Yeates: I Don`t Practice Free-kicks

Colchester United`s wonder winger Mark Yeates, who has already scored seven goals this season, astonishingly admitted that he “doesn`t spend much time” practicing free-kicks after netting a belter during the U`s latest win.

Yeates, 22, has now hit four free-kicks, and is relishing his second spell at Colchester. The Irishman, however, claimed he does not have an obsessive practice routine over his set-pieces.

He told BBC Essex after the game, in which he scored twice: “I don`t spend too much time doing it. On a matchday, I step up there and feel confident that I can stick it in,” he said.

Despite contributing heavily to the tally of goals for – Colchester have found the net more times than anyone else in the Championship to date – Yeates, who had set a target of getting ten this term, admitted that he wants to add yet more to his impressive tally.

“I`m right up there. But I`m trying to get the goal against Southampton, too.” That particular strike was accredited as a deflected own goal, although Yeates is not giving up hope.

He stressed that his side, after they let a lead slip twice in this game alone, must be tighter at the back.

“We had to pick up today – to beat West Brom is brilliant. It`s obviously a great game to watch, but it`s not too great to play in because we know we`ve got to stop conceding goals,” the game’s star man commented.

“We`ll work at it again on the training ground on Monday morning.”

On his goals, Yeates concluded: “I`m delighted. I wanted to get at least ten this season.”