“I don’t want anybody to give up” says Cook as Gloucester City slip nearer to National League relegation
Gloucester City Manager Mike Cook has praised his players for putting in a battling performance in their 1-1 draw with Brackley Town, but admits relegation is likely after the result.
Former City defender George Carline’s 89th minute header saw Cook’s side held to a draw that leaves Gloucester ten points adrift with just five fixtures remaining.
City had the lead for over 80 minutes in front of 934 at the TigerTurf Stadium, following Harry Pinchard’s fifth minute opener.
The hosts had the best chances to add to the scoring, with Brackley keeper Danny Lewis producing a great triple save to keep out Pinchard, Brandon Smalley and Teddy Rowe, just before the break.
But the longer the second half went on, the more set pieces Brackley won and the pressure on the City box told in the end as Tommy O’Sullivan’s free kick was nodded home by Carline.
The result and the 3pm games leave City in 23rd place in the National League North table, eight points from Rushall in 21st, ten points from Darlington in 20th, eleven points from Farsley Celtic and thirteen points from Monday’s opponents, Peterborough Sports, who sit in 19th.
Following the game, Cook spoke to Severn Sport for Saturday’s Buttee’s In Breakfast show and praised his players for their performances – especially since City’s 7-3 defeat against Boston United.
“I don’t want anybody to give up,” Cook said. “I don’t think it looks like that, I think they [the squad] are trying as hard as they possibly can.
We are lacking a bit of quality at times and maybe in the first half, we should have gone into half time two goals up – the keeper has made three saves off the bat.
We’ve been a little bit unlucky in that respect [today], but results don’t lie and over the course of the season we haven’t been good enough.
I was brought in to try and get us out of this mess, but I’m disappointed its looking like we are not quite going to get out of it, at this moment.
It’s disappointing, but they [the squad] are representing the club in the right manner at the moment, whereas 3-4 weeks ago when we got that 7-3, I thought we don’t want that run-in of results, as it is devastating for the club at that point,” Cook added.
Next up for Gloucester City is a trip to Peterborough Sports on Easter Monday, before hosting Chester next Saturday.
Following next weekend, City have trips to Alfreton Town and Curzon Ashton to negotiate, before hosting Scunthorpe United on the final weekend (Saturday 20 April).
Listen to Joe Hanks and Mike Cook’s full reaction to the draw with Brackley, as well as Cook discussing his future at the club on Buttee’s For Breakfast on Saturday morning from 9am
