Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper admitted the 3-0 home defeat to League One side Bristol Rovers was “a reality check” for his side after two impressive wins at the start of their pre-season campaign.
The Glovers were punished for sloppy defending – and a slice of dodgy refereeing, isn’t there always? – as goals from the visitors’ Scott Sinclair, Kofi Shaw and Luke McCormick sealed a comfortable win in front of a crowd of 1,715 for the opening friendly at Huish Park this summer.
The boss had seen his side cruise to consecutive 5-1 wins at lower league Melksham Town and Frome Town in their two opening friendlies and he admitted they had been beaten by “a good team” in Bristol Rovers.
Asked if he thought there were lessons to be learnt from the match, he told the club’s official YouTube channel: “For sure. I thought we were really good for 25 minutes without actually threatening their goal, we were composed and competent with the ball but did not get our attacking play going.
“We obviously conceded a sloppy goal and then the second one was a joke from the referee (James Durkin of Portland, near W*ymouth). There were two fouls and that (second goal) killed the game for me and it was a bit of a downer for us. We go in at half-time 2-0 down when there’s no been a lot in the game.
“I thought Bristol Rovers were really good, after 20 or 25 minutes they stepped on to us with a full press and made it difficult for us to get out.
“They changed and went really aggressive, stepped on to us and that is when we have to realise the space is behind them, not in front of them and we did not recognise that quick enough which led to us being a goal down and then two goals down.”
However, the boss said he would not lose too much sleep over his side’s performance recognising that they are only three matches in to their pre-season preparations with League One Exeter City the next visitors to Huish Park on Friday night.
Cooper added: “It is pre-season, this is where we get our sharpness and everything fine tuned, that is what pre-season is about. We are not going to get too downbeat, we know where we are and what we have got to do.
“After the Melksham and Frome games we were going to win the league, so it’s just a reality check for everyone, the players included, that we have work to do.”
There was a 60-minute appearance for new signings striker Aaron Jarvis along with a number of first-team regulars in last season’s National League South title-winning side. Fellow new signings midfielder Brett McGavin played 80 minutes and former Rovers’ striker Harvey Greenslade, defender Jake Wannell and goalkeeper Ollie Wright all got 90-minute run-outs.
But Cooper was quick to point out that he expected to give those who did not get so much game time more minutes against Exeter.
He said: “We are just trying to manage everyone’s minutes. There are some that are a little bit in front of others fitness-wise, so we are trying to make sure that we are not pushing some too hard that have got the odd niggle or and pushing some harder that we think need to do a bit more.
“It will be a bit different (against Exeter City) on Friday, some of the boys that played 30 or 35 minutes tonight will play longer on Friday. There is nothing to be read in to the team selection at the moment.”
Trialist full-back Jacob Roddy, who was released from Charlton Athletic in the summer, was one of those who appeared on the 61-minute mark alongside Jordan Stevens, who released by the club in the summer having been unable to hold down a place in the side due to injury problems.
Cooper said after the match that he was not “in a position to do anything” about adding them to the squad at the moment, but he was happy to be able to take a look at both players whilst they are joining the squad for pre-season.
He said: “Being on trial is really difficult, they have acquitted themselves well in to the group, but we are a couple of players short and I don’t think at the moment we are in a position to do anything. But when we are, we have two players there that we have had a good look at.”
There was no place in the squad for full-back Jordan Thomas, a summer signing from Hampton & Richmond, who was an unused substitute in the win at Frome Town on Saturday. There was also no place for goalkeeper Will Buse or playmaker Jordan Maguire-Drew who are both under contract for the coming season but have uncertain futures having not been assigned a squad number.
Worrying that the manager is saying he can’t strengthen in July! I think it could be a bump to reality after last years heroics!