Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper pointed to a lack of quality in front of goal as his side came out on the wrong side of a 1-0 defeat at play-off chasing FC Halifax Town.
The Glovers went down to a 13th minute strike from winger Angelo Capello and despite midfielder Brett McGavin striking the crossbar early in the second half, they could not find a way through a resolute defence.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins after the match in West Yorkshire, Cooper said: “It was a tight game, the goal is the game. It is a rubbish goal to concede from us. The shot goes straight through the keeper’s (Aidan Stone) legs and that was it. Against Halifax, who do not give much away, you have to gamble and then they can counter attack which is what happened. We have had chances, but it is a tight game and the boys have tried really hard. We lacked a little bit of quality in the final third and that was the game.
“They got a breakaway, we lose two headers, the ball goes wide and it is a shot from an angle that goes straight through the goalie’s legs and we cannot legislate for that. After that we have a go, we have bits and pieces but somebody has to find a bit of quality.”
Following the goal, winger Ryan McLean, who started his first game since joining on loan from AFC Wimbledon in the week, spurned an opportunity after 26 minutes, McGavin rattled the woodwork four minutes after the restart, but The Shaymen had numerous opportunities in the second half with the best chance seeing substitute Owen Bray put his effort over the bar.
Cooper added: “At the minute we have four or five players doing the heavy lifting every week and the other ones have to step up. If you come on as a substitute, you have to influence the game and we did not do that today. We will try and put some freshness in to the team and go again on Tuesday.”
New signings defenders Frankie Terry, signed on loan from Colchester United on Friday, and right back Marcel Lavinier both started the match. Terry played the full 90 minutes whilst Lavinier was replaced by Dom Bernard after 71 minutes.
The manager said: “You can tell Marcel has not played for a while, but he will be better for playing an hour today. That was the plan but he is quick and he gets us up the pitch. Frankie competed really well.”
He also revealed Swindon Town loanee Sean McGurk would return to his parent club having re-injured the thigh which has kept him out of action in recent weeks, and suggested another new face could arrive for Tuesday night’s home match with Boston United.
McGurk came on after 68 minutes before being forced off just 13 minutes later. The manager said: “It is the same thigh strain he injured previously. He will have to go back to Swindon for his rehab which gives us a chance to get another quality attacking player. He has had an injury, but I put him on and he has got injured again. There’s nothing we can do about it.”
Yeovil now have two home games coming up with relegation threatened Boston United, who scored a late equaliser to take a point at home to Woking on Saturday, visiting Huish Park on Tuesday, before big-spending York City visit next weekend looking to continue their push for promotion.
Cooper said there would be no imminent return for key injury victims defenders Morgan Williams, Jake Wannell and Michael Smith or striker Aaron Jarvis.
He said: “None of them will be coming back within a month. It is difficult when you have Jarvis, who is one of the top three number nines in the league, two centre backs, Morgan Williams and Jake Wannell, are top centre backs for us, and Michael Smith has experience. It is a big gap to fill, so we have to be competitive.
“We have to look at the next game. We will get the boys home, dusted down and have a session on Monday and try and get them fired up. The effort is not a problem and we probably deserved a point today. Halifax have a good spirit, they run, they are aggressive and physical but I thought we competed well with them. The goal is the difference today, if we do not concede that, it is a different afternoon and we have to be more professional in that.”
Every goal is a ‘rubbish goal’ according to cooper. There’s always someone or something else to blame, rather than his inept tactics and a lack of a plan B, and his and hellier’s disastrous recruitment campaign.
Jarvis in Top 3 number 9s? Cooper is deluded. He’s scored 7 in 25, that wouldn’t get him in the top 20. He’s not even in the top 50 for assists, so no help there either. Who is he trying to fool? His recruitment has been very poor
“Somebody has to find a bit of quality” copper and kettle springs to mind!!!