Having secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season, United manager Gary Johnson reflected on a number of positives in the midweek FA Trophy win over Taunton.
Although the recent improved run of results has undoubtedly been a team effort, Johnson highlighted the efforts of two players in particular – Shaun Donnellan and Aaron Jarvis – whose performances have played no small part in securing four wins and two draws in United’s last eight outings.
“Shaun Donnellan is your proper utility player,” said Johnson.
“He is big enough, strong enough and clever enough to be a centre-back. He has got the energy to be a midfield player, and obviously in-between that if he can do both of them, then he can be a wing-back – though I don’t think he is a very good goalkeeper!
“He has done great, and been very, very consistent in his game. It looks like he is enjoying himself, looks like he is enjoying getting a real good run of games, and deserved his Player of the Month tag.”
Although it was Donnellan who was recognised for his form in December by receiving the BVEC Player of the Month award for December, it was leading scorer Jarvis who took centre-stage against Taunton, with his second-half brace securing not only the Man of the Match award, but more importantly, helped steer his side into a last-16 home tie with Barnet on February 11th.
“Me and Aaron Jarvis had a chat the day before the game, and just said let’s keep your averages up, as I think he is almost one in two, which is where you’ve at least got to be – one goal every two games. I could see from where I was sitting, especially in the second half, that he was desperate to score goals, and that’s what we try and get our strikers to do.
“Now that is easily said, but you have to work with them. You have to show them what is the passion and desire to score a goal. You’ve got to be brave, you’ve got to work hard anyway, and you’ve got to get in there.”
With Aaron having claimed his eighth and ninth goals of 2022/23 in midweek, the Gaffer went on to pay tribute to his target man, who combined his hard work with a genuine desire to get himself on the scoresheet at every opportunity.
“At every opportunity you’ve go to get rebounds off the goalie, off the post, and you’ve got to have that mentality of wanting to score that goal. You can’t be thinking that outside the penalty area, and the cross is coming in. He works all over the pitch and his touch is very good, and for a target man that’s what you need . He can get you up the pitch and you can support him, and I’m really pleased that he is scoring, because at the moment he’s an all-round player for us, as well as being a mentor to some of the younger ones, because he has been there, and done it, and got the T-shirt.
“He’s had the experience, and this is the most goals he has ever scored at any club he has been at in any season. There is still half the season – and he missed the first part of the season – so we are are carrying on our strength of getting strikers to score goals.”
Another positive on a bitterly cold Tuesday night at Plainmoor was another passionate showing from the Yellow Army, with Johnson quick to salute that support.
“It’s good – up for the cup as they say! The more rounds we get through, the bigger the gate will be as it gets more and more important. I thought it was a good, entertaining game and I thought both teams made it an entertaining game.
“We saw six goals again, and thankfully on this occasion it was four in our favour, but it was great to see that crowd, as they create an atmosphere. Taunton had a few up there, so there could be a bit of banter between the two sets of supporters, which was good. We won that as well, so it’s nice.
“People make their mind up, and to come on a night like that, where you have got to be really keen to go to see the live game, rather then sit indoors and watch it on Flashscores – it would be a lot easier – so we always say it, but we absolutely appreciate it.”