IT’S A LOW MOMENT, WE NEED TIME - WAY
BULLISH Yeovil Town manager Darren Way has vowed to fight on after his side fell to a chastening sixth successive defeat.
Yeovil supporters were calling for his head after the Glovers dropped closer to the relegation zone at promotion-chasing Forest Green Rovers.
Rookie striker Junior Mondal scored his first goal on his full league debut since his January move from nonleague Whitby Town, while Christian Doidge added a second, before Lee Collins grabbed a third after the break.
Yeovil fans waived a ‘Way Out’ banner throughout the game, but the Yeovil manager remained defiant.
He said: “It’s a low moment. This team needs time. We have to make sure we stay in the division. I understand fans have to shout at someone. If I have to take the bullets, like I have for three years, then I will take it.
“I have been hit head on with a vehicle and it was a life and death situation so I am strong enough to deal with that.
“I am not scared of that. Players need to be accountable for their performances. That’s what scares me.
“I took over this club when it was bottom of the league and kept it in the league. When there is a bad smell at a place it starts to spread. I don’t want that to spread into the dressing room.”
Rovers opened the scoring after 22 minutes – Reece Brown and Paul Digby combined for the ball to drop to Mondal, who stabbed beyond Nathan Baxter. Rovers were cooking on gas and made it two just 10 minutes later as Doidge flicked in at the near post from George Williams’ pin-point corner.
On the cusp of the break, Yeovil sparked into life. Lewis Ward had to be on his mettle to tip over an Alex Dobre fizzer. The Glovers came even closer when Jake Gray rattled the crossbar after Francois Zoko saw his shot parried by Ward.
However, Rovers put the game to bed after 58 minutes, with Collins smashing home from another Williams corner. Rovers jump up two places to fifth, while Yeovil are one place above the relegation zone.
Cooper was pleased to see Forest Green side get back to winning ways after back-to-back league defeats.
He said: “It was a good performance and a game we were expected to win – and we looked comfortable.
“We decided to play a back-four and we looked rigid. We have had to change our style and go a little more direct because the pitch isn’t in a good shape.”
Cooper was delighted with the impact of Mondal who caught the eye in training.
He added: “Junior has been electric in training and his performance on Friday got him in the team – he was scoring from everywhere and he works his socks off and he deserved his goal.”
FOREST GREEN ROVERS: Ward 7, Winchester 7, Rawson 7, Gunning 7, Mills 6 (McGinley 66, 6), Collins 7 (Liddle 79, 6), Digby 7, Williams 9, Brown 7, Mondal 8 (McCoulsky 71, 6), Doidge 8. Subs not used: James, Godwin-Malife, Thomas, Reid.
YEOVIL TOWN: Baxter 5, Alcock 5, Mugabi 5, Gafaiti 5, Dickinson 5, M Dobre 5, Pattison 5, Gray 5, Zoko 5 (Seager 66, 6), Fisher 5 (Duffus 75, 6), Arquin 5 (Browne 57, 6). Subs not used: Nelson, Worthington, Rogers, Abrahams.