Yeovil gaffer Mark Cooper said that whilst certain aspects of the Glovers’ win over Farnborough aggravated him, the players deserve all the credit for finding a way to win in tough conditions.
Speaking post match to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall, Mark Cooper said that the Glovers made a good start, but had some wobbles.
“We made hard work of it, we made some really poor decisions, I must say the pitch was really heavy and difficult, it’s not an excuse, but it was really heavy and I thought in the first 20 minutes we were in complete control, we got a goal, but then we made some really poor decisions with the ball, in the middle of the pitch, where the bodies were and where it was heavy, that led to giving them energy and they had some attacks, they got their throw ins into the box, I was disappointed in the last 20 minutes in the first half.”
“Second half, we came out, we got another goal and then another poor decision, they score from a long throw and then [it’s] game on again, we’re scrambling, but we managed to get a third one to kill it off.”
Farnborough’s goal came from a long throw, something which Cooper said he made the team aware of and had a plan to overcome.
“My instruction and coaching on Friday and Thursday was; when our defenders have the ball deep, or the ball is in the channel, do not kick the ball out of play, I’d rather us take the risk and keep the ball in play because I think the ball is more dangerous out of play – and in the first minute one of our defenders kicks the ball out of play, near the corner flag, they throw the ball in our box.
At the minute, just little things, aggravating, but, it’s probably pressure because of the position we’re in, the games are whittling away and we’re getting closer and closer to where we want to be and it might be feeling the pressure – but, full credit to the players, again, they got it done.”
“Chelmsford came here the other night and drew, we’ve come here and scored three goals and got the three points.”
Pic : Gary Brown
A couple of nice moments to see the game out towards the end, Alex Whittle’s first Glovers goal and Alex Fisher’s first goal for the season and for nearly a year after his leg break at the end of last season.
“It’s great for Fish, he worked hard for that goal, he’s contributed now, that’ll make him happy, it makes us happy, it got us on the way.
[Alex Whittle] toe poked that one in, I think he got a nose bleed from the first effort and I think he just toe poked it and hoped for the best.
“It’s about picking up points, whenever we’ve lost, we’ve bounced back and we’ve done it again, so full credit to the players, unbelievable following from the boys and girls behind the goal.”
Looking ahead to Monday and Mark Cooper is fully aware he’ll have to use his squad to the full, the return of Jordan Young will add a bit of depth with a couple of players nursing some bumps and bruises.
“We’ve got some players that won’t be able to play on Monday, so, it’s important now that we use the squad,
I’ve said to them that tonight, to only have four pints instead of eight, but it’s about trusting them, because, when they leave us today, you don’t know what they’re going to do, do you, but we’ve trusted them all season and they’ve been really good, recovery is key and really important…”
Asked if the squad were in for training on Sunday, Cooper said;
“We’re not sure yet”
On Aveley, specifically the gaffer is under no illusions that his side are in for a difficult 90 minutes.
“They’ve had a terrific season, they’re up and around the play off picture… they’ve done brilliant and we’re expecting a really tough game again.”