"He was 11 out of 10 in the first half" - Forest Green boss Steve Cotterill praises midfielder after victory at Gateshead takes Rovers top
Forest Green Rovers boss Steve Cotterill praised Liam Sercombe for showing another side to his game in Saturday's 2-0 victory at Gateshead.
Sercombe opened the scoring in the sixth minute with his third goal of the season before Christian Doidge added the second deep into time added on after fellow substitute Marcel Lavinier's pass.
The result lifted Cotterill's side to the top of the National League table on goal difference ahead of Barnet and York City.
Sercombe was forced off in the 62nd minute, with Manny Osadebe going on in his place, but Cotterill was delighted with the attack-minded midfielder's all-round display.
"Sercs gives us goals and although he has been a little dry for a while, I always fancy him to score," Cotterill said.
"But the best thing about him today was the blocks he made and the headers he won in our box and the interceptions he made at vital times.
"Those things don't come naturally to Sercs, but he was brilliant. He was 11 out of 10 for his in that first half, he was first class. He picked up a dead leg in the second half, which is why he came off and he started slowing down a bit."
Sercombe was not the only player to be in the wars at the International Stadium.
Adam May battled on after an early clash of knees, while Sean Long had to come off at half-time, replaced by Harvey Bunker, prompting Cotterill to change his team's defensive shape from a back four to a five.
"Adam has done well to stay on and Robbo (Jamie Robson) had scratches and stud marks all over him - in fact he looks like he's been out a night out with the Sons of Anarchy or something!" Cotterill joked, referring to the American action crime drama television series, which follows the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club.
"We had an injury to Longy at half-time and we didn't feel as though we had an out and out recognised right-back to go in there, so we had to change our shape second half.
"Thankfully, they carried it out very well. We'll have to assess Longy and Sercs in the coming days."
Cotterill also praised the performance of Jed Ward, although he emphasised that he was not surprised by the Bristol Rovers loan goalkeeper's performance as he preserved a precious clean sheet on Tyneside.
"I thought Jed came and took a couple of great balls and made a couple of saves, but I'd expect him to make those because I think he's got a really good future ahead of him," he said. "I am not surprised, but I am delighted."
While he is not paying too much attention to the early National League standings, Cotterill was pleased that the 97 travelling Rovers fans could return south with their team proudly top of the pile after 10 games.
"It's all about gathering points and of course it's nice to be up there, but if you stare at the table too long, you won't be there too long," he said.
"We have put a hard shift in so far this year and we have to keep going. We are pleased with the result and we now have to look to prepare for another away game at Oldham on Tuesday.
"But I am thrilled to bits for the fans, who will be on their way home with a warm feeling and if that makes their journey 50 per cent better, that's brilliant and I am chuffed to bits for them."
Gateshead: Brooks; Radcliffe, Tinkler, Storey (Butterfield 80), Hannant; Allan (Adom 72), Booty, Whelan (Worman 90); Newton (Colkett 86), Oseni (Malcolm 74), Beck. Subs not used: Basey, Jones.
Forest Green Rovers: Ward; Long, (Bunker 46), Tozer, Moore-Taylor, Robson; Sercombe (Osadebe 62), May, McCann; McAllister, Cardwell (Doidge 62), Knowles (Lavinier 80). Subs not used: Searle, Maddox.
Referee: Benjamin Wyatt.