Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper has promised he will not allow his players to rest of their laurels as they go in to their biggest test of the season against Southend United in the FA Cup this weekend.
The Glovers sit top of the National League South table going in to the match against the National League Premier side and the manager wants his side to ride the wave of momentum around the club.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, he confirmed he expects to have midfielders Jordan Stevens and Charlie Cooper available for selection after the pair missed last weekend’s 3-1 home win over Aveley through injury.
The manager said: “There’s a good feel about the place and a really good atmosphere when we play (at Huish Park) and we have to keep that going and ride the momentum and see how far it will take us.
“I am sure they have looked at us and are thinking ‘they’re not bad’. They will have watched our game on Saturday (against Aveley) and it will be a tough game for us and that is what we want.
“The positive reinforcement the players that what we are working on is working is a powerful thing. It is important we keep building on that because I still think we can get better.
“I am sure they have looked at us and are thinking ‘they’re not bad’. They will have watched our game on Saturday (against Aveley) and it will be a tough game for us and that is what we want.
“The positive reinforcement the players that what we are working on is working is a powerful thing. It is important we keep building on that because I still think we can get better.”
Southend sit in 19th place in the National League Premier table having been deducted ten points by the FA in exchange for writing off debts of £275,000.
They would be comfortably in the division’s play-offs if they had not had that deduction having won seven and drawn three of their opening 15 league matches despite having a shoestring squad.
Cooper said: “We are the underdog against a team that is doing well in the league above us, so the pressure comes off us and goes a little bit on to Southend.
“They are expected to beat us, so let’s see how we deal with that. We are one game away from drawing a League club, so there is a bit of a different feel and an excitement about it.
“You could feel the spirit when we were playing on Saturday and that is a big thing, so hopefully the fans will turn out in their numbers again and get behind the boys.”
The visitors recently announced they are to be taken over by a consortium led by Australian businessman Jason Rees, who is expected to replace reviled current owner Ron Martin from the start of next month – and Cooper is under no illusion about the boost that news will give the team.
Picture courtesy of Iain Morland.
He likened it to the takeover by current Glovers’ owner Martin Hellier who bought the club from [NAME REDACTED] in the summer.
Cooper said: “You have seen what has happened here, their fans thought they were going out of business, everyone pulls together in a massive fan base and that is really powerful and that transmits to the players.
“They were doing well enough anyway with a threadbare squad with some good players, small numbers but good players, and now they have added a couple.
“But that feel good factor of knowing they have their club back is worth another 25%, so it’s a brilliant challenge for us.
“Their fans have been magnificent throughout all the recent troubles, similar to Yeovil. But they can get 7,000 without trying and I would suggest they are on the way back now.
“They won’t be fussed about coming to Huish Park, we have to make it a really uncomfortable afternoon for them on the pitch.”
He added: “Having spoken to the owner in the summer, I think we are where we should be. We are not punching above our weight and the plan was always to be competitive.
“We have to get back to this club being used to winning and that is the mentality we are trying to put through it on and off the pitch.
“We have to embrace that challenge that we are expected to win every week and that puts pressure on us and pressure can effect performances at times. But, so far, so good.
“It couldn’t have happened without direction and backing (from the chairman) and that can only happen if you have that all in alignment.”
Stevens has missed the past two games and not featured since scoring a goal of the season contender in the 2-1 win at Hampton & Richmond, whilst Cooper sat out the win against Aveley.
That means only defender Jamie Sendles-White, who has not played since limping off in the 3-2 win at Weston-super-Mare with an Achilles injury over a month ago, is missing for the weekend.
The boss said: “We should have Jordan Stevens and Charlie Cooper back from last week to complement what we have got. If there’s any doubt, we won’t risk them, so we will see how they train today (Thursday) but we are confident they will add to the group.
“You want competition for places and it is important that people know they have to perform week in, week out because there is someone breathing down their neck.
“It is just Sendles-White (who is missing) at the minute and the rest are desperate to play and the biggest challenge for any manager is trying to keep everyone motivated.”