Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has called on his players to regain their “winning mentality” as they look to shrug off a disappointing 1-1 draw at bottom club Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday night.
The Glovers took the lead in Kent through a stunning goal from loanee Sean McGurk before a defensive lapse saw them throw away a lead for the fourth time in as many games to drop points.
They take on play-off chasing Gateshead under the floodlights at Huish Park on Friday night knowing they need to cut out the errors quickly.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Thursday, the manager said: “That’s our Achilles’ Heel at the minute, we have to try and get the second and third goal so those mistakes are not killing us at the end of the game. It was a game we should be winning.
“It is a mental thing now, a winning mentality, that we make sure we get over the line and get the win. We have thrown so many points away this season, but it is just individual errors that are defensively hurting us. We could easily have 15 points (without those mistakes), but we just have to keep the scoreboard ticking, adding points and see what happens.
“To play the way we play when we dominate the ball, we have plenty of courage, we ask players to take the ball in tight areas. It is a mentality thing, it is not a coaching thing now, it is just about making sure we get over the line. We had a couple of great chances to finish the game off (against Ebbsfleet) but we missed the target or picked the wrong finish, so if we can get that we will be fine.”
Cooper said that his side picked up “one or two bumps and bruises” on Tuesday night, the biggest concern being the loss of striker Aaron Jarvis who limped off with a hamstring injury. There was no update given on his progress, but the Glovers were also without full-back Michael Smith who was not in the squad having picked up a hamstring injury in the previous match.
Loanee Pedro Borges was recalled by his parent club Exeter City ahead of the trip to Ebbsfleet and subsequently loaned back out to National League South side Weston-super-Mare, but Yeovil did strengthen their attacking options with the arrival of forward Lewys Twamley from Merthyr Town on Thursday.
He is expected to be available to face Gateshead and the manager did not rule out potential further new signings. He said: “We are always looking and if we can find quality which will improve us, of course we will recruit. Everybody is after the best players and usually the teams with the most money get the best players. We have to look at it more organically and find little nuggets that are unmined and there are some out there we are keeping tabs on.
“There are more players coming available from League clubs, but you have the issue of them not wanting to drop into the non-League and then there is a pecking order. We are happy with where the squad is, but if we can add a couple of additions.”
One player who has been missing in recent matches is left-back Alex Whittle, who returned on the substitutes’ bench on Tuesday night, albeit did not feature. Cooper said he had not given up on trying to add further cover in that position.
He said: “We have tried to sign two or three left-backs because we were not sure how long Alex was going to be out. It is going to be a big ask for him to play every game, so we are still exploring that option. Most of the goals we have conceded have come down that (left) side, because we have not got a natural left-back, so hopefully he is fit and ready to go.”
Gateshead have lost key players in recent weeks with striker Owen Oseni, who has scored 12 goals this season, has joined Scottish side St Mirren whilst midfielder Callum Whelan has joined League Two outfit Carlisle United. They have brought in young forward Louis Flower from Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion and midfielder Max Sheaf, who recently left Ross County.
The Tynesiders still sit fourth in the National League Premier Division table despite losing their last three games, most recently a 3-1 defeat at home to FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night.
Cooper made no secret of his admiration for the visitors, saying: “They play a brilliant brand of football, total domination of the ball, but they take risks. They have lost some players over the last couple of weeks, but the way they play is difficult to play against. We have to try and implement our game on them if we can. I think it will be a technical game with a lot of good football, two decent teams so I am looking forward to it.”