Cooper admits there is ‘work to do’

Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper admitted lessons needed to be learnt in the wake of his side’s 3-0 pre-season defeat at home to Bristol Rovers.

Goals from Scott Sinclair and Kofi Shaw gave the visitors a 2-0 lead at the break, before a mistake from Morgan Williams at the back gifted Luke McCormick the opportunity to stroll forward and tuck the ball into the bottom corner for their third just before the hour mark.

In what was Yeovil’s third pre-season run-out, they had defeated both Melksham Town and Frome Town 5-1 in their opener, Cooper gave a frank assessment of his side’s showing at the final whistle.

“For sure lessons need to be learnt,” said Cooper. “I thought we were really good for 20, 25 minutes without really threatening their goal. We were, however, composed and we were competent with the ball, but we didn’t get our attacking play going.

“I thought we conceded a sloppy goal [for the first[, the second is a joke from the referee – there were two fouls – and that kind of kills the game a little bit for me. We go in at half time 2-0 down and not a lot in the game.

“I thought Bristol Rovers were good after 20, 25 minutes, they stepped on to us with a full press and they made it really difficult for us to get out.”

Although impressed by his team’s display in the opening quarter, Cooper said it’s imperative his players are able to adapt when opposition tactics change in game.

“As I said, I thought we were good in the first 25 minutes,” added the Glovers boss. “But then Bristol Rovers changed, they went aggressive and really stepped on to us. That’s when we have to realise that the space is behind them, not in front of them.

“We didn’t recognise that quick enough which led to us being two goals down.”

Although disappointed with the end outcome, Cooper acknowledged the fixture had served as a perfect opportunity to get his seasonal plans into place.

“Listen, it’s pre-season. This is where we get our sharpness, this is where we get everything fine-tuned and that is what it’s all about. We’re not going to get too downbeat, we know where we are and what we have to do.

“Sometimes it’s good to have moments like this. After the Frome and the Melksham games, we were going to win the league, so this is a reality check for everyone, the players included, that we have work to do.”

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