Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper has told his strikers he is considering making changes after they failed to fire in today’s 1-1 draw with Maidstone United at Huish Park.
The Glovers started with strikers Jake Hyde and Frank Nouble alongside playmaker Jordan Maguire-Drew for the fixture but none of those three could find the net and it was left to substitute Rhys Murphy to come off the bench and grab an equaliser.
Cooper praised youngsters Olly Thomas and Jordan Young, who appeared in the 64th minute as part of a triple change alongside Murphy, and admitted they were now in his thoughts for a start.
He told BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins: “We did not fire as an attacking force today and we have to be better in the front areas of the pitch.
“I put the young boys (Olly Thomas and Jordan Young) on towards the end and they ran and caused problems.
“They came and sat in and made it difficult (for us) and what they want is for you to give them a goal and that is what happened and then we are scrambling.
“We have to keep making changes to get a reaction and we are not right, we have work to do. We have boys on the bench who are desperate to play and it might be time to make the change.”
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
Maguire-Drew and Nouble are yet to score in National League South action despite having started the first four matches whilst Hyde has one from his three appearances. Murphy’s 83rd minute leveller was his second of the season.
Maidstone took the lead ten minutes in to the second half when substitute Levi Amantchi was given a free header from a corner in front of the Thatcher’s Stand.
Cooper said: “We looked comfortable without threatening and I thought it would be a matter of time until we wore them down. But, like we did the other night (against Truro), we gave them a soft goal from a corner and then it makes it hard.
“When you get the ball in to forward players in and around the box, they have to produce. That is where individual ability comes in to it and that is why the top boys get paid the most money because they can create. We were flat in those areas today.
“People moaned that the midfield players went sideways and back, but we have to do that to drag them out. We just did not have that spark in the final third.
“We have a week to get things the way we want it and there will be some tough work on the training ground this week.”
One player who has not yet featured is Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, who rejoined following a trial in the summer but has not featured since appearing as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town on the opening day of the season.
Asked about whether the ex-Watford youngster was an option, Cooper said: “Sonny only had a really short pre-season with us, so he is still playing catch up. He trained really well on Thursday and Friday, so he is definitely in my thoughts.”
Mark Cooper was speaking to Sheridan Robins after the game – his interview with the club might be slightly different and can be viewed below.
Once again Mr Cooper is talking out of his … there was no service from midfield at all. It’s not the front men but those that are supposed to supply them, 3 in midfield does not work
I have the impression Cooper thinks football is like rugby, you can’t make forward passes!
Can somebody tell me what position Mark Cooper’s son plays in?