CAMPBELL HAILS WIN AT GLOVERS
IN THE words of their manager Sol Campbell, Macclesfield Town “earned the right” to leave fellow strugglers Yeovil with all three points.
Their win at Huish Park thanks to first-half goals from James Pearson and Harry Smith moves the Silkmen to within three points of 22nd-placed Glovers and, more importantly, three points from safety.
“I think the lads played really well. Everyone stuck to their task and everyone stayed focused,” said Campbell.
“It was a massive game for us. We need the points more than them really. But no one’s going to give you points, you’ve got to earn your right. And the lads put a magnificent shift in.
“We’ve been in this situation before, but I feel now the guys are really, really focused and this result has done them the world of good. It’s done everyone the world of good.
“We needed a clean sheet, we needed to score goals and we needed a performance. And we needed a bit of luck, you always need that. You’ve got to work hard and a little bit of luck kicks in.
“We need this from now until the end of the season. It’s all about characters now. It’s not fitness anymore, it’s characters and how you apply yourself.”
Alex Fisher hit a post early on for Yeovil, who were in disarray, before Pearson put the visitors a goal up.
Ben Stephens was sent clear and he had time and space to pick out Pearson to slot in.
In the 33rd minute, the Silkmen doubled their lead with Yeovil’s defence all at sea again as Reece Cole sent in a cross for Smith to tap in.
David Fitzpatrick had to be alert as the wind swirled around to twice clear corners off the line for Macclesfield in quick succession.
Home goalkeeper Nathan Baxter saved his side from falling even further behind after the break to deny Smith’s brace. A long ball forward completely bypassed the defence, but as the striker tried to round Baxter he dove at his feet and brilliantly cleared the ball. Yeovil boss Darren Way had to endure the boos and jeers from the home crowd as his side slipped even further into a relegation battle after a performance which he described as “scary”. “It’s important I don’t decide what went off emotionally. If I did I could probably get very angry with that performance,” said Way. “I saw a group of players who didn’t really want the ball and that’s scary. It’s not healthy. “A relegation battle is very tough and very demanding. Is the pressure too much for the players? We’ve got games remaining. We’ve got to make sure the team stays together, the dressing room holds tight. We’ve got to get belief from somewhere to handle this pressure.”