heard during the match.

Here’s the full transcript of the interview:

Josh Perkins: Mark, I imagine you’ve got to be fairly happy with that one?

Mark Cooper: Yeah, I’m happy with the result. It was a horrible atmosphere. Yeah, I lost a little bit of what is in my soul about football today, some things I’ve seen and heard, I didn’t like it. I didn’t like it at all.

Josh Perkins: Can I ask what you heard?

Mark Cooper: No, just ridiculous stuff.

Josh Perkins: Okay, focusing on the game when you’re in those moments, be it with the red card from their keeper and the red card for their head coach and things. How difficult is that to kind of get on top of? And you know, make sure that you play your game?

Mark Cooper: You have to stay calm, of course. All our players stayed calm. One of our players [Charlie Cooper] got a yellow card which means he’s suspended. Is, honest to God, some of the stuff like that. Again, I’ve seen and heard full respect to our players. They kept they kept it together, and played our football that we do, and dominate the ball for long periods and just a matter of time if we were going to score.

Josh Perkins: And, you won’t go in to what you heard potentially. But was it from a Yeovil or Southend contingent?

Mark Cooper: No comment. I’ll not comment on it, it’s just ridiculous. What I’ve heard.

Josh Perkins: Okay. And I guess happy with James Plant’s first goal for the club as well? You know, he said to me earlier, he didn’t mean it, but, you know, across ends up with a goal.

Mark Cooper: It was a great cross wasn’t it? So yeah, listen, we deserved to win the game. It was tough on them. The goalie gets sent off. It ruins the game as a spectacle. But I thought it was a sending off – he handled the ball outside the box. They appealed for a penalty. I’ve just seen it wasn’t a penalty. I feel really sorry for referees and fourth officials, because they’ve been put in a really difficult position where you can get booked, as a player, as a manager, for adopting a winning attitude. Or I’ve been sent off this season for raising my arms above my waist, so which was rescinded. Their manager has had the same, but the referees and the officials have nowhere to go with it because they’re instructed. And we’re just losing the spirit and the emotion of the game.

Josh Perkins: Okay. And looking forward, we’ve got the next game, you mentioned that Charlie Cooper is suspended for. But you know, what do you take from this game going into next week?

Mark Cooper: Three points. I can’t wait to get out, get home. I wanted to come and watch Southend last week, and they wouldn’t leave me a ticket. They wouldn’t even reply to our emails. They’ve refused to make any food for our players, which is a National League rule. So, yeah, I can’t wait to get home to be honest, Can I just say tremendous turnout from our supporters. Incredible. They follow us through thick and thin, and they’re unbelievable. Great turnout.


Aaron Jarvis returned to the starting line up and got himself on the scoresheet at Wealdstone as Yeovil ran out 3-0 winners.

The number 9 headed in Dom Bernard’s cross in the second half and spoke to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall after the match. He said: It [the cross] was brilliant, the best cross of his [Bernard’s] life, I think. But no, it was, you know, I just had to get a touch on it, it was that good. And I was just glad I could just guide it into the corner.

The Glovers controlled the match and Jarvis felt they could have scored more.

“I’d probably say it’s our most comfortable game of the season so far, from back to front. We had an abundance of chances in the first half.  The scoreline could probably have been double if we stick a few of them away. But, you know, we kept pushing and unlocking the front line. And you know, we produced the goods today.”

“everyone’s got to be ready and got to take their chance when they get it”

With multiple changes to the team, Jarvis emphasised the importance of the whole squad and how, much like we heard during last season’s title-winning season, players have to take their chance.

“We’ve got an array of talent at the front line. It’s not being on the bench or starting 11, we’re all in it together. You know, squads are really important, and the Gaffer rotates the team a lot of the time, so everyone’s got to be ready and got to take their chance when they get it.”

Jarvis said he and his teammates owed the supporter a performance but isn’t getting too excited with Tamworth and Maidenhead coming up next.

He said: “We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves, but you know, we’re looking to carry this momentum into into Tuesday, and then hopefully into Saturday, and have a good week, because you know we can put us in a good position then.”


 

Frank Nouble spoke to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins after Yeovil’s 1-0 defeat at Oldham. Here’s what he said.

JP: Frank, never easy to do these after a loss I imagine. A disappointing result?

FN: Yeah, yeah, frustrating result. Nobody wants to lose games, especially when you feel like you put a lot into the game. I’m just proud of the team, really. Sometimes you lose a game and you’ve been outplayed or you know that position will better than you. You hold your hands up. Today I don’t think that was the case, I thought we done well. We frustrated them quite a lot and they’re big team in our division. So I’m glad we went toe to toe with them. I have confidence in the group, so just gotta keep going.

JP: What do you think it was? Because as you say in the first half you created chances. It was it was really there for the taking for both teams. What was it? What was the difference?

FN: I think they changed a few things [in the] second-half. I think they played better [in the] second-half. Sometimes a lot of pressure amounts to better chances, and I think they maybe edged it on better chances in second-half and they scored 1. So something we gotta learn from. We just got to keep going and you know the way we play our football it’s unique, I like to say. I think we’ve gone up a league and we’ve played exactly the same way. We try to play the ball on the floor, every now and then, mix it up and we’ve got personnel who are still blending with each other, you know. Partnerships are building every week, but we want it to build with winning as well. So you know we’re not going to be silly and say that we want to keep building and lose games either. Just gotta keep going and I’m proud of the group.

JP: And are you proud of yourself as well? Because, especially in the first half on that left hand side, you were playing off the shoulder of other defenders and cutting the ball into Jarvis I remember in the first half, so are you proud of yourself this season?

FN: Yeah, yeah, I feel like I’ve been OK. I’ve been good. I know if the attacking players are playing really well, we’ll win most games, so just gotta keep pushing for that form. I know it’ll come because we’re good players. It’s not a league we’re afraid of either. You know we’ve got me, Youngy, Jarvis, Sam Pearson. Eventually somebody’s going to, or a couple of us, will hit real rich form and when that does happen, we know that the back boys have been unbelievable as well, all year.. So we just got to stay together and the supporters are behind us, which is brilliant, so that gives us an extra push.

“it’s frustrating not to get it, especially in that moment of the game”

JP: And just describe to me because there were a couple of, crazy moments in thelast few minutes of the game. That apparent penalty call, shout whatever you wanna call it on Morgan Williams, was it a penalty?

FN: Yeah. Yeah, it’s a blatant penalty. Maybe the referee didn’t see it, maybe he got blindsided, cause [there’s] a lot of bodies in there, but it felt so obvious that you would think he would give it. So it’s frustrating not to get it, especially in that moment of the game there’s a big decision for referee to make. You know, we’re upset about at the time but we’ve got to move on quickly. We’ve got a game Tuesday against Sutton, which should be another tough game for us. But, you know, we’re quietly confident and we’ll keep working towards achieving the goals that we want to achieve which is looking up the table, not behind us.

JP: And as you say, tough game against Sutton. What else can you expect from that game on Tuesday?

FN: Sutton will be a good team. I think they come down from League Two last season, so we expect them to be good. I think they won today, I just checked the results. So we look forward to a tough game. I think they’ll be athletic. I know a couple of boys down there. We look forward to it, but they’ve got to deal with us as well. And I feel like we’re 5% away from giving someone a real hiding. So hopefully that could be the case on Tuesday. It’s also my birthday Tuesday as well, so I’m looking forward to it. So hopefully we can get the result. I wanted to keep it quiet until the game, but yeah, hopefully we can do it and we’ll just keep positive. The group is so positive in there. We’re disappointed today but it’s my job as one of the older players and a few of us to keep our head up high, long journey back home, rest up and be ready for Tuesday.

JP: 21 again on Tuesday is it?

FN: Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally. How did you know?


 

Yeovil Town’s two-goal hero Dylan Morgan has spoken to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins about the part he played in Yeovil’s 3-1 win over Dover.

“We started really well, the boys came out like a house on fire, I am buzzing to get two goals, it’s two great assists from Sam and Fish, I was really, really trying to get the third, but we had to control the game, so it wasn’t the day for that overall, I’m just buzzing for the boys, it’s been a great season.

Another unbelievable turn out from our fans, so, overall a great day.

The gaffer always talks about pull backs, so every time the ball goes out wide, I know where to be and the boys know where the players are, so as long as I get myself in those areas, I’ll score goals, I always back myself in front of goal, so I’ve just got to get myself in those areas.”

“I am buzzing to get two goals, I was really, really trying to get the third!”

With the game having not a lot riding on it, Morgan spoke about how he himself and the club as a whole attacked the game.

“All the players have got personal pride, we want to win all the time, if it was a thumb war, or a football match, everyone wants to win, we’e a team full of winners and that what you need if you want to achieve in football.”

Dylan Morgan gets past his man
📸 Gary Brown

The former Taunton winger also spoke about how his team mates have helped him settle in to a new club and settle back into a Full Time schedule after moving to Huish Park.

“For me, it’s been massive, coming in half way through the season, I was a bit nervous, the boys got me on board with the program straight away, they got their arm around me, I thank them all for that, to help me find my feet here.

It’s been brilliant, I’ve worked so hard to try and get back and try and take the opportunity, I’m forever thankful to Yeovil and the gaffer to give me the opportunity to come back, now it’s up to me to make it work it again.

I’ve only been here four or five months, so there’s loads to learn, and with a manager like that I can push on and push on, I’m happy to pick up some form, and hopefully I can come back next season and start really well.”

With a title in the bag and a flight to Barcelona waiting for Morgan and some of the squad, the winger simply left his final thoughts with the fans.

“I’m buzzing for the fans, they can see this club succeed again, it’s been a rough couple years, they can enjoy this more than anyone, to see Yeovil back doing well.”

 

Yeovil Town top-scorer Rhys Murphy is looking forward to returning to action at Huish Park when the Glovers take on Hampton & Richmond this weekend.

The frontman, who netted his 13th goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 2-2 draw at Dartford on Saturday, admitted a month of away games had taken its toll on the side.

They have picked up five points from their four National League South matches since the 4-2 win over Farnborough during their last outing on home soil in mid-November, and they now have three of their next five games at Huish Park over the Christmas period.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Thursday, Murphy said: “It’s been an intense few weeks with lots of travelling to away games, but we knew it was coming because earlier in the season we had played a lot at home.

It is brilliant to be back in front of our fans and they will be out in their numbers like they have been all season and we can put on a show for them.

As a player you want to be playing football, whatever day of the month it is, it all blurs in to one, you are playing football and that is the main thing.”

Rhys Murphy walks away wondering how he missed an early chance in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Dartford.

Murphy started last weekend’s draw at Dartford which saw Yeovil stretch their lead at the top of the table to seven points but he had not been in the starting XI since the 1-1 draw at Chippenham Town at the end of November.

He admitted that having the likes of Frank NoubleJake Hyde and more recently Alex Fisher, as well as forwards Jordan Young and on loan Sonny Cox (who has now returned to his parent club Exeter City) did spur him on to find form.

The top-scorer said: “You work hard all week on the training pitch all week and you want to play football. We have another good run of fixtures coming up now and it’s something to sink our teeth in to and hopefully we can come out with plenty of points and still top of the table.

We have a really good group of players, so you know if you are not starting you know that you are fighting to get your shirt back. But, even if you are not starting you have to think about how you can effect a game without even coming on, so you always want to be ready and know that when your chance comes you have to take it.

Good competition gets the best out of everyone because even when you are playing great you know you have to be at it to keep your shirt but (having good players in the squad) can also save your legs. It’s a long, hard season, so you have to look at the big picture.

Some times you might get frustrated but that is because we all want to play. That is a good thing if you can channel that positively.

Returning Yeovil Town midfielder Charlie Cooper has said how he is proud of the way the Glovers handled themselves in defeat to Wrexham in the FA Cup.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, he reiterated his pride at the way the side fought against a side two divisions above the visitors. – You can listen to the entire interview below.

“It wasn’t an easy one, I think the lads were great today, obviously it’s a tough place to come, a team that are at the top end of League Two and are probably going to get promoted this season – and it wouldn’t surprise me if they go again next season – a tough place to come, but I think we’ve done ourselves proud, we’re just a bit frustrated, fine moments in the game, we haven’t concentrated and that’s let us down, but the overall play and the chances we had, I think we were decent.”

“That’s what they’re all about, they just created loads of pressure and long throws, corners, switching the play, they play with two focal points up front, we just switched off at key moments in the game and went in at 2-0 down, which is a killer really, but I think we came out in the second half really held our own, we played some good stuff and committed a lot of bodies forward, had a few chances but unfortunately they caught us at the end for 3-0. It’s unlucky, but it’s a good performance.

“We definitely had chances, a couple in the first half and then a few in the second half as well, I think if we keep in 0-0 at half time, it’s always going to be interesting, but we didn’t do that and they’ve punished us, like I said, we’re proud of our performance but a little bit frustrated at the same time. 

Speaking to Gloverscast Ben after his chat with Sheridan, Cooper thought his first half chance, which drew a save out of Mark Howard in the Wrexham net was destined for the top corner – as was Jordan Young’s free kick.

“I thought it was in you know, I thought he was going to palm in into his net, but obviously it didn’t go in, it was frustrating, Youngy’s had one off the bar as well, moment’s like that – something goes our way there and it makes it really interesting, but it just didn’t go our way today.

“It’s ridiculous, he (Jordan Young) is a talent to be fair, I don’t even bother trying to get on the free kicks now because it’s either a goal or it’s going close, I see it a lot in training and he’s proved it in games as well, he’s got unbelievable technique and a great left foot, so I leave him to it”

“I thought it was in you know, I thought he was going to palm in into his net… Youngy’s had one off the bar as well”

Cooper was booked early in the first half, with a – ahem – feisty, Elliot Lee snapping at his heels all game, the midfielder had to keep his wits about him, so he did what anyone would do, make friends with the referee.

“I was trying to talk to the ref, we ended up good mates in the end, that’s the way to go now, it’s my first tackle and I got a yellow card so I was a bit frustrated with it, but I just tried to keep disciplined – I need to improve on that”

“Listen, we were never going to win the FA Cup, we’re disappointed that we didn’t get anything today, but the bread and butter is the league and that’s what we have got to do now, we had a little dip, came off that big run that we were on, but I think everyone in there believes we can go on another run like that and create more of a gap at the top of the table”

“The fans were unbelievable, I don’t think they stopped singing all game, they out sung the Wrexham fans, they’re going to back us again on Wednesday, I think they knew today was going to be a tough one, but Wednesday, we owe it to them to put it right and go and get three points”


The full interview with Charlie Cooper can be listened to below

Yeovil Town goalkeeper Joe Day said his team-mates were happy to pick up a point despite not being at their “fluid best” in the 1-1 draw at Chippenham Town on Tuesday night.

The on-loan Newport County keeper was beaten by a freak own goal by defender Morgan Williams in the 89th minute in Wiltshire, but he said a draw was acceptable after his team-mates missed a number of chances to score.

Speaking on Thursday, the 33-year-old said the Glovers now have to make the point a worthwhile one with victory at Welling United on Saturday.

He said: “Being realistic we are not going to be at our fluid best every game, so to come away with a point away from home we have to take the point and turn it in to a good point with a win on Saturday.

I don’t think anyone is going to be easy to play against. Most teams we have come up against make themselves hard to break down, we felt that against Chippenham who defended well behind the ball. But we have got to come to expect that, when you are top of the table teams are going to want to be hard against you and it’s up to us to overcome that.

Everyone wanted to keep the winning run going til the end of the season, but we are still unbeaten and as long as we are where we want to be at the end of the season, no-one is going to worry about the runs, it’s all about being at the right point of the season.

I like to think of my goals as team goals because it takes an entire team to get a clean sheet, so measuring success as a goalkeeper is about performance levels and how we defended the box as a unit. Everyone in the team wants a clean sheet, not just me.

The same back four – Michael Smith, Jake Whittle, Morgan Williams and Alex Whittle – started in front of Day for 11 consecutive games until an injury to Wannell in the 26th minute of the 4-2 home win over Farnborough broke the run.

On loan Bristol City youngster Duncan Idehen, 21, has featured in the FA Trophy exit at Torquay United and the draw at Chippenham Town on Tuesday night and Day has been impressed with how he has filled the void. Manager Mark Cooper revealed on Thursday that he expects Wannell to be available for selection against Welling.

Day said: “Dunc’s come in well. He’s stepped in to a strong partnership between Morgs (Williams) and Wans (Jake Wannell), so to come in to that is difficult for him as a young lad but I think he’s done himself justice. Whenever you change the back line, there has to be a level of adaptation and it’s frustrating we have not to keep that continuity. But over the course of the season, you have to deal with these things.

 

Yeovil Town’s Hat Trick hero, Jordan Young spoke to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the Glovers’ 4-2 over Farnborough, there was only one place to start, those three wonderful goals;

“Its obviously amazing, it’s my first (Hat Trick), i’m over the moon, it’s a massive three points, but i”m happy.”

The game itself was an entertaining affair, with six goals, two pretty good penalty appeals, a cross bar rattled and chances galore, Young was happy to get over the line.

“It felt very end-to-end, especially first half, the gaffer said at half time, we need to slow it down a little bit and keep the ball for longer periods and we’ll get chances.

I think that was what we did, when we went 3-1 up, I thought we controlled the game a bit, but they were a good side, they worked on what they did well and caused us problems.”

It genuinely feels like every game we’re going to win at the minute

“It genuinely feels like every game we’re going to win at the minute and we’ve just got to keep that going, I don’t know where we can take it, just game by game.”

“Whitts was suspended and Jake felt him hammy in the first half and that disrupted it, but the boys came in and did really well and saw out the game, which is the main thing”

The former Chippenham man will miss next week’s game against his former club after picking up a 5th yellow card of the season, we get the feeling he’s a bit disappointed about it.

“I was fuming all game, as soon as (the booking) happened, I was like ‘oh my god, what am I doing?’, but it’s part of football, I can’t – in the game, you don’t think ‘don’t make a tackle’, but it is what it is.

“My body is a bit sore, I took a couple of knocks, but it was a tough game, they were good at what they did and made it tough for us”


You can listen to the full interview here… listen in to find out which of the three goals was his favourite.


 

Yeovil Town goal-scorer Sonny Blu Lo-Everton believes his wonder strike in tonight’s 3-1 win at Torquay United is just the start for him.

The former Watford youngster capped an all-action display with a stunning strike for the visitors’ second as they ran out comfortable winners at Plainmoor and restored their three point advantage at the top of National League South.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour at the end of the game, he said: “I do need to shoot more, so that’s a start anyway! It was good to get my first goal of the season and at a really good time.

I am taking on a different role at the moment, a little bit deeper, but I am enjoying it. When you are in the team you want to stay in the team, it is as simple as that, you need to make it your position and give the manager no excuses to drop you.

The visitors took the lead through former Gulls’ striker Frank Nouble before Lo-Everton added a second. Gary Johnson’s men came out for the second half with a bit more of a spring in their step (or should that be a flea in their ear?) and pulled one back before substitute Jake Hyde sealed it with a third.

Sonny said: “We had a game plan to dominate possession and we did that and that’s the thing that killed them, definitely in the first half. Second half it got away from us a little bit for periods, but when you get the third goal that kills their momentum.

In the first half there was definitely a mismatch before the two sides but there were points in the second where it was touch and go. After that third goal, that is the game. They may lump it long and win a couple of headers but no drama.

The victory – which makes it 12 in a row in all competitions, in case you didn’t know – puts Yeovil three points ahead of second-placed Aveley with games in hand over four of the rest of the top seven.

But, Sonny is not getting carried away. He added: “We all know that everyone needs to keep a level head, it’s 12 wins in a row but you have to forget about that and look at the next game.

There’s nothing better than winning and 12 on the spin is a big number but you don’t look at the 12 you look at the next game.


Here’s the full interview with Sonny and BBC’s Somerset’s Tom Seymour

Yeovil Town goal-scorer Jake Hyde believes his team-mates ability to win in all conditions will help keep them in the promotion race in National League South this season.

The experienced frontman came off the bench to score for the second time this week as he netted the second in a 2-0 win over Braintree Town at a rain-soaked Huish Park.

He appeared as a 60th minute substitute alongside fellow frontman Frank Nouble and had to slog it out on a sodden surface before the pair combined to seal the three points which move the Glovers six points clear at the top of the table.

Speaking after the match, Hyde said: “It was very difficult conditions. It was not a pretty game and you can only play the conditions and the fact we are finding a way to win whether that is footballing or direct and we are managing teams and conditions is really pleasing. It was tough out there but I think we handled it well.

The best teams at any level find a way to win, that might be away from home or at home, and sometimes your Plan A is not always going to work which may be due to conditions. So today was a really tough but disciplined performance.

Jake Hyde celebrates his 90th minute goal at a rain-soaked Huish Park.
Picture courtesy of Debs Curtis.

The former Southend United and Wrexham player had a similar impact on Tuesday night when he arrived to kill the game with a goal deep in to stoppage time and today’s goal brings him to three goals for the season.

He told our man Ian Perkins that watching from the sidelines whilst the likes of Rhys Murphy and Nouble start matches and find the net has not been easy.

Hyde said: “That is when character comes in to it, when things are against you that is when you find out what sort of character you are. All you can do in that situation is get your head down and start working hard and when you do get your opportunities you have to start taking them.

It is new for me because I have been lucky with the clubs I have played for to not sit on the bench too much, so that is new for me.

But it is important that you do what is right by yourself, so it’s all about being as professional as possible and when you do get your opportunities, take them, hard work and things will change for you. That is what I have been trying to do.

We have got some good competition in my position here, we have got experienced players, goalscorers, lots of options and I think that is going to be a big part in making this group successful.

The three points coupled with a defeat for second-placed Bath City means Yeovil extended their advantage at the top of the table – but Hyde is under no illusion that the side has only just started.

He said: “It is a fantastic start and it is still early for us as a group of players because we are still getting to know each other and building as a team.

I think that to be where we are so far is a good start, but it is only a start because it is a long season and a lot can still happen.

On and off the pitch it is a brilliant group of lads and we are very tight knit which you are going to have to be if you want to be successful.