Glovers boss Steve Thompson hailed a "massive" win at Huish Park yesterday as his side comfortably beat Doncaster Rovers by a 3-0 scoreline. Speaking after the game, a delighted Thommo answered the following questions from the press:
Qu: Steve, in the context of your season how big was that win today?
ST: A massive win, very important, and I was very pleased with the result - delighted. I was very pleased with the work ratio and the way that we have come back from what was not a great performance at Bristol City.
Qu: What pleased you the most? The way your side attacked, or the way that you were so organised and didn't give Doncaster any room to work in?
ST: Just going for the 90 minutes, looking creative and looking as though we were going to score goals. We scored three and could have had a few more. We were looking reasonably solid at the back. We did have a few scary moments but to win a game 3-0 against Doncaster who are still harbouring hopes of the playoffs was a great result and a very important one at this time. We know we are not safe yet and we know there is more work to be done. All that matters to me now is that my players worked very hard today and I am very pleased with their response. The crowd were great and got right behind us and all that matters now is Scunthorpe at home on Friday.
Qu: Terry Skiverton getting that early goal for you really set the scene for you. It just lifted a bit of the pressure didn't it?
ST: Yes, he does come up with some important goals. He scored one at MK Dons earlier in the season, and he's scored another one today which helped to settle our nerves a little bit. There is pressure when you are in this situation and that early goal was great for us because it gave us a platform to go out and express ourselves.
Qu: It was well taken as well and he looked like a centre-forward in the box there!
ST: Yes, for a central defender, Terry has got very good technical ability and he showed that to his full extent in the way that he controlled it, moved to the side of the player and smashed a half-volley in. That showed great technical ability and it was a great goal.
Qu: The second two goals were fairly similar in a way, in that you threaded forward and caught them on the hop a bit on the break. It was like the Yeovil of old wasn't it when you were marauding towards those championships?
ST: Yes, I do feel that we are quite an athletic team and we can counter-attack people and we did that for the two goals in the second half and also on other occasions. In all fairness Doncaster had quite a lot of the ball on occasions in the second half but we counter-attacked them very well. That is always a decent ploy in football if you are a decent counter-attacking team and are able to do that and we did that well today.
Qu: Arron Davies is on a fine run isn't he? He was struggling a bit in midfield but he must now be close to being your number one striker now!
ST: Well he has got six goals in eight games and that is great going by anyone's standards. Let's hope there is more to come. He looks dangerous doesn't he? He's had the goal, he's had the shot that has flashed just wide of the goal in the second half, and he's had a couple in the first half that have been blocked. When Arron gets his shots in he has got a great shot and he is dangerous.
Qu: And great for Jevons to come back into the starting line-up and notch another one.
ST: Yes, I though Jevo was very calm and composed in the way that he played today and we needed that. He turned in a very good performance. Obviously I am overall pleased with the win and the way that the players played.
Qu: It was also noticeable with him and Skiverton there as natural leaders, they were getting in amongst the players, breaking up play and pointing out things that could be done better.
ST: Yes, you need as many leaders on the pitch as you can get. Terry Skiverton is an obvious leader. He has been captain of the club for years now. Phil Jevons leads by example in his own way. Both of them have captained the team this season so it was great to have those two back and of course Chris Weale who has been a part of the furniture around here for around six years now. So it was great to have those three fit and available again and they contributed a lot to our victory.
Qu: At the final whistle there was a mini lap of honour led by Terry Skiverton again. He was pumping his arms to the crowd and trying to gee them up. It's another sign of the unity here at Yeovil Town that is needed here between now and the end of the season.
ST: Yes, obviously it has been a difficult season and it is not over yet. There is a lot that has gone on here both on the pitch and off the pitch. We know that we have to stick together to give ourselves a chance of doing what we want to do, and we all know what that is. That is to stay in this league. Today's result is a big step towards that, but it by no means guarantees it. We have still got a lot of work to do starting on Friday against Scunthorpe.
Qu: Is it one more win now Steve - is 52 points that magic number?
ST: I am not saying anything involving points! No way am I going to say what number of points it will be. There were some strange results today. Some were good results for us, and some others we said 'oh no' when we heard the results. I don't know what points it will be but what I do know is that 49 points will not keep us up so we have still got work to do.
Qu: Is Steve Collis OK?
ST: He fell ill yesterday and didn't train. That illness has carried on today. He has been sick most of the night so he was unavailable for selection.
Qu: Just a word for Chris Cohen - it was another immense performance from him.
ST: Yes, he has got bounds of energy. He has been terrific for us as I have said in the past. If we can improve his game we will try to do that. He wants to get a goal so desperately and I would love him to score a goal because he fully deserves a goal. That would be a great moment if we can help him get that and let's hope it comes on Friday night.
Qu: What do you make of your chances to be able to keep him here for next season?
ST: Well that is not just up to me. From my point of view, I would be saying 100 percent yes, let's do the deal now - bang! But there is West Ham and there is Chris Cohen. My discussions with them and with him will remain private.
Qu: Are you surprised at how toothless Rovers turned out to be today?
ST: I think you have to give us a bit of credit. We knew that they had two wide men that like to get at you in Timlin and Coppinger and we tried to negate that by playing the wing-back system and it has worked for us today. So we have done a job on them. I'm sure that Dave Penney will be disappointed with their performance but we have done a good job on them. So I would like to look at it from our point of view in that we did a good job to negate a team's strengths.
Qu: Kevin Amankwaah - is he likely to be ready for next Friday?
ST: Yes, I am very hopeful he will be fit for next Friday.
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9 April 2006 : 
