Gloucester City manager Mike Cook has emphasised that “This is definitely a high tonight” after his side’s impressive 2-1 victory over Peterborough Sports at the TigerTurf Stadium.
“I’m feeling a little bit relieved actually. There’s been a couple of games where we’ve deserved a little bit more and we haven’t got it,” Cook said.
“You always get a little bit nervous, especially with the predicament that we’re in at the moment. I just said to the lads in the changing room there, it’s nice to actually get what you deserve.”
A late goal from 39-year-old substitute Danny Wright sealed all three points, and his manager was full of nothing but praise for the veteran.
“I’m pleased for him (Danny), he works his socks off. He’s a lovely boy, you’d be tremendously proud if you’re his mum and dad because he’s an absolute shining light. Everybody loves him.
“He’s knocking on a little bit, but there’s still a little bit of life in him and I think we’ve got to look after him a little bit.”
The Tigers did concede a penalty, but Cook seemed more disheartened that he received a yellow for his winning goal celebrations.
“I’m just a bit disappointed to get booked for celebrating our goal. I was a bit like Jose Mourinho, the only thing I didn’t do was slide on my knees!”
It’s now back-to-back league victories for Cook, who had a spell as Gloucester manager back in 2019, and he knows how important momentum is going forward.
“It’s very important to just keep it going and you know, it’s the most important thing for us, the league campaign,” he said.
“We’ve got to stay in this division. It’s a fantastic division, all the great teams that we’ve played over the last couple of months. Even going to Scunthorpe away and losing 2-0, but having 4,100 fans or whatever it is, all baying for blood. That’s where we want to be.
“We don’t want to be anywhere else, so it’s really, really important that everybody buys into this.”
Darlington are next to visit the TigerTurf, and are currently sat 23rd in the National League North, just one point behind Gloucester in 22nd, so saying it’s a big game would be an understatement.
However, Cook doesn’t see any element of added pressure “Since the first moment I walked in this club, there’s pressure every single day.
“This is a city club, a massive club that, you know with the right support on and off the pitch, I don’t just mean through fans and supporters, but the board, volunteers, everybody. Old members, those that are coming through. We all need to stick together.
“It means a lot to everybody in the city to do well. But we’ve got no given right to be in this division.”
The two teams have already met once this season, playing out a 1-1 draw in the North East. They travelled there with a depleted squad, but Cook is very much aware of the threat Saturday’s opponents bring.
“We were quite impressed with Darlington. I’ve got to say they knocked it around and they played some really good football.
“I think we went out with a fit squad of 13. Two of the lads were 16 year olds that had to go on the bench that day. That was my first game and we were really struggling for a team.
“A couple of people played with injuries and did remarkably well on the day. So I think we’re a little bit better than what we were when we played them sort of eight weeks ago.
“But they’re a very good team. I think they’ll love coming down onto the astro-turf, knocking it around. They played some lovely football against us, so we’re expecting a good game.”
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