Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper was glad to see his side through to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup – but admitted there was not much else he could get excited about!
First half goals from strikers Rhys Murphy and Frank Nouble earned a 2-0 home win over Didcot Town, but the boss described the second half as “a non-event.”
He revealed that a hamstring injury sustained by Jordan Stevens in training on Friday saw him replaced by Jordan Maguire-Drew and that defender Michael Smith and midfielder Charlie Cooper were also doubts.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins, the manager said: “Jordan Stevens pulled his hamstring yesterday (Friday) morning, Michael Smith was a big doubt, Charlie Cooper was a doubt and obviously Worthy, Hyde, Whittle were injured.
“We should have sealed the game early in the second half, it should have been four. I have just seen (the Jordan Maguire-Drew chance) it’s never offside and a blatant penalty on Maguire-Drew which would have made it more comfortable – but we’re through.”
Having broken through a resilient Didcot, who dug in to make it difficult for the Glovers, continued to frustrate without forcing goalkeeper Joe Day in to too much action during the second half.
The game was, however, the on-loan Newport County keeper’s first clean sheet since arriving in Somerset a month ago.
Asked about his advice at half-time, the manager said: “I just said ‘keep going’, there were a few tactical bits to try and make us a bit more threatening in the final third. They came and sat really deep to start with which, whoever you are playing against, is difficult to get through.
“These games are just about getting through, we know it was not a fantastic performance but we had a few issues and we need to make sure we get players rested up for a massive game on Saturday.”
Their next opponents, high-flying Aveley who have had an impressive start to the National League South season, will face a third qualifying round replay against Isthmian League Premier Division side Horsham on Tuesday night after being pegged back to 2-2 courtesy of an injury time draw.
Cooper admitted that getting the likes of full-backs Alex Whittle and Michael Smith, who went off after 64 minutes against Didcot, back fit were the most important activity of the next week – alongside a midweek scouting mission to West Sussex.
He added: “Aveley drew in the FA Cup, so it gives us a chance to get eyes on them, and make sure we are prepared. But the biggest thing is making sure we get our players back quickly, Whittle, Stevens, Smith, Cooper, we get Worthy back Saturday.
“We have taken three or four players out of them which put in probably our best performance of the season (against Hampton & Richmond) last weekend, so it is going to disrupt things.
“They are big players for us and we know that and, as I say, we have got through which was the aim of today, to be in the hat and get closer to the first round.”
The Glovers’ progression to the fourth qualifying round means the National League South visit to Bath City will be postponed. The Romans also made it through with a 2-1 win at W*ymouth on Saturday.
The draw for the next round is scheduled for Monday.
As always, the manager also had a post-match interview with the club’s press officer Dan Howell after the match which is available to watch here….