You�ve been Warned�

Paul Warne�s carbon copy strikes, one in each half was enough to condemn Yeovil to their fourth consecutive league defeat, but more worryingly left them spiralling towards the wrong end of league one.

Yeovil's day started with a blow when influential midfielder Darren Way was ruled out for 6 weeks with a lower leg injury, he along with the suspended Lee Johnson were sorely missed in the centre of the park, although one consolation was the performance of 18 year old Chris Cohen, on loan from West Ham, who had a stunning match and looks to have a bright future in the game.

The Glovers started the game with the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation, and it was Colin Miles who claimed the left back spot with Nathan Jones returning to the bench. The new look midfield saw Paul Terry line up alongside Cohen with Davies and Gall on the flanks. Bastianini was recalled to the starting line up after missing out on a spot at Swansea, and he was partnered by Phil Jevons.

It was the home team who came out the blocks the quickest, they passed the ball around with a great deal of pace and precision, with Cohen at the heart of it, and it was he who, following a pacy left wing run, supplied a great ball into the path of Phil Jevons whose first time shot from just inside the box flew narrowly over the bar.

With all the early possession you just felt that Yeovil needed to take the advantage and get the goal their build up play deserved. If they didn�t take the initiative there was that deep down feeling that on the counter attack, Oldham may just catch us out cold�and they almost did. Left back Paul Edwards took on Amankwaah and was fortunate to win himself a free kick, up stepped skipper Andy Liddell and his first time shot curled powerfully but just over Chris Weales� bar. Undeterred Yeovil kept plugging away and it was Pablo who had the next chance to find the net, with close control he set himself up with a well struck shot that was on target until it took a deflection and went out for a corner. Unusually for Yeovil, and in Lee Johnsons� absence, they took a short one, but it lacked the finished ball into the box. Miles who appeared to �overstretch� in an earlier tackle was cursed with injury again when he hobbled off after 28 minutes to be replaced by Nathan Jones.

One day Pablo will score the spectacular goal, we�ve seen him hit shots before from the halfway line but his effort on the half hour mark was actually from deep inside his own half, whether he spotted the keeper of his line, or whether he just hit and hoped, his audacious shot had Latics keeper Chris Day scrabbling backwards and he managed to catch the ball just underneath his crossbar to keep his side in the game. Pablo was involved a few minutes later, with his back to goal he spun around and slid the almost perfect defence splitting pass into the path of Arron Davies but the defenders big toe just managed to steer the ball away from the little winger's path.

And then that deep down feeling occurred for real, as Andy Liddell�s powerful surge left Sodje on the deck, his low cross into the box was perfect for Warne and he made no mistake confidently side footing his side ahead 5 minutes or so before the break.

Not long into the second half Yeovil, who needed a goal quickly changed the formation but unfortunately not their fortunes. Jevons, who hasn�t gelled with Bastianini reverted to the left side of midfield, Davies came out to the right and Gall went down the middle�once again though the changes didn�t bear fruit and the Glovers rarely forced Chris Day into making a save. On the other hand, the under pressure Chris Weale made a fine stop when Paul Warne hit a terrific shot from 25 yards, Weale flung himself to his right and made a great finger tip save deflecting the ball around his post for a corner. Terry Skiverton was then on hand to keep his team in the game when Warne then turned provider releasing the perfect ball into Andy Liddell's stride but Skiverton managed to get a fine block in to stop him scoring.

The captain then had a fine chance up the other end to claw something back. Good work from Cohen again and his cross into the box found Skiverton who mishit his shot with the goal gaping, it summed up Yeovil�s day.

Following an appeal for what looked like a blatant handball in the box, Steve Thompson juggled his front men again to try and find the magic formula. Gall was taken off and Matty Harrold came on in his place. Harrold at least gave centre back Guy Branston something to think about. Harrold is not going to score 20 goals a season, but at least he is a physical handful and can drag defences around a bit. Harrold himself found himself in acres of space after 75 minutes and as raced towards the box, all that was needed was a cute pass into the path of anybody and the goal beckoned, but frustratingly for Yeovil there was a distinct lack of support and the opportunity was gone.

With Yeovil pressing forward they were exposed at the back and Chris Weale was fortunate late on when the gap between him and his defence was not exploited, from a back pass he was slow off his line and the Latics striker stealed in to capitalize but his shot bounced off the post and was cleared to safety.

On 80 minutes Bastianini was hauled down by the impressive Paul Edwards and from the resultant free kick, Phil Jevons saw his shot graze the side netting, fooling some in the Bartlett stand into thinking he had scored. Seconds later, there was a goal but it went to the visitors, an almost identical move to the first goal, Liddell again down the right pulled away and his pass once again found Warne and he put his side two up, and out of danger.

Yeovil, with the game gone resorted to three long range shots, but none of them forced a save from the keeper, in fact he was barely troubled all afternoon. Edwards was sent off late on for a reckless challenge on Amankwaah, but Yeovil had left it to late to take advantage of the extra man and they trudged off to a few boos at the end of the game.

With league action out of the way for 10 days, Yeovil now travel to Walsall for the FA Cup. Steve Thompson has his work cut out again this week, his main task is turning possession into goals, taking advantage when they are on top. At the moment Yeovil look vulnerable when they go behind, for the first time in a long time we�ve lost 4 games on the trot and its now time for the leaders to stand up and be counted�on the pitch. Today we didn't win the 50-50�s, and we never looked like we were in charge, in fact we looked low on confidence. We are not in trouble, not yet, but we could be if we don�t become more clinical, not just up front, but all over the field.

Jeremy Gear

MOTM Vote Result:

Overall match rating: 3.9 / 10
Performance: 3.8
Entertainment: 4

29 votes received.

Any comments/questions please email [email protected]

Back to Top of Page