Josh Staunton (Page 2)

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Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton has told his team-mates it is their responsibility to get the club out of trouble at the wrong end of the National League table.

The Glovers sit one place and one point above the division’s relegation zone after a 1-0 home defeat to Woking on Saturday in another match where they were undone by a defensive lapse and an inability to score goals.

They take on play-off sides Eastleigh and Chesterfield in their next two games on Tuesday night and next weekend respectively.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the Woking defeat, Staunton said: “It’s my job as captain, I am responsible for those boys and therefore their head space and body language is a reflection of me. I will give my last kick to stay up, so there will be no feeling like we are going down.

“It is a game of fine margins and at the moment we seem to be constantly on the wrong side of those, but that is down to us to swing things in our direction.

“This is Yeovil Town, it is a big football club and ultimately the players are guilty for putting us in that position, so it is us who has to get us out of it.”

The failure to score was the 13th time this season that Yeovil have drawn a blank in National League action and they remain comfortably the lowest scorers in the division with just 28 goals in 33 matches, ten fewer than bottom club Maidstone United.

Staunton said: “In the last few games we have really struggled (to score) and we have said in the dressing room that it is not tactical, that has to come from within from an individual in that split second.

“I think the boys were getting in positions where we can score but at the moment everything seems to be going the wrong side of the post for us, but the boys are a confident group and it is just a matter of time before they start going the right side of the post.

“It is a team responsibility, we should all be chipping in with more goals, we have had plenty of box entries today and we are just not falling on it.”

The goal scored by Woking defender Kyran Lofthouse after 14 minutes followed a mistake by Owen Bevan, but the on loan AFC Bournemouth defender had the backing of his captain.

Staunton said: “People make mistakes and Bevs is a young lad and he’ll make a lot more mistakes, but it’s about us as a group galvanising it and turning it in to a 2-1 win.

“We can’t keep putting ourselves in a position where we have to be faultless at the back because it is extremely hard especially against a team like today where it is a lot of percentage football.

“They are just waiting for a mistake, and when they make a mistake we have to punish them and we are not doing that.”

Ahead of the game, new owners Matt Uggla and former England rugby union player Paul Sackey, who were unveiled as owners in midweek, took to the Huish Park pitch and Staunton said the atmosphere inside the ground had boosted the players.

He said: “That today was the Yeovil Town I signed for, that was the atmosphere I played against when I came here, that was the town and the community spirit which we had not had the last year or so.

“The fans deserve it because they have stuck with the club through darker times and everything seems like it could be moving in the right direction, but we have to back it up on the pitch.”

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Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton said the side’s performance in the 4-1 home defeat to National League leaders Notts County was evidence of their struggles this season.

The Glovers had golden opportunities to pull level for a second time through defenders Jamie Reckord and Edwin Agbaje having after fallen behind to a penalty from Reuben Rodrigues six minutes from time.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, Staunton said: “Those chances are chances we should score and it has changed the game and (if we score) it switches the momentum again and we probably come away with at least a point but that is why we are where we are.

“It is a testament for how far we have come, but it shows where we are shooting ourselves in the foot because we are capable of performances like that.

“That is a reflection of a team which is in 19th place and we have to find it in ourselves to turn good performances in to results, because at the end of the season (good performances) do not mean a great deal.”

The defeat sees Yeovil drop to 19th place in the table, three points off the division’s relegation places with relegation rivals Torquay United and Scunthorpe United both picking up important wins.

They travel to Maidenhead United, who sit two places and one point above them having played two more games, on Tuesday night and Staunton admits that game is more important in the context of the season.

He said: “The most important thing about today, which most people probably class as a free hit, is that we re-group for Tuesday.

“That is where have to look seriously at targeting points, we had a lot of physical exertion today and Tuesday is a massive game for us, we need to start picking up points.

“We can take some heart from today, but Tuesday is going to be a completely different challenge. We have to roll out sleeves up and make sure we are in the best physical condition to do that.

“We owe it to each other, the club and the fans to make sure we are in the best condition. There is no reason why a group of young lads should not be able to play Saturday and then Tuesday.

“We can all sit here and make excuses but that is not the character of the team and the squad, we try and take ownership and we try and look at ourselves because it is down to us and take responsibility.”

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Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton said the club’s exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Taunton Town had to be “a wake-up call”.

He admitted there was “an air of negativity” in the dressing room which was “crippling” the squad, but he said the 300 travelling supporters were within their rights to boo the team off the pitch at the final whistle.

He said: “We have let them down. As a group of men we have not delivered a performance that a club or our stature deserved and that falls on the players.

”Those scenes at the end are a wake up call, that hurts me as captain of that team and trust me you will not find anyone more disappointed than me over these last two games.

“We need to be inspired to do something and when chances fall our way, we have to be the ones who want to make a difference.

”That is how you turn a season around, one bit of passion or heart to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and be the one to make a difference, at the moment we look like we are passing the buck.”

Manager Chris Hargreaves cited the inexperience of some of his side’s younger player saying that the occasion of the Cup tie may have got to some players.

Asked about the response to going behind to a first half penalty from Taunton’s Lloyd James, Staunton said that was the moment his team-mates had to react positively.

He said: “That is where you either become a player who has some longevity in your career and you want to make a difference, or you find it hard to galvanise yourself and go in to your shell.

”As soon as we concede a goal at the moment, it seems like we are climbing a mountain and it all comes down to belief and confidence and when things are not going your way you have to find that yourself.“

The captain concluded that there now needed to be a response as the team travels to Oldham Athletic on Saturday looking to their 17th place position in the National League.

Staunton said: “It is a test of resilience. You can either lay down and be someone who lets the game pass by or be someone who will stand up and say ‘this is it, this is our turning point.’

”This has got to be the rock bottom that we bounce back up from. It is now a case of galvanising the group, picking them up for Saturday and being the one who leads the group by putting your shoulders back and taking the responsibility and criticism.”

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Yeovil Town skipper Josh Staunton has said that Tuesday night’s game at Dorking Wanderers is a “must win” following the Glovers’ 1-0 defeat to Southend United.

A clearly emotional and almost angry skipper spoke to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins following the game.

“We can’t keep making excuses and feeling sorry for ourselves, it’s times like this we have to earn your stripes as a Yeovil player. Anyone who was here to day can tell those on the pitch gave their all for the club, but we have to everything right to get it right by Tuesday.

“There’s no point dressing over it, we need a win, we needed a win today, we need a win even more now because the games are ticking by. We need an ugly win, it doesn’t matter how we get it really, performances have been okay, but they don’t bring us results.”

When asked if the team had discussed if the midweek trip to Dorking  represented a ‘must win‘, the response was clear: “Absolutely.”

“Anyone who doesn’t know that in is kidding themselves a bit. We know today was a big go for us and this was an important week for us. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb, shot ourselves in the foot (with the dismissal of striker Gime Toure after 17 minutes) and we can’t let it be a hangover for Tuesday and an excuse for Tuesday. It’s a case of brushing this off and getting right for Tuesday whatever way we have to do it.

“We have got to start turning performances into results, it’s as simple as that. We’ve had some good home performances and they’ve come to one point. We’ve got to start – I don’t know, I’m a bit emotionally driven at the moment – I’m struggling to find excuses for it, we need to go and get a win.”

Josh Staunton. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Staunton had a goal ruled out shortly after his side had been reduced to ten men, something which he says he hasn’t had an explanation about.

“As is the way these days, the goalkeeper tried catching… well, I don’t know what the goalie was trying to do. I just jumped up and headed it, he came flying into the back of me, I was pretty stationary, my arms were down and no explanation given, just ‘it’s a foul’.

“When things are against you, it seems things really are against you, those things swing matches. It would have been a real positive swing on going down to ten, but as seems to be the way the goalies are protected.”

The captain was happy to express he fr****tion (we’ve banned that word) at both the incident which saw Gime Toure sent off and the Southend goal, calling them both key moment which cost the side a better result.

“We were under the cosh a bit, they were committing men and the bloke had an unopposed header in the box, as seems to be the way at the moment. He’s headed it into the far corner, it was a decent header to be fair to him, but again it’s a momentary lapse in concentration which has cost us all three today.”

The second half of the game, saw a rise in effort to make up for the one man, and one goal deficit, but it was not enough.

“One thing you’ll never question with this group is the resiliance, the application and the attitude, everyone had a go today and those boys are on their absolute last legs out there… when you go down to ten against a decent footballing team, you are doing a hell of a lot of running, at the back we were leaving ourselves man-v-man an awful lot to try and get the goal.”

Yeovil Town’s “must win” game on Tuesday kicks off at 7:45pm at Dorking Wanderers.

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Josh Staunton celebrates his equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Chesterfield. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Goalscoring Skipper Josh Staunton has been named in the Non League Paper’s team of the day following the Glovers’ 2-2 draw with Chesterfield on Saturday.

He’s been named in a midfield three rather than as part of the back line, but I’m sure Mr Versatile won’t mind.

Congratulations, Josh

The team in full:

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Yeovil skipper Josh Staunton was disappointed the Glovers didn’t pick up all three points today against Chesterfield but felt there were positives to build on.

The Glovers led twice but were pegged back by frustrating goals and Staunton, who was awarded the sponsors Man of the Match, said he was hurting after being ahead twice.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins he said: “On the balance of play today, it’s actually really frustrating. It feels like we should have come away with all three (points) really and we were five minutes away from doing so.

His memory lapsed on the first goal but on the second he said: “It’s a set piece and we’re really really disappointed with how we’ve conceded it, because it was a nothing ball in and it was lucky miskick straight to their man who’s taken it well to be fair to him.

“But, we should have dealt with it a couple of phases before. That one really hurts to be honest, it’s a disappointing feeling when you concede two like that.”

There was certainly an improvement for the Huish Park faithful after the dismal loss at the hands of York two weeks ago, and Staunton affirmed the resilience of the group and praised the reaction of the supporters in attendance.

“It was definitely a good reaction after Saturday against York and then Tuesday against Eastleigh where we were poor, so it shows the group is definitely resilient and we want to turn them (draws) into wins.

“If we put a Yeovil performance on, a proper Yeovil performance one of guts and blood and determination, the fans will always back us. You’ll get no qualms from me, when we don’t do the basics well and we don’t get that support because, ultimately, we have to earn it. 

“After the last two results, today everyone in the stadium was right behind us. Every one at Yeovil will back us if we put on a proper Yeovil performance and play for them.”

Obviously, the overwhelming feeling today is of disappointment to hold on to the lead, but the performance was a massive improvement on previous outings and skipper said it was important to use the performance as a platform to build on.

“We’ve got to build on today, we cant keep taking one step forward and two steps back. We’ve got to try and put the platform in place and keep building on them. After days like today and Wrexham, the foundations are there because you can see we’re a good side. It all comes down, now, to proving that we are (a good side) and going week-after-week getting results to back that.”

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Josh Staunton. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton has urged his side not to get too downbeat after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Wealdstone.

The part time outfit held the Glovers at bay for more than 80 minutes with ten men, but Yeovil did have their chances, missing a second half penalty and seeing multiple opportunities cleared off the line.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins the skipper praised the Stones’ defensive resolution and backed his team mates to come good.

“I think it’s always a challenge when a team sits in like that, especially when the pitch is quite sticky, and the fine margins didn’t go our way.

It’s very disappointing right now, but at the end of the day it’s one point away from home against a team which are right on form, so as a group we will try and look at the positives.

If someone had said to us at 3 o’clock at the end of the bank holiday we will win the home one and draw the away one I don’t think there would be too many complaints.”

“Obviously the situation makes it a bit more frustrating, but there’s a long season to go.”

Tactical changes and substitutions were all make with attacking alterations in mind, but Yeovil just couldn’t find a way through.

“When you’re chasing a game you’re searching a little bit. In the first half we were three at the back and we were ok, but we probably didn’t utilise the four at the back as well as we probably should have.

As players we kind of shot ourselves in the foot, I think we didn’t get high enough up the pitch.”

Malachi Linton fires in a shot. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Looking ahead the captain urged caution at getting too low at the early season frustration and backed Malachi Linton to come back from the disappointment at missing the penalty.

“It’s a long season so it’s about keeping the group level and not feeling like it’s the end of the world in there.”

“I’m sure Mal is very down in there, I don’t need to sit hear and try and say otherwise, strikers want to score goals, it’s never nice when you put yourself forward to take a penalty in a tight game like that… unfortunately today for Mal, it went the wrong side of the crossbar and he’s a young lad with a great future ahead of him and he’s started the season well.

At times like that it’s about rallying round him and make sure he picks himself up.”

Wise words from the captain, who went on to back up those thoughts, even further.

“Obviously we’re very downbeat right now, but on another day we could have had three or four and if we’d have got one in the first half when we were on top we make it a much easier game.”

“We’re understandably frustrated right now, sometimes when you’re like that it’s a kick for you, because if we’d have got six points out of the bank holiday weekend then it would have been a brilliant return.

In this league if you do well at home and draw your away ones, regardless of the situation, you’ll be OK.

Overall, however disappointed we are, it’s that old cliché of it being a marathon not a sprint.”

The next stop on the 26.2 mile journey that is the National League season is a home game against York City this coming Saturday.

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Josh Staunton modelling the 2022-23 kit. Picture courtesy of YTFC.net.

Yeovil Town skipper, Josh Staunton is looking forward to returning to Altrincham after guiding the side to a 1-0 win there as Caretaker manager at the end of the 2021-22 season.

Speaking exclusively to the Gloverscast’s Ben Barrett after the game against Barnet he said he has fond memories of his one-game stint as Manager

“We go into Saturday with a clean slate, they’ve gone full time if I’m right, they’ll be a different type of outfit to what they were last year.

Obviously we know what they like, in terms of they like playing football, it’ll be a different test at times to tonight (against Barnet) who were quite direct at times.

I do have fond memories there, it’s a stadium which I’ll never forget, I think if you go into a game with a positive mindset and a visualisation of positivity it can only bode well.”

Staunton said he might have to wait for the dust to settle after the defeat to Barnet before reminding the new manager and players about his 100% win rare as a gaffer, but didn’t rule out making a light hearted comment or two as the week’s training went on.

Yeovil huddle before Altrincham

You’ll be able to listen to the game from Altrincham this Saturday with Sheridan Robins and Ben Barrett on BBC Radio Somerset

 

 

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Young midfielders Sam Pearson and Sam Perry have been challenged to add goals to their performances by Yeovil Town manager Chris Hargreaves.

The pair have featured in all three of the Glovers’ National League fixtures this season having joined on loan from Bristol City and Walsall respectively.

Sam Pearson, right, in action against Barnet. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Asked about how they stood up to some of the ‘dark arts’ employed by an experienced Barnet midfield in the 2-1 defeat at Huish Park on Tuesday night, the boss told our man Ben Barrett: “They had the bravery to get on the ball and play and they created and looked forward, I can’t speak highly enough of them.

“They need to add goals or a belief they can score. When we are building up our play, they need to have those one or two touches and get the ball quickly out of their feet and get shots on goal, they have to develop that.

“But as far as contribution of effort and moving the ball, they were fantastic.”

Pearson, who is on loan for an initial month from Championship Bristol City, has been a stand out performer having come off the bench in the opening day defeat at Scunthorpe United and then starting the draw with Wrexham and the Barnet defeat.

Perry has started all three games and only not completed the 90 minutes after taking a heavy knock after an hour at Scunthorpe.

Ben also asked Yeovil skipper Josh Staunton for his opinion on the performance of the pair following the Barnet game.

He said: “When you have young lads in their and picking up things. Sam Perry has game time behind him, but for Sam Pearson that is a different type of challenge to what he is used too.

“They will take a lot from games like today and benefit in the long run and it’s important we stay behind them and keep pushing them because the way I see it they are just going to get better and better.“

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Captain Josh Staunton admitted his Yeovil Town team-mates had only themselves to blame after a 2-1 home defeat to Barnet on Tuesday night.

The central defender described the two the Glovers gifted to striker Nicke Kabamba as “sloppy” and admitted their failure to finish off a host of first half chances cost them.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, he said: “We’ve only got ourselves to blame, we need to be more clinical in their box and more ruthless and better positioning or decision making in our third and then we won’t concede two sloppy goals.

“That has been the story of the first two-and-a-half games we’ve had this season because the first half (of the opening day defeat) against Scunthorpe was a different matter.

“It is disappointing that we only have one point to show from it because you know how you are playing and we are playing some nice football and you can feel that energy from the fans.

“We have the basis of a very good team and I have to not let the results affect these young lads because we are doing the right things and hopefully when we start putting our opportunities away, we will be fine.”

With three games played, Yeovil are second-from-bottom of the National League table with just a single point with goal difference of minus two – however, Staunton is not planning on hitting the panic button just yet.

He added: “It is three games in and it would be nice to have points on board, but it’s not the end of the season. When those vital moments start going our way, I think the points will reflect our performances.

“I don’t think there is anything to worry about, it’s not the first time I have been in this situation but the signs are there but if we tighten up at the back and get a few more goals, we will be okay.“