Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz,.
Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll spoke to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins following the Glovers 1-1 draw with W*ymouth in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on Saturday.
The home side took the lead early in the first half, but failed to make their visitors pay and ended up conceding a late equaliser forcing a Tuesday night replay by the seaside.
On the game, Sarll said it was a different performance after the break:
“It was a game of two halves. Excellent in the first half, useless in the second half. We were very passive in the second half, very aggressive and tenacious in the first half and probably had enough chances to go in two or three up.”
Sarll was later than usual giving his post-match chat to the media after a long and frank conversation with his side after the full-time whistle.
“We are very disappointed and that is why we have had such a long conversation, but unfortunately all the voices in there are in tracksuits, not in kit.”
“When I go in there, that is testament to the type of character you need, Lee Collins and Carl Dickinson would never have allowed that to happen.”
Late on, as the clock struck 90 minutes, the Glovers attempted to play keep back in the corner, but lost possession quickly which led to the attack from which W*ymouth scored, a tactic which Sarll says he doesn’t have an issue with, but not when executed so poorly
He said: “It was a key moment when we gave the ball away two seconds after holding it in the corner. I used to see it as a man on man dual, but how many times have you seen it work and drive the play back? It was a key moment because we held it in the corner like a 13 year old boy.”
“After the energy, aggression and tenacity of the first half with a mindset of a team talk of ‘let’s put these to bed now’, we were awful.”
The gaffer bemoaned the lack of experience and leaders available at his disposal saying that the key voices in the dressing were in “tracksuits, not in kit”, suggesting that the likes of Mark Little, Reuben Reid and Luke Wilkinson‘s presence continues to be missed on the pitch
“Unfortunately the group that is available struggles under duress, we would love the others there but they are not available.”
Attention turned to Tuesday night’s replay at the Bob Lucas Stadium, a game which Sarll admitted to being massive for him and his side.
“I think today was a massive game for everyone going forward. It is all ifs, buts and maybes with player availability, but these lads are going to have to grow a pair and dig deep, unfortunately, I won’t be with them for their career and they won’t be with me and they are going to have to make sure they have that inner strength to propel them.”
“We are still in the competition, but it is going to be a tough game (in the replay). Terry (Skiverton, assistant manager) was telling me that 20-odd years ago the first game finished (0-0) and we won the replay and we won the replay.”
“We have a lot of questions to answer in that next game. I have no idea (what changes I will make), we have to digest what has happened and who and why before we start looking at any future teams.”
Tickets are available for Tuesday’s replay, kick off is at 7:=.45pm, the draw for the First Round Proper is made on Sunday, so the Glovers (and the other lot) will know who potentially awaits them in the next round.