Yeovil Town goal scorer Frank Nouble admitted conceding a goal late in the 2-2 home draw with Southend United had left the dressing room feeling deflated.
The striker made it three goals in as many games when he put the Glovers ahead after 17 minutes following a disastrous start which saw them go behind after just 30 seconds at Huish Park.
It looked as if they were going to hold out for the three points before visiting defender James Golding struck with just 40 seconds of second half injury time left to play.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah after the game, Nouble said: “It is a bit deflated in (the dressing room) after conceding so late in the game. Everyone is out on their feet. In the first half I think we showed a lot of good qualities after conceding that early goal as well. It is a bit frustrating because it feels a bit like a defeat right now. But when you consider where we have been in recent weeks and they are a good side, we have to give them some credit, and we are down to the bare bones as well.”
He added: “Everyone is working hard and fulfilling the requirement, but it is our job to do that. I think it is important that supporters can see that, everyone is trying for the shirt. It is just so frustrating with the goal coming so late, but again we played a good team and we will keep going until the end. There are still lots of points to play for and we will be there fight, that is for sure.”
The 33-year-old has now scored three goals in his last three matches – after strikes against Tamworth and Maidenhead United – having previously not scored in almost a year.
On his own form, he said: “It has been a funny season. Performance wise I think we have all played well, but I think maybe the numbers were not there to show what we were doing goals-wise. I have got a few assists, but I want to be scoring goals because I know when I do that, the team will do well. I will keep going as long as possible and it has given me a bit of confidence now, when you score one or two things tend to land for you a bit more and long may that continue. We are not going to get too high or low about today, I am far too experienced to know that I am not going to let a few goals go to my head. I just want to win games and we just need to keep doing that until the end of the season because nothing is safe and nothing is too late either.”
The experienced frontman was pleased to see strike-partner Kyrell Wilson open his account for Yeovil in his sixth appearance since joining on loan from Swansea City at the end of January.
Nouble said: “I think I was screaming at him to take a touch, but he is a great young player, we have a few of them in the squad now and you want them to progress and do well. They come to us older boys about where they need to be and what they need to do, but they need to go out there and experience it themselves and that is what (Kyrell) is doing, the same with Ciaran (McGuckin) or when Sean (McGurk) plays. There are a lot of young players and the more we can help them to do that.”
Next the Glovers travel to league leaders Barnet on Tuesday night before a long trip to sixth-placed FC Halifax Town next weekend and Nouble knows both games will be testing for a threadbare squad.
He said: “Barnet are the best team we have played and we know they are going to be a tough side. I am assuming their pitch is better than a lot of pitches, that is what we see on the video anyway. So we are hoping to go out and play our style and hopefully cause them some trouble. All we can do is that.“
Be positive… that performance was nearly there, and both teams are probably a similar kind of level… we done alright.