The expectation being placed on Yeovil Town’s young squad is “far too high“, according to Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll.
He said it was “rubbish” to suggest that his side should be under pressure after a run of three draws and a defeat during a run of back-to-back matches at Huish Park.
Speaking ahead of the trip to table-topping Grimsby Town on Saturday, the manager said that the pressure of the media and social media was impacting his side (Editor – who’s he talking about?).
He said: “The expectation on this group is far too high and this is why we get to 88 and 89 minutes and they are under pressure.
“It’s because because social media and the media is all around us and (the players) know it because articles fly out.
“This team is exactly where they should be and the only team comparable to use is Aldershot (which have the youngest squad in the National League), so we are doing okay.
“It is not a ready-made winning team, that group of players minus (the injured) Mark Little, Reuben Reid, Luke Wilkinson and Mitchell Rose, they have not ready to be doing it week in, week out and be top of the league. They are learning their trade.
“So I don’t really buy in to this ‘recent game/’ rubbish, because the expectation on this team is far too high and the pressure on these young men is too high.”
Yeovil’s 23-man squad has an average age of 24.5 years which accounts for the likes of injured defender Mark Little and striker Reuben Reid, both 33, and 31-year-old defender Luke Wilkinson, who is presently missing through injury.
Only second-from-bottom Aldershot have a younger squad age, 23.9 years, with the average age of a National League squad being 26.1 years.
However, Sarll went on to say he thought his side were capable to challenging for the play-offs following the return of experienced heads such as Little and Reid.
Both are expected to return from long-term lay-offs in December having picked up injuries in pre-season.
He said: “If we can get them (Little and Reid) in our team (we can make the play-offs), we just have to make sure we keep ourselves in a competitive state.
“We need to be in a position when they return over the Christmas period that we can have a run and a jump at it.
“Once you get momentum with a team that is good enough, and it is unbelievable what can happen when you hit your stride with a team that is good enough.”
Speaking alongside the manager at the start of the season, chairman Scott Priestnall confirmed that the club’s ambition was to be challenging for promotion.
He said that his focus during the summer months had been ensuring the club could “be competitive” in the National League.
Priestnall added: “Our goal is to be fighting for those play-off positions, just as it has been for the past two seasons.
“Our goal remains the same, but the way we go about it is different.”
You can watch that interview HERE – and fast-forward to 10 minutes and 12 seconds in to hear the chairman’s set the club’s target.
Sarll tells podcast ‘I still want to be in the play-off picture’ – read more here.