Player interviews (Page 2)

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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.

 

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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

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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.”

 

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There might be ten consecutive wins* up for grabs, but Yeovil Town top-scorer Rhys Murphy is seeing nothing more than three points against Braintree Town this weekend.

The marksmen has ten goals in all competitions to his name this season and is part of a Glovers’ side in a scintillating run of form and is hungry for more – wins and goals, that is.

But, speaking on Thursday ahead of the match at Huish Park, he revealed the manager Mark Cooper and his staff are not allowing anyone to get carried away.

He said: “There’s no chance of us getting too confident in the run we are having. The manager, the staff are on us every day. You may have won the last game but that means nothing, move on to the next one.

“We are having team meetings about the opposition and their strengths and weaknesses and we show them the respect they deserve, but there’s going to be no foot coming off the gas and we are going to be attacking every game and going in to win it.”

Asked about the possibility of moving in to double figures in their winning run, Murphy added: “We are not looking at breaking records, if they come along that’s great, but the aim is bigger than getting a record in the season. The focus is on making sure we are promoted.

“It would be pretty pointless breaking a record in October and not getting promoted. Your eyes always have to be on the bigger picture.”

By his (admittedly very high) standards, the frontman is having a bit of a goal drought having not scored in the last three matches albeit he has been instrumental in setting up a number of goals scored by his team-mates.

He was replaced after 70 minutes in the midweek win over W*ymouth and his replacement, Jake Hyde, went on to bag the side’s second deep in to second half stoppage time. 

To add to the strength of the Glovers’ forward line, Sonny Cox, the teenage striker on loan from League One Exeter City, impressed having replaced Frank Nouble at the same point in the game – and Murphy admits the competition is spurring the players on.

Murphy said: “Players can’t afford to take their eye off the ball, they need to be training hard and showing they are worthy of a start every week.

“You have to earn you shirt and when you do you need to be taking your chance and, if you don’t, there are people coming in to take your place. And even if you are playing well, the manager has shown he is able to make substitutes that impact in games.

“We saw that the other night (against W*ymouth) and there has been other occasions where subs have come on and had a really strong impact on the game which is great.

“It’s a long hard season where the entire squad is going to be needed and you are not going to be successful with only one or two players performing. We need everybody and at the moment, everybody is pulling their weight.”

 

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Yeovil Town opening goal hearo Jake Wannell told the club’s Youtube channel that he was happy to keep contributing with goals as the Glovers’ progressed into the first round proper of the FA Cup. 

“It felt good, they can take the ball home and we can go into the next round, 

On a personal level, I do set myself a target, I am one away – I probably should have had another one last week, missed from two yards, it was harder to miss last week – we go again next week.

I set (a target) five for the season as a centre back, that’s quite high, they’re (the squad) are now all saying they want ten, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Four goals already and the former Taunton man wants more, especially with the group doing so well. 

“At home, we seem to be clicking really well and that shows in the dressing room after, that we’re all together, it’s good times at the minute.

We knew about (Southend’s) squad struggles coming into it, we also knew their strengths and I felt like we dealt with that really well today especially as a back four/back five at some points.

The unit was really strong I felt like tactically today we were we spot on to get a clean sheet against a good team in the National League was was a good bonus.”

 

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Despite seeing Yeovil Town score two fantastic goals, goalkeeper Joe Day has happiest to end today’s FA Cup win over Southend United with a clean sheet.

You can listen to whole interview at the bottom of this article.

The on-loan Newport County keeper made a couple of vital interceptions to keep the visitors out whilst stunning strikes from defender Joe Wannell and frontman Jordan Young booked a place in the competition’s first round.

It is only the keeper’s second clean sheet since arriving at Huish Park at the start of September, with the other coming in the competition’s previous round, a 2-0 home win over Didcot Town.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the fourth qualifying round win, Day said: “As much as the goals were fantastic, for me to see the players in front of me show the maturity of that performance took the pressure of a team that is doing really well in the league above was really pleasing to see us cope with it and cope with us well.

“They had a lot of possession but that was our plan. We wanted to stay compact and defend our box and we wanted to enjoy defending.

“The Gaffer (manager, Mark Cooper) is probably the happiest man here because the work he has put in this week on the training ground really showed today.”

Joe Day, who has been ever-present since joining on loan from Newport County at the start of September.
? Those White Lines

The 33-year-old was not being drawn on who he wants in the next round of the competition with his parent club in the hat when the draw is made at 2.30pm on Sunday.

But, he was pleased to make it seven wins in a row with the victory and had a word of praise for Will Buse, the Yeovil-born keeper who he replaced in the starting line-up, for his contribution in keeping him on his game.

Day said: “Performances have been really strong and results have been really good. All I wanted to do was to bring a bit of experience to the squad.

“Will Buse is a fantastic young goalkeeper and he shows in training how good he is. I hope he can learn a lot from me and vice versa, I always like to pick things up from every goalkeeper I work with.

“With Phil (Osborn), the goalkeeper coach, we have a really good goalkeeper’s union there, a strong bond and hopefully we can keep this run going and keep building on more clean sheets.”

Will Buse, who started this season as Yeovil’s number one. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Here’s the full interview with Joe Day and Sheridan Robins

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Yeovil Town midfielder Josh Owers was on official post-match media duties following the Glovers’ 3-1 win over Aveley.

The former Bristol City man was happy with the performance as a whole as to extend the winning streak to six matches. 

“(We’re) really happy, I thought it was a really good performance especially first half, I thought we were really dominant and played well, then obviously in the second half, they got their goal early on but we saw it out – I thought it was solid all round.” 

“We got off to a flying start and to be fair, I think it could have been more, we missed two or three really good chances, on another day they probably go in, but we’re really happy with how it went.

I think it could have been more, we missed two or three really good chances,

With the points all but sewn up in the first half, the message at half time was about carrying on and making sure the win was as comfortable as possible.

“(Mark Cooper said;) just keep doing what we were doing really, they came out and gambled second half and they put their front four on our front four, so we just had to manage the game out, just keep doing what we were doing and make sure we didn’t do anything stupid

“They didn’t have anything really, I think they had one chance first half and obviously the goal – (they) sort of toe poked it over the line, a bit unfortunate”

The Glovers end the day top of the table – and will stay there for at least a week – Owers is feeling the positivity and has his letter to Santa written already… 

“Everything is more positive, we’re at the right end of the table, but now we’re there (top) we have got to make sure we stay there and keep the momentum going – hopefully by Christmas, try and be as clear as we can really”

That would be a lovely present to take into Boxing Day, Josh!!

 

 

 

 

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Yeovil Town striker Frank Nouble has been speaking ahead of the game against Aveley this weekend as has kept his call simple…. Keep Winning Games.

The front man has six (not four) goals so far this season and just wants to extend the Glovers winning streak;

“The main thing is we’re winning football matches, playing good football as well I think, there’s all coming along really nicely, I think everyone knows their roles and responsibilities compared to first game of the season as to where we are now, we’re more accomplished in what we want to do as a team, it’s quite a new team compared to last season.
So, the manager’s been working tirelessly every day around the training ground to get it working,  the way we want it to work, not how someone else might want it to work or, you know, or maybe supporter who want things to be a much quicker process, football doesn’t work like that, so where we are now we’re happy but at the same time we know it’s got a long way to go.”

“We’re happy with how things have gone, we just want to keep progressing, keep winning games of football”

“I think we’re on – I don’t know maybe four or five games in a row we’ve won – so we want to keep going, it’s a good game to play on Saturday against Aveley, they’re doing quite well in the league as well so just another game for us really to hopefully showcase what we can do but keep winning the most important for us.

They’re doing well, regardless of the name or the league position, you’ve got to respect them and that’s as far as it goes, after that it’s all about us.

We just need to win the game and perform well, I think if we perform well – which I think we perform in the main quite well –  we’ve won (the) game so I think if we do that then we’ve got nothing to worry about”

Asked about what he’s looking for this season as a whole, the former West Ham and Torquay striker just reiterated his mantra… Keep Winning Games.

“Success is winning games of football and I’ve said that quite a few times now but you know we’ve got great support all around the club with the Manager, Chairman and everyone surrounding the club everyone that works here tirelessly every day that people don’t see, if we’re winning games it makes everyone feel about better and we’ve got a great backing, we feel the love every day and we don’t need anyone else outside, (or to be) listening to whatever might be said out there or, you know, someone who might think that we need to be doing even better than what we are doing main thing for us is that we’re progressing well.

We know that we’ve got good players, a good group, the squad depth is quite good, we can play some players you might be playing for teams in Division above so for us it was only keep doing that and focusing on ourselves we’ll do well”

Frank Nouble’s goal graphic

With six goals already (not four), Nouble not only thinks that number will grow, but expects it too.

“I think, if I play well I like to think that my team will win, I like to think that other attacking players think the same, so that pushes all of us to do well, I don’t think I scored in the first three or four games, it might seem as pressure, but for us it was more case of if I am not scoring hopefully Murphy is scoring or Hydey’s scoring or you know Young or whoever you might like to see play on a weekend, so long as we are all putting our in our best foot forward and the team will do well, but me personally a good form, so I expect that myself anyway.”

Keep winning games, sounds just lovely to us, Frank!

The full interview can be found here, scroll to the very end for his thoughts on Jurgen Klopp and VARgate. 

 

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Yeovil Town skipper Josh Staunton has said that the 2-0 win over Didcot Town represents a ‘job done’ for the Glovers.

“I thought first half we were pretty good, second half, we weren’t really firing, we had way too many turnovers, but I think in those games it’s just a case of getting the job done and, 2-0 – it probably could have been more if we’d have just been a bit more clinical in the final third.”

Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton in action against Didcot Town,
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

“But, we’re happy with that, job done, into the next round of the cup, (the) most important thing at 3 O’clock was being a name in the hat, which we are, happy with it.”

Both the Glovers’ goals came in the first half and to their credit, Didcot did make more of a match of it in the second 45, Staunton believes whilst their opponents do deserve a mention, they maybe could have done better themselves in possession.

“I think sometimes you just lose that fluidity, they obviously came out with a different (style), first half they sat eleven men behind the ball, which is always difficult to break down, with the wind we got caught forcing it a couple of times, we just needed to be patient and wait for the holes to come.

Any team who come and stick eleven men behind the ball, it’s difficult and second half when they played a different way and attacked and stepped on us, it was probably a bit more challenging.”

“it’s a win and in a cup competition, that’s all that matters”

“I don’t think it was an intention to take the foot off the pedal because we wanted more goals, kill the game off, simple as that, but when things aren’t quite falling for you, we just kept turning the ball over needlessly.

We didnt really have any good spells of possession in good areas of the pitch, when you do that teams are always going to grow into the game, especially when they’ve got nothing to lose. “

Staunton, and the defence in behind him, recorded their first clean sheet since beating Tonbridge Angels in late August, which was something which pleased the captain;

“You respect the opposition, you respect the game and I think the clean sheet was important to us, off the back of not having one for a while, we kept a clean sheet and that’s a positive to take out of today.

It’s ticked another box, it’s a building block, when we’re not quite at our best we didn’t capitulate and concede a soft goal we just kept going and like I say it’s a win and in a cup competition that’s all that matters”

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Yeovil Town midfielder Charlie Cooper is looking to improve his own FA Cup record as he looks to help the Glovers progress to the fourth qualifying round when they take on Didcot Town this weekend.

The 26-year-old admits he does not have much history in the world’s greatest cup competition.

In 2017, he was part of the Forest Green Rovers side which took Exeter City to a second round replay and he made the first round of the competition with Woking when they lost 3-2 at higher division Gillingham in 2020, neither of which constitute a fairy tale.

Speaking ahead of the weekend’s third qualifying round tie at Huish Park, Cooper said: “There’s nothing that stands out, so hopefully this can be a season where we can kick on and get a big team in a later round.

“It’s massive to go as far as you can and getting to the First Round Proper when a few more teams come in is great and hopefully we can go further than that, but we just have to take each game as it comes.

“We will pay full respect to Didcot on Saturday and stay professional and try to get the job done.

“The club has great history in the Cup. There’s a long way to go before we get (to the stage where bigger teams come in) but we just have to take a game each come.”

He revealed that he had a friend in the Merthyr Town side which came from behind to beat Didcot 2-1 in the Southern League Premier South on Tuesday night, so has been told to expect “a tough game.”

Cooper concluded: “Hopefully we can be professional, do things right and progress in to the next round.”

The midfielder has picked up five yellow cards and one red – given for two bookings in the August Bank Holiday Monday defeat at Havant & Waterlooville – and admitted he is struggling to come to terms with new rules which have come in for officials this season.

Asked about how he was coping, he added: “I’m not liking it too much! You’ve got the added time and the one about communication with the referee I’m finding the one hard and I need to get better than that.

“The rules are getting taken too far now, you can’t even speak to a referee without it being a yellow card and you can’t even make a tackle without getting booked.

“This season the number of suspensions there will be, it’s getting a bit silly.”