Glovers boss Steve Thompson praised his side for a great first laugh performance against Bristol City yesterday and believed that they were one goal away from finishing the game off. Speaking after the 1-1 draw at Huish Park, Steve answered the following questions:
Qu: Steve, what's your reaction to the spoils being shared at Huish Park here this afternoon?
ST: A little bit disappointed because I felt we created more chances and we should have won the game in the first half when we should have gone in (at half time) two or three up.
Qu: Do you feel that is where the game was won and drawn?
ST: No, a game is always won, drawn and lost in the whole 90 minutes. Certainly in that first 45 minutes we played very well and we created a whole host of chances. But we only managed to put one of them away and 1-0 is always dangerous. It only takes a little bit of luck or one bit of magic to score a goal and you are back on level terms. I think it came off the back of Matt Heywood's head nethertheless, but for a centre-half coming up it will have been a good goal for him. We needed that second goal and I think it would have been very hard for Bristol City then.
Qu: A goal up in the first two minutes so you must have been very pleased with the start your team made. And it wasn't as if they sat back then was it?
ST: No, I felt we went at them for the whole of the first half and played very well. I was very pleased with the workrate and the interpassing and with the play of everyone in that first half. We looked sharp, strong and fit and had a very good half and it was just a shame that we couldn't be more than one up at half time.
Qu: Bristol City had that 20 minute spell at the start of the second half where they maybe bossed it a little bit, but apart from that, Yeovil still came back into it again and could have snatched it at the end.
ST: Yes, Bristol City did have a good 15 or 20 minute spell but without creating too many good chances. I can't remember a chance apart from that goal during that time. So on chances created we deserved to win. However the game is on goals scored and it is 1-1. Gary might be a little bit happier than me with the result.
Qu: Basso, their keeper, had a great game didn't he?
ST: Yes, he made some great saves and his entertainment value was quality throughout the game! It went from football to boxing! But he was good and he made some great saves and it was good to see that passion at the end and see that he wanted to stay on. He'd been knocked out, so the physio said. It was certainly entertaining stuff from the goalkeeper but what do you expect from Brazilians!
Qu: Gary Johnson made his return to the club and a lot was made of that in the build-up. Were you pleased about the reception that he got from the Yeovil Town fans?
ST: Yes, there's no taking away from it. Gary was a legend here and what he achieved in four years was magnificent. Everyone in Yeovil is very fond of Gary Johnson. He is a good friend and a very good person and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him during that four years. We had a lot of success but we also had a lot of laughs. That was tremendous.
Qu: Nice to remind him a little bit of what he left behind?
ST: Yes, when you saw the first half it was a typical Gary Johnson home performance wasn't it? I was really pleased with the way we played in that first half. We had a 10 minute session yesterday because I didn't want to tire them too much knowing that the game would be played on a heavy pitch today and the 10 minutes they had were like that first half. I stopped them and said that's it because they always want to carry on a lot longer and I told them that if they produced that today then they would be doing well, and they did. To their credit our workrate, even during the 15 minute spell where Bristol City got on top of us in the second half, was incredible.
Qu: How is Colin Miles?
ST: He's quite bad actually. I don't know the exact problem but he is in a bad way and has had to go to hospital. It is a head injury. So obviously we have got him down there to get him checked out.
Qu: Was it a delayed reaction to that incident with Scott Murray?
ST: Yes, it wasn't too delayed though as it was only two or three minutes later when he came off. But when you get a head injury that can happen. Glen, the physio noticed straight away, about 30 seconds after both of them got up and Colin carried on. He had a problem and that problem has persisted for the next hour. We want to get him checked out as soon as possible and that's why he's gone straight to hospital.
Qu: Does that leave you short of centre-backs? Where was Sodje today?
ST: Sodje is fit and available. Colin is definitely out but Sodje is fit and available as are other cente-halves like Liam Fontaine and Luke Oliver.
Qu: When does Liam go back to Fulham?
ST: After Monday's game (at Doncaster).
Qu: So you are not thinking about recalling Locky?
ST: It has crossed my mind since Colin's injury. But I will have a sit down with Kevin Hodges and discuss that one now.
Qu: You can recall him on 24 hours notice?
ST: Yes, we can recall him for Monday's game if we so desire.
Qu: On a human level you wouldn't want to pull him out of the Birmingham City game.
ST: You wouldn't want to, no, but we have to do what's right for Yeovil Town. But I have got centre-halves that are fit and it's not as if I am down to my last two centre-halves and that is why I need to discuss that with Kevin Hodges.
Qu: The decision today to change both centre-backs from Wednesday's game (at Tranmere) looked fully justified really because you looked very solid at the back.
ST: Yes, so did Scott when he came on. So the three centre-halves looked very solid and that is pleasing.
Qu: I have to ask about the developments during the week with David Webb returning to the club as the owner and chief executive. What's your reaction to David Webb's return to Yeovil Town?
ST: Well, I know David, and I am pleased to see David Webb here. He is a big football man and has an enormous amount of contacts and people in football that he knows. I am sure that he will do a good job.
I'd also like to say a big thank you to Jon Goddard-Watts who has been here for eight years and has allowed and made the foundation for the success that Dave Webb, Colin Addison, myself and Gary Johnson have been able to achieve with all of the players. So I would like to thank Jon Goddard-Watts. He is a quiet man but he is a very good man.
Qu: Have you had a chance to talk with David Webb yet as to the future direction that the club might take?
ST: Yes we have spoken, but our conversations will remain between us!
Qu: He has suggested that he would take over the contract talks. Is that something you are comfortable with?
ST: Yes, I will still be involved in the contract talks, but it is good to have someone who has had many dealings in that sphere with me, sorting it out.
Qu: Are you confident then that you can keep the squad together?
ST: We have had a brief discussion yesterday. Dave said can you give me an analysis of every player and that is what I will do.
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1 January 2006 : 
