FOREST GREEN head coach Mark Cooper admitted it was hard work as he praised his side’s tenacity to come from behind to beat Morecambe 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.

After going behind inside the first twenty minutes, Forest Green made it difficult for themselves to get back to winning ways in the league. However, late goals from Jake Young and Jamille Matt made sure Rovers headed back to Gloucestershire with all three points and up to fourth in the table.

An unfortunate Josh March mistake in his attempt to clear the ball was capitalised on by A-Jay Leitch-Smith and Cooper believed mistakes like that will be costly to his side.

Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, he said: “We started really well and then conceded a rubbish goal again.

“There were loads of mistakes in the action leading up to the goal.

“We’ve got to stop that because we keep doing it and it gives the opposition something to hold on to.”

Matt cut a frustrated figure for most of the match as he was unable to make his usual impact until the final quarter-of-an-hour. However, he was able to grab his fifth league goal of the campaign and once again found himself at the centre of Rovers’ attacking threat.

Cooper explained that the delivery to the six-foot-four target man needs to be better to utilise his skills best.

He said: “When you have big Jamille (Matt) in the box you need to play the right cross and not just cross it for the sake of it.

“It was difficult because Morecambe were so deep so there was no space behind them but we changed the system three or four times and managed to get in at the end.”

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Jamille Matt celebrates his goal

Young came off the bench and got on the score sheet once again and Cooper praised the youngster’s contribution once more.

He said: “He’s just a good finisher. I don’t know what he is yet, he needs a lot of work but he’s a really good finisher.

“He has a rocket in his right foot and he can run like the wind so he has really good ingredients.”

The conditions were bleak at the Mazuma Stadium where the weather didn’t let up all game and with the games coming thick and fast, Cooper could see that Morecambe were getting tired and tried to capitalise on that.

“I just felt they were dropping deeper and getting more and more tired so gaps started to appear,” he said. “It was a case of just keep playing and keep moving them around the pitch because they’re a really good dogged and determined side but I could see they were tiring a bit.”

Cooper did announce some potentially good news for Forest Green as he stated that the players who have had to quarantine could feature against Grimsby on Tuesday.

Nicky Cadden, Jordan Moore-Taylor, Matt Stevens and Dan Sweeney will come into contention.

He added: “Their quarantine ends at two o’clock on Tuesday afternoon.

“We then have to make a decision on if they’re fit enough. It’s been difficult for them to train because they’re isolating so we have that decision to make.”

Forest Green next face Grimsby at the Innocent New Lawn on Tuesday and travel to local rivals Cheltenham Town on Saturday.