Cooper acknowledges Gateshead’s quality

YEOVIL Town boss Mark Cooper says FA Cup opponents Gateshead are possibly the best team in the National League in terms of their footballing ability.

The Glovers host the Heed in the first round proper of the famous old competition this afternoon, and Cooper, right, believes his men could not have drawn a more difficult side outside of the EFL.

The former Forest Green Rovers and Swindon Town chief said of the Tynesiders: “I like watching them. I would say they’re the one of the best, if not the best, pure football teams in the National League. They’re very similar to Notts County, and if you take Chesterfield out of it, I think they’re the toughest test we could have got from the National League.”

Yeovil are in tremendous form, having now won ten matches in a row in the National League South and the FA Cup.

Gateshead, on the other hand, are possibly a little unsettled after boss Mike Williamson left to take the job at Milton Keynes Dons. The former Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot is now in charge.

Hereford boss Paul Caddis will not be on the touchline for today’s FA Cup first round tie at home to Gillingham at Edgar Street.

Caddis has picked up a one-game touchline ban for acquiring three yellow cards this season.

A statement on the official club website confirmed Caddis “will be able to deliver his pre-match and half-time team talks in the dressing room as usual, but will not be allowed in the dugout before, during or after the match”.

Assistant boss Adam Rooney will be in command from the dugout.