No changes for the Glovers, either on the bench or in the starting line-up as Russell Slade kept faith with the side that drew 1-1 up at Millwall. Meanwhile Bournemouth came to Huish Park on the back of a bad 0-3 home defeat to Chesterfield on Saturday but despite that still brought a near full away terrace. For the majority of home fans present, it would be their first taste of Russell Slade as a manager.

Bournemouth started far more brightly than their hosts and James Hayter lost his marker during the first two minutes of the game but shot wide of the far post from a narrow angle. The visitors again broke through when James Hayter forced Steve Mildenhall out of his goal on a through ball but Leon Best shot wide of the target. Hayter tried one from long range then Best managed a back-header straight into the arms of Mildenhall from close range. The best the Glovers could manage during the early period was a dangerous looking cross from Davies that was headed clear from danger by the visting defence. In the main Bournemouth were finding it far too easy to block out any attempts to get the ball into the final third.

It took until the midway point for the Glovers to muster their first real chance - an edge of area shot by Wayne Gray that shot over the bar. But still Bournemouth dominated, even if Steve Fletcher seemed to cause the Westland Stand some severe annoyance due to a combination rather robust tackling on Andy Lindegaard, whilst going down like a sack of spuds whenever a player went near him. Terry Skiverton was brought in tighter to try and marshall Fletcher a little more tightly although the flexibility of the Bournemouth front three often caused the Yeovil defence to lose their shape.

When the Glovers did get possession invariably the end product was poor - Matt Harrold too isolated and too inclined to see the ball lost to the Bournemouth back-line. His partner Wayne Gray created the Glovers second and final chance of the half - heading an Arron Davies corner over the bar, but in the main was struggling to contribute up front. Too many of the midfielders were uninvolved, whilst the defensive shape was getting lost in their efforts to contain the Bournemouth front three. A lot of thinking for manager Russell Slade to do at half time.

It wasn't the greatest of surprises to find Slade's half time response was to change the shape and the personnel. Off came Anthony Barry and Matt Harrold, on came David Poole and Kevin James. The midfield was made more orthodox with David Poole going out on the left whilst Arron Davies went wide right allowing James to land up front with Gray.

James nearly got off to a flyer - a deep Lindegaard cross being hit on the volley by Kevin James with his left foot, only for it to go wide of the target. Chris Cohen and David Poole had shots closed down as the Glovers started in far more promising fashion - the revised shape allowing them to drive forward as a line and put pressure on the Bournemouth backline. These weren't clear cut chances but at least it showed more promise than the first period and was driving Bournemouth onto the back foot for the first time in the game.

However, with Bournemouth's first chance of the second half they created the clearest chance of the game - Danny Hollands getting room to smash a 25 yard shot at goal that came off the foot of the post and caused a couple of seconds of chaos as both sides scrambled for the rebound, with the visitors claiming a handball in the melee. Minutes later and a Steven Foley free kick forced Steve Mildenhall into a strong save from a free kick, with the big man being forced into tipping the ball round his post for a corner for an excellent save.

The Glovers did manage to break out of this Bournemouth pressure with an excellent breakaway. Arron Davies cut his way through the Bournemouth half with his usual amount of trickery, only to be crudely clipped by Karl Broadhurst, who deservedly became Mr Singh's first yellow card of the night.

The game swung back and forth with neither side really managing to get final balls into the box. Some of Yeovil's second half moves were excellent and flowing but without that final ball to really give either striker a chance to struggle giving the impression of a dog that was all bark and no bite. If anything James Hayter's charged down shots and a shot from Stephen Cooke represented the best of the middle period's action, albeit without seriously bothering Steve Mildenhall.

With the minutes ticking down, Lee Morris replaced Arron Davies, allowing Kevin James the chance to drop back onto the right wing, giving the striker his first competitive match for 18 months. But still that small matter of turning forward play into clear-cut chances eluded the Glovers and the game closed out without either side's keeper having to do too much work.

In truth Bournemouth should have had the game in the bag on their first half performance and saw enough of the second half match to have even nicked a winner there. The Glovers - once they reorganised during half time - at least got back into the game from a territory point of view with an improved second half display. But overall they didn't do enough to deserve to win the game, and thus should probably see tonight as a point gained - it was probably one more than was truly deserved.

MOTM Vote Result:

Pos	Player
1	Terrell Forbes
2	Chris Cohen
3	Steve Mildenhall

Overall match rating: 4.3 / 10
Performance: 3.9
Entertainment: 4.7

52 votes received.

Any comments/questions please email ytfc.motm@tiscali.co.uk

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