Mark Cooper pleased with Forest Green’s performance in victory over Colchester
Posted Wednesday, March 13, 2019 by PA
Mark Cooper was delighted to see his Forest Green side return to form in style with a superb 3-0 win at fellow League Two play-off hopefuls Colchester.
Rovers moved up to sixth after ending a run of three straight defeats.
They took a 21st-minute lead through Liam Shephard who lashed home after Reece Brown had burst down the left and picked him out.
And Rovers went further ahead 12 minutes later when Shephard raced down the right and found Brown, who slotted home to make it 2-0.
Christian Doidge wrapped up Forest Green’s win with nine minutes remaining when he finished from close range before Colchester’s Frank Nouble was dismissed four minutes later following a second booking.
Rovers boss Cooper said: “We came prepared tactically and set up a little bit different.
“None of that can happen if the players don’t show fight, determination and spirit and want to run and compete.
“No system or style of play works without that and that’s been missing in recent weeks but today it was back and back in abundance – I thought we were really good.
“We chose to try and sit off a little bit and counter attack.
“The first two goals were unbelievable, with the football from goalkeeper to finishing – I think there were four or five passes in each move and it was totally synonymous of what we’re about and how we play, when we do it well.
“We showed some players clips of why they weren’t winning games with lack of desire and people wanting to run and compete, tackle and play.
“Every player worked really hard and you get your rewards.”
Colchester head coach John McGreal admitted his side were well below their best.
He said: “It’s a poor night. You have to give the opposition credit – I thought they were very good.
“The first goal was important and it was a poor goal for us to give away.
“We felt as though we could have done better in the middle of the pitch and the shot.
“We huffed and puffed but we looked a yard off it.
“We couldn’t get going at times and we were still in it with the one goal but we didn’t get going and we didn’t hunt in packs and it’s let us down.
“A passing team like Forest Green will pass through you.
“They started well but then I thought we stopped it.
“Ben (Stevenson) had a shot which looked as though it had gone in but their goal has just killed us a bit.
“It’s the wrong time to concede goals and you could see the frustration on the pitch.”
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