Cooper: We would have lost that last season

Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper was satisfied with a point from the opening day stalemate against Hartlepool United at Huish Park.

The Glovers put in an improved performance in the second half after a drab opening 45 minutes and had a great chance to win it through substitute striker Ben Wodskou with seven minutes remaining.

Cooper said the arrival of Wodskou and fellow forwards Junior Morias and Tahvon Campbell brought added life to his side, but was pleased with the solidity his side showed to keep a clean sheet.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah after the match, he said: “Last year we would have lost that game. I think you saw the impetus the forwards (Junior Morias, Tahvon Campbell and Ben Wodskou) brought when they came on and we kept it solid behind the ball and had some good chances. You saw Junior and Tav’s quality when he came on and Ben had a great chance, they gave us a lift when they came on. 

“When you look at our bench, we have people who are going to improve us or not make us worse and that has not always been the case. It was a cagey first game of the season, players getting their breath but it was important we did not lose. The fans kept going, they got behind the boys brilliantly and we need to keep that spirit among the club.”

The opening 45 minutes belonged to the visitors, who ran out 1-0 winners at Huish Park on the opening day of last season, with Yeovil indebted to new goalkeeper Jed Ward, who has joined on a season-long loan from Bristol Rovers, to keep them in it.

Cooper gave four debuts in his starting line-up with Birmingham City youngster wing back Byron Pendleton and midfielders Luke McCormick and  James Daly named alongside Ward.

The manager said: “You could tell we have some new players and the first half was very scrappy and we never really got going, but our back three and our two midfield players looked really solid which they have to do. We waited for the forwards to spark which they did in the second half when we looked more of a threat and we had some really good chances and looked like we would go on and win it. But if you are not going to win the first game, you do not want to be beaten and we will take a point and move on.”

The next test sees Yeovil travel to big-spending Forest Green Rovers who picked up a point of their own on the road at Solihull Moors on the opening day. The Gloucestershire outfit, now managed by footballing gobshite Robbie Savage, played against ten men after Solihull’s Darius Lipsiuc was sent off after just six minutes.