Tuesday 4 January 2011

Ciderspace Is Back

As far as we can tell, the Ciderspace website is now back for most people. Hence unless we get a lot of feedback to the contrary, this temporary blog will stop for the moment.

Can anyone who is still having problems accessing the Ciderspace site (including a working news page that displays the two MK Dons interviews and match report) let us know at ytfcciderspace@yahoo.com and we'll try to both offer advice and gauge the volumes who are affected.

For now, head to the Ciderspace website and let us know if articles from today are not appearing.

Skivo's Verdict On The MK Dons Game

Yeovil Town manager Terry Skiverton spoke to local journalist Chris Spittles after the 1-0 win against Milton Keynes Dons on January 3rd 2011.

CS: You talked before the game about the pride and the battling and the fight that you wanted, and you got exactly that from your side today.

TS: Yes, I said that I felt that we needed to get back to the basics, and turning them. I think that on my sort of part, I'm trying to make a name for myself in the game. I want to do all the right things and play the right way, and play attractive football, and get the fans in and put performances in. I think it's just taken me until recently to talk to a couple of more experienced managers - and winning is important as well.

Whatever it takes to get there, and whatever formula that you do have, it's got to equate to trying to win games. We keep conceding and we've been dropping deep, and not taking chances. Today I felt that it was one of those games where again we created quite a few chances but we looked a lot stronger.

We conceded a lot of possession in the second half, but it seems that a lot of teams do that especially at this level. We had to sit back because we couldn't keep retention of the ball. Then I had to change it, but then to be fair the sending off actually worked for us, because then it slowed their tempo up a bit and everything was a bit more direct. But I'm pleased with the attitude and the commitment and the desire that we did in defending.

For me, that was excellent today. We've been defending as individuals, and I would say that today, and since Colchester, then Plymouth and today, we've been defending as a team and we've been throwing bodies on the line. Luke Ayling got a broken nose today. I've been crying out for someone to get a cut eye. Unfortunately for him it's a broken nose, but that's what it takes to win games. I had that as a player and my players have got to be aware that that is what it takes.

With the additions to the squad, I think Max Ehmer again today was excellent. Paul Wotton was very experienced. He knew when to foul, and when to break play up. Also I though Andy Williams was a real handful for them today.

CS: As an ex-central defender I would imagine that three successive clean sheets is very pleasing for you.

TS: Yes, and another bit for this momentum that I'm talking about, to reel in another one. Again the mindset is different. We're in one of these cross-country runs. We found ourselves at the back, for whatever reason. And now it's that one where you latch onto the next one, then you latch onto the next one. That's where we are looking at (Bristol) Rovers and teams that are above us and can we pass them now?

We've had a little bit of a rest. The things that I've spoken about before, about how we've got to this stage, and where we were bottom of the league. But we're not a bottom of the league club where everything off the field is doom'n'gloom. We're not a club that is going into administration. We're not a club where nobody is turning up, or everybody is having a go at us and having a go at the way we're playing. We're not a club like that.

We're a club where things have conspired against us. Results haven't gone for us, and we haven't taken chances, and there's been missed opportunities that we needed to take. Today we took an opportunity and that's the way that we're going to move on. Everybody says he's over-positive when we're getting beat, but I see my team day-in, day-out and I believe that we can get out of this. I said that it may take us until the last game of the season. In the last two seasons it's taken us until the second from last game. I'm willing, and I'm not going to walk away. This is the biggest challenge of my life and it's one that I am welcoming with both arms and I'm ready to step through any door for this football club, and so are my players.

CS: If there was a concern today, is it in the chances that were missed? You had some very good ones, with two one-on-ones in particular?

TS: Again if you're bottom of the league and you're not creating any chances and you're getting beat, then there's problems. But we are creating chances. Andy Williams is one and Sam Williams is one. Sam is going through a bit of a tough time with the penalty miss and that sort of thing, but he is still giving me everything. He is still putting his body on the line and he is still putting challenges in. And if things are not going for people who are putting in that workrate, then that's still good enough for me.

CS: You said on Saturday that you were still looking to bring in a striker and someone who can take the weight off some of those lads up front.

TS: That's right. If you look around on the bench, we've got real youngsters there like Craig Calver. Billy Gibson has come on and Ed Upson has been involved. We didn't have a lot of subs today, but that's why we need to bring in more people, because we need to make sure that the squad is fighting, and if there is any injuries or suspensions like we've now got, then we've got people who can step in.

Skivo's Pre-Kick-Off MK Dons Interview

Yeovil Town manager Terry Skiverton spoke to local journalist Chris Spittles just before kick-off against Milton Keynes Dons on January 3rd 2011. Yeovil went on to win the game 1-0.

CS: Nice to finally have a home game at Huish Park - it seems so long.

TS: Yes, it does, and I'm really excited about the game today, especially after such a positive performance against Plymouth. We're going to come home today and make sure we're that same strength and steel - we need to show that today. One thing I have been focussing on is the level of performance and making sure that we put on a performance for the fans. But for today, it's a case of us getting the three points. If the performance isn't going to be as good, then we're really going to fight for that and we're going to take whatever we can today. We're going to have a real good performance of the other side of things, which will be our battling quality, so that we really get stuck in and fighting and getting tight, and we'll see what comes from there. Because in the situation that we're in, and with that little bit of togetherness that we showed on Saturday, I think if we do that today and take our chances, then we'll definitely get a result.

CS: You've been able to name an unchanged side. How good does it feel to do that?

TS: It feels brilliant, and I'm still looking for one or two to add to it. But the two that came in did very well, and it's another chance for them today with their positivity. This game couldn't come quick enough for us today, especially with us not getting any knocks or people who are going to be missing. It's a real good chance for us today to get a result.

CS: And you marched the players around the pitch, as you did at Home Park. Is that something new in that you are getting them to walk out and feel like they perhaps own the pitch before the game?

TS: Well that's right. What I'm doing now, is that it's a new year, it's a new start and I think we need to have a new mentality of it. We're out there at the moment and we're concentrating on our football and the nice patterns, and I want to come away from that a little bit. We need to dig in, we need to graft and they need to see us fighting. One thing they will see today is that fighting spirit, and if we've got to put it in behind them and if we've got to go a bit longer then we'll do whatever it takes today. One thing is that I've not been happy about the situation that we've been in. So to go nine weeks without a (home) game is horrible, and it's horrible being at the bottom of the league. We've taken a little step forward and we want to carry on that momentum now and make sure that we're fighting all the way until the end of the season. As I've said, it's a new year, and it's going to be a new bit of Terry Skiverton's Yeovil Town team that is going to show different qualities now.

CS: Only five substitutes today. The change from Saturday is that there is no Stefan Stam.

TS: No, Stefan Stam has got to find first team football elsewhere. As long as I am here, even if we are ravaged with injuries, he will no longer be selected for my squads.

CS: On the positive side, Alex Russell is here and watching the game today and you hope to tie up a deal with him soon?

TS: That's right. Alex is here, and we're going to try to get something done tomorrow. He'll be coming along with Richard Martin. He'll bring in that experience - the same as Paul (Wotton) has brought in so far, and he's a very good player. He'll keep the ball, he'll manipulate it and he'll talk to people and he'll pull people. We need those kind of characters in the squad and that's why I'm adding those two, and I'm really excited at getting him in as well.

Monday 3 January 2011

Yeovil 1 MK Dons 0 : Huntington Downs Dons

Yeovil Town gained a priceless three points at Huish Park this afternoon, as they clocked up their first League One win for almost three months. A single Paul Huntington header just 11 minutes into the match as he converted an Andy Welsh cross ensured victory, although matters became somewhat more edgy in the final six minutes, as Jean-Paul Kalala picked up his second red card of the season, reacting to a poor Michael McIndoe challenge by raising his hands to the former Glover.

Team selection was a simple one for manager Terry Skiverton - the same starting eleven, and only the shock pre-match news concerning Stefan Stam's exclusion from the squad affecting the substitute's bench, with only five named and no second goalkeeper. Shaun MacDonald and John Sullivan lined up to play the final matches of their loan spells at Huish Park, whilst Tom Parkes' injury means his month in South Somerset has been curtailed for the time being.

Whilst the match against Plymouth Argyle was a cagey affair with few chances, this match was a more open one, and the Glovers got the start they needed thanks to a ball into the box from regular assister Andy Welsh. The winger had taken a corner that was only half cleared, and when the ball came back to him a second time, his return cross was met by the head of Paul Huntington and although visiting keeper David Martin got a hand to the ball he couldn't keep it out.

The Glovers took that goal, and went on to dominate the half. With the crowd chanting 'Macca, What's the Score?' at the New Year's Pantomime villain, Nathan Smith drove a shot straight at Dons keeper David Martin, whilst Shaun MacDonald's crunching tackle in midfield set him up to go forward and strike the ball from 30 yards with David Martin saving well, scrambling low down to keep the ball out. The Glovers should have been 2-0 up when Smith's ball over the top to Dean Bowditch allowed the striker to race through on goal, but his shot was too close to Martin's diving body.

The Dons really only had two chances, and both within 30 seconds of each other. Jabo Ibehre's flicked header was headed onwards by Sam Baldock forcing John Sullivan to tip over the bar, whilst the resultant corner saw Ibehre win his header again, only to see the shot misdirected wide of the target. But this was a game that was largely in Yeovil's control and they should have doubled their lead when Andy Williams put in a teasing cross, but Sam Williams fluffed his lines as he misconnected with an attempt at a diving header.

Michael McIndoe allowed for a bit of fun just before the break, as he collided with one of his own team-mates and then with the dugout as he lost his bearings, giving Huish Park its biggest cheer since the goal, and the Glovers well deserved their lead.

For a side that has been in good form recently, particularly at home, it was no surprise to find MK Dons have a decent spell in the game - that came at the start of the second half, as they dominated possession, leaving the Glovers chasing shadows. But eventually Yeovil began to get the measure of it - soaking up the pressure then hitting them on the break. One such move saw Andy Williams strike the woodwork as he received a ball over the top, chipping the ball past the keeper, but seeing the ball go agonisingly onto the foot of the post, and bounce clear of the line.

Dean Bowditch put in a long range change in on goal, whilst Paul Wotton showed early signs of having an eye for goal with another bullet of a shot of the kind that he managed at Home Park two days earlier. Then Andy Welsh also caught Dons on the break, as he raced through on goal, only to find a spot of dithering on his part allowing Dean Lewington a chance to put in a last ditch tackle.

There was always a danger that these spurned chances might cost the Glovers, but a more serious moment of madness put the game on a knife edge with six minutes to go. Substitute Jean-Paul Kalala had only come on in the 78th minute for the out of form Sam Williams, but his contribution lasted just six minutes as he got himself sent off for the second time this season. The game had already been in danger of boiling over minutes earlier with Paul Wotton and Sam Baldock getting involved in a spot of argy-bargy, and referee Simon Hooper did nothing to diffuse the situation. So when Michael McIndoe committed a crude challenge on Kalala, the two fiery players squared up to each other, and Kalala's fuse was well and truly lit - pushing McIndoe in the face. Out came the red card, and McIndoe was fortunate to finish with a yellow.

The Dons couldn't make their advantage count though, with Dean Bowditch intelligently running the ball into the corner flag several times during the closing minutes. The nearest the visitors came was during injury time, when a mis-judged John Sullivan punch created panic, but Nathan Smith bailed him out to keep the three points in tact. So Yeovil move up one place in the League One table, leapfrogging Dagenham, although they remain five points adrift thanks to others getting good results during the day. The main thing to concentrate upon though is the Glovers own points tally, and five points from the last three games is the kind of target they need to set their sights at. If they can continue that over the coming months then the gap will drop between them and the 5th from bottom place.

Link: 2010-11 Latest League One Table.

Final Score: Yeovil Town 1 Milton Keynes Dons 0.

Scorers: Paul Huntington (11 mins, 1-0)

Yeovil Town: (4-4-2)
1. John Sullivan
8. Luke Ayling 5. Paul Huntington 14. Max Ehmer 6. Nathan Smith
11. Andy Welsh (62) 20. Paul Wotton 25. Shaun MacDonald 10. Dean Bowditch
9. Sam Williams 7. Andrew Williams

Substitutes:
16. Edward Upson 17. Craig Calver (90 mins for Dean Bowditch) 21. JP Kalala (78 mins for Sam Williams) 23. Billy Gibson 31. Rhys Baggridge

Milton Keynes Dons:
1. David Martin
15. Dan Woodards 6. Sean O'Hanlon 4. Mathias Doumbe 3. Dean Lewington
14. Lewis Guy 7. Stephen Gleeson 22. Peter Leven 20. Michael McIndoe
10. Sam Baldock 19. Jabo Ibehre

Substitutes:
27. Daniel Powell 28. Jemal Johnson (75 mins for Stephen Gleeson) 26. Luke Chadwick (54 mins for Lewis Guy) 23. Adam Chicksen 13. Mark Carrington 17. Stuart Searle (GK) 5. Gary MacKenzie (65 mins for Sean O'Hanlon)

Yeovil Bookings: Paul Wotton (36 mins, dissent). Red Card: Jean-Paul Kalala (violent conduct, 84 mins).
MK Dons Bookings: Gary MacKenzie (69 mins, foul), Michael McIndoe (foul, 84 mins), Peter Leven (dissent, 88 mins).

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire). Assistants: Andrew Bennett (Devon) and Brett Huxtable (Devon). Fourth Official: Paul Rees (Bristol).

Attendance: 3,508.

Skivo Confirms Russell Arrival At Huish Park

Yeovil Town manager Terry Skiverton has confirmed our earlier news, that he plans to sign up former Bath City midfielder on a contract. The 37 year old has extensive experience with Exeter City, Bristol City and Cheltenham Town but after being released by the Grecians over the summer, he headed to Twerton Park on a short term contract.

Skiverton has told BBC Somerset that Russell is watching the home match against Milton Keynes Dons today, and that he expects to sign him up tomorrow, subject to a medical, and he is expected to sign until the end of the season:

"Alex is here, and we're going to try to get something done tomorrow. He'll be coming along with Richard Martin. He'll bring in that experience - the same as Paul (Wotton) has brought in so far, and he's a very good player. He'll keep the ball, he'll manipulate it and he'll talk to people and he'll pull people. We need those kind of characters in the squad and that's why I'm adding those two, and I'm really excited at getting him in as well."

Today's match sees the final match that goalkeeper John Sullivan will play, with Stephen Henderson due to arrive this week from Bristol City, whilst midfielder Shaun MacDonald also departs today, returning to Swansea City. An injury to defender Tom Parkes means that his loan spell at Huish Park is temporarily curtailed as he gets himself sorted out at the Walkers Stadium.

Goalkeeper Richard Martin's delay appears to be due to Crawley Town insisting upon the Glovers honouring the seven day notice of approach rule required for non-contract players registered to other clubs. Martin will therefore be available for Saturday's match against Brentford, but is already training at Huish Park and was at Saturday's match at Plymouth Argyle.

Skivo: Stam Will No Longer Play Whilst I'm Manager

Yeovil Town manager Terry Skiverton has said that central defender Stefan Stam will never play for him again. The Dutchman has been on the transfer list since late last year, and has made just 23 appearances for the Glovers across his 18 months at Huish Park, including just three during his second season. Much of that time has been spent on the treatment table, and even though he is now fit, his time with the Glovers is effectively at an end.

Skiverton selected Stam on the bench at Home Park against Plymouth Argyle, but in this afternoon's line-up against Milton Keynes Dons, he has been removed from the squad entirely, and the Yeovil boss told BBC Somerset that he would never play for the Glovers again:

"Stefan Stam has got to find first team football elsewhere. As long as I am here, even if we are ravaged with injuries, he will no longer be selected for my squads."

Apart from the absence of Stam, the Glovers are unchanged from the trip to Home Park, but Stam's absence means that Yeovil Town will field just five substitutes for the match. Michael McIndoe is included in the line-up for the visitors.

Yeovil Town: (4-4-2)
1. John Sullivan
8. Luke Ayling 5. Paul Huntington 14. Max Ehmer 6. Nathan Smith
11. Andy Welsh (62) 20. Paul Wotton 25. Shaun MacDonald 10. Dean Bowditch
9. Sam Williams 7. Andrew Williams

Substitutes:
16. Edward Upson 17. Craig Calver 21. JP Kalala 23. Billy Gibson 31. Rhys Baggridge

Alex Russell To Sign For Yeovil Town

Bath City manager Adie Britton has today confirmed that midfielder Alex Russell has left Twerton Park and states that he expects him to be signing for Yeovil Town. The 37 year old was with the Conference National side on a contract that ran until the end of 2010 and is therefore a free agent.

Russell has not been included in Bath's side today, and Britton has confirmed that the player has now left the club, and that he believes he is on his way to Yeovil Town. Speaking to BBC Somerset, Britton paid tribute to a player he labelled as the best he'd seen under his management:

"We weren't too sure how long term it was going to be. Since he came on board I think he's played around 12 games for us and I think we've lost two games. So you can see how well we've done. He's given us a different dimension to our play. We played him in behind the front man in a 4-4-1-1, and he's given us huge ball retention and he's just joined us up as a side. I've got nothing but praise for him. He's done fantastically well for us. He's the best footballer that's been here during the five and a half years that I've been here, and should the opportunity arise I'd love to have him back. But I hope he goes to Yeovil and does a good job for them and gets them out of the trouble that they're in."

Sunday 2 January 2011

Skivo's Pre-Kick-Off Plymouth Interview

Yeovil Town manager Terry Skiverton spoke to local journalist Chris Spittles in an interview for BBC Somerset broadcast just before kick-off against Plymouth Argyle on January 1st 2011. Yeovil went on to draw the game 0-0.

CS: Terry, an easy place to start. You look to have had a very busy day yesterday making three signings. Paul Wotton is particularly significant, being a former Plymouth player of course.

TS: That's right. We've been monitoring him over this last month. He's put in some very good performances for Oxford. Every time he's come in for Southampton he's done well and he was part of their team, and played in every round of their Johnstone's Paint success (where Southampton won the Trophy last season) and he's a very experienced player. He's somebody who is really going to add to the squad. We've been missing out and crying out for a leader and he definitely brings those qualities into the team.

CS: With the second name, Max Ehmer, people know less about him. What can you tell us about him, Terry?

TS: He's a young boy from QPR. He's a central defender. Tom Parkes went down injured yesterday in training, and we needed a little bit of cover in there with (Adam) Virgo being out and with Stefan (Stam) not playing too many minutes. So for me, Max will be coming straight into the team to play as a centre-half, and (Paul) Wotton will be coming in as well.

CS: So positive changes there, and a bit of a new start in the New Year as well?

TS: Yes, we had a bit of a half term report with the players and we spoke about where we are in the League, and we said have we struggled? And I don't really think we've struggled for form and the way that we're playing. I don't think that we're playing like a team that's at the bottom, but for us, it's a case of missed opportunities and lapses in concentration. Now, I think that after the Colchester game, we've got to grips with that in the league. We're out of the cup now, and we're back to nigh on full strength, so let's really kick on for the second half of this season now a lot of the teams will be coming up against the bottom clubs. We've had a rest, both physically and mentally and we're really looking forward to a real good game today. They've (Plymouth) got a lot of stuff here going on away from the playing side of it and we need to use that to our advantage today.

CS: When you look at the table, there's still a chance that Plymouth could get dragged back into it, so a win over them could really pull them down, couldn't it?

TS: Yes, we're not really focussing on dragging other people in. We just need to make sure that we're closing the gap. It's a great opportunity for us today with a difficult game, because Plymouth have still got some very good players. Going forward, even though we don't think that (Craig) Noone is going to be involved today, with (Bradley) Wright-Phillips and (Rory) Patterson going forward, along with the dangerous movement of (Joe) Mason, we've really got to be on our toes today.

With the players that we've got in, we need to make sure that we're really kicking on as a team. We need to be strong, and I think that the longer that we stay in the game, they'll get a little bit edgy. It's a little bit like our game against Dagenham, when Dagenham came to us, and it was a must-win game. This is a must-win game for Plymouth now, to try and kills us off, and as I've said before, we need to use that to our advantage today.

Officials For Yeovil Town vs MK Dons

Officials for tomorrow afternoon's match between Yeovil Town and Milton Keynes Dons have been announced. The match takes place at Huish Park on Monday 3rd January 2011, kick-off 3.00p.m. The main in charge of the match will be referee Simon Hooper (Wiltshire). Mr Hooper was promoted to the Football League in the summer of 2008, and we've had him four times as the man in the middle.

The earliest occasion was October 2008, when a 0-0 draw with Leyton Orient saw him a little too trigger-happy in terms of stopping the game and failing to play advantage for both teams. We also weren't too happy about him missing a fairly blatant penalty shout for an off the ball foul on striker Scott Rendell. That was his first match at League One level, so some allowances should be made for his lack of experience at that time.

Next up was the August 2009 trip to play Huddersfield Town, where he was a late replacement as referee. He awarded us a penalty that day, and although we went on to lose the game, anyone who awards a spot kick to an away team at a stadium the size of the Galpharm deserves credit for a brave decision.

The third and most recent encounter with Mr Hooper was the November 2009 1-1 draw against Charlton Athletic. In a game played in atrocious weather conditions, Mr Hooper sent off Charlton's Sam Sodje half an hour into the game for a professional foul. Another brave decision, but to our (biased) eyes, the correct one. We had no other comments about his handling of the match.

In his most recent match for us he was at Huish Park for the September 2010 game against Southampton and we were a little less enthused about his brave decision-making. To be fair he had a decent game overall, and did give us one penalty for a trip on Gavin Williams, but it was his earlier decision to not award a spot kick for a foul on Andy Williams in the box that had us grumbling during the game.

Mr Hooper will be assisted by Andrew Bennett (Devon) and Brett Huxtable (Devon). The Fourth Official will be Paul Rees (Bristol).

NB: The links below may not work depending on when you read this news item.

Link: October 2008 : Yeovil Town 0 Leyton Orient 0.

Link: August 2009 : Huddersfield Town 2 Yeovil Town 1.

Link: November 2009 : Yeovil Town 1 Charlton Athletic 1.

Link: September 2010 : Yeovil Town 1 Southampton 1.

Skivo's Verdict On The Plymouth Game

Yeovil Town manager Terry Skiverton spoke to local journalist Chris Spittles in an interview for BBC Somerset broadcast after the 0-0 draw at Plymouth Argyle on January 1st 2011.

CS: Terry, with the missed penalty, is that a missed opportunity to gain three points?

TS: No, not really. They came out in the second half and put us under pressure and we had to withstand that. The positive thing for our football club is that in the League now that's two clean sheets. I think you can see the difference in the team with Paul Wotton in getting him in. I thought the centre-half Max Ehmer was excellent today as well. I felt we defended excellently in the second half, and that's the best game I've seen Smithy play in a long time. That really kept us in the game.

I think in the first half we should have been home and dry with (Paul) Huntington if he'd kept his header down a bit and put them under a bit more pressure. I think Andy Williams should have done better with a cut-back, and also with the penalty (taken by Sam Williams) as well. But Sam (Williams) has been putting them away in training. If you go 2-0 up, then the problem is that they would probably have put us back to 2-2!

But two clean sheets on the bounce in the league is excellent for us, and I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think we've come off the bottom - is that right? So for us, it's a massive step. To come to Plymouth is a difficult place and they're a massive club. The good thing that is in my head is that it is a good game for me as I can't ever remember being beaten by Plymouth. There was that famous cup game that we played, and then today as manager I was really pleased with that performance and the character that we showed.

CS: With the penalty, Andy Welsh and Sam Williams seemed to be having a discussion over who was taking it. Had that not been decided before the game?

TS: No, not really. The problem is that when you have penalties before, where people take them and someone has missed them, it sort of goes unsung a little bit. I like to go on the thing that if someone fancies it, then they go and take it. Ideally, I would have liked him (Paul Wotton) to take it because I can't remember him missing any.

CS: That's Paul Wotton?

TS: Yes, that's right. But these things happen. He's come in quite blind, and perhaps he might be on the next one.

CS: So the two signings that you have brought in today have made a positive impact. Going forward over the next few weeks, that's going to make you stronger.

TS: Yes, and there's going to be maybe one or two more coming in, to be honest with you. We've done a deal, and we've got to wait now, because another keeper will be coming in. John Sullivan has been brilliant for me and I thought he was excellent today. But that is coming to its end. We'll be having someone fresh coming in. Also, I'm looking at a striker and maybe someone else as well. We've definitely got to look in that area, because with the amount of chances that we are creating, I think we need a bit of help up there. But I thought the strikers worked very hard today. With Andy Williams up top, that's the first time we've had a chance to see him up there and I thought that he caused their defenders all sorts of problems with his pace, his movement and his directness. I thought the referee (Brendan Malone) was excellent today, but there was one time where Andy had got away from the defender, and he got pulled back a bit, and he blew up rather than play the advantage and I think that if he had given the advantage then Andy would have got a shot off. It's a hard job, and I'll say again that he (Brendan Malone) was excellent, but in those situations you may the advantage, or if it's a goalscoring opportunity then send him off, although he was a bit wide.

CS: So the goalkeeper will be coming in, in time for next Saturday, for the Brentford game?

TS: I hope so, yes.

CS: Speculation has been that Stephen Henderson will be coming back to Huish Park. Is he in?

TS: Well, you're pushing me on this one. We've had a chat, and anything can happen. He's still their player, but there are advanced discussions, a deal has been agreed, but touchwood, nothing happens to one of their two keepers in the next one or two games. Every time I'm going onto their website to make sure that (David) James or (Dean) Gerken hasn't gone down with anything!

CS: And on the striker, is it one particular player that you've got in mind, and are you close with that particular player?

TS: I'm close with that one, but again anything can happen. I think that with the two that we've brought in, they have really added to the team. I don't mean the squad - I mean the team. I'm looking for someone that comes into the team as well, with a little bit of experience, that can take chances, and where it adds that real competition to the players that we have got. I feel now in midfield we have got great competition. I think that at the back we have got good competition when (Adam) Virgo comes back, and I want to have that and make sure that we have got that competition in the striking areas. All good teams are built on a platform of having four good strikers to bring on, and I'm no different.

Man of the Match Voting For Plymouth Argyle Match

At present (although it may disappear for a while at some point) the Man of the Match voting form is still working on the site. Hence please get your top three votes from yesterday's 0-0 draw against Plymouth Argyle in via the usual form.

Link: Plymouth Argyle vs Yeovil Town : Man of the Match Voting Form.

If you find the form isn't working then send your top three via email to ytfcbadger@ntlworld.com including the following:

Match: Plymouth Argyle (please include this in case we need to sift through MK Dons votes this way as well)

1st Choice:
Second Choice:
Third Choice:

Entertainment Mark: (1-5, 1=dreadful 5=brilliant) :
Team Performance Mark: (1-5, 1=dreadful 5=brilliant) :

Additional Comments:

Note: The Ciderspace voting form automatically expires upon kick-off time for tomorrow's home game against Milton Keynes Dons. If you are reading this after 3.00p.m. Monday, then please use the email option, and state clearly "Plymouth Match" in your subject header.

Henderson To Make Glovers Return

Bristol City have confirmed the much expected news that goalkeeper Stephen Henderson will be returning to Huish Park after tomorrow's set of fixtures. He will be signed on a half-season loan, provided the Robins do not get any goalkeeping injuries as part of their match tomorrow.

Henderson has already made eight appearances for Yeovil Town during the Autumn of 2010 during a period when Millwall keeper John Sullivan was injured. And he will now replace Sullivan for the remainder of the 2010-11 season, when Sullivan returns to the New Den after tomorrow's match against Milton Keynes Dons.

The Bristol City official site reports their boss Keith Millen as saying:

"He had a good spell with Yeovil back in September and October. This will be a good opportunity for him to go out and get games under his belt. With a keeper you've always got the security of a recall, so it works for everyone."

The recall that Millen refers to is a 24 hour clause that applies only to goalkeepers in the event of first choice pairing David James and Dean Gerken becoming injured or suspended.

Plymouth 0 Yeovil 0 : Spot Kick Miss Costs Glovers

Yeovil Town played out their second consecutive 0-0 draw in the League, to claw their way off the bottom of League One on goal difference. In an evenly contested match at Home Park, the Glovers came the closest to grabbing all three points against Plymouth Argyle when Sam Williams saw his spot kick saved by home keeper David Button, whilst Andy Williams got the ball into the back of the net just before the break. But the second half fizzled out badly with neither side really threatening the goal.

The Glovers gave debuts to both new midfielders, although QPR signing Max Ehmer occupied a centre-back slot - Paul Wotton who has played there before landed in midfield. Only six were selected for the bench with reserve goalkeeper Richard Martin not being named, as Craig Alcock and Adam Virgo stayed out of the squad.

It was Yeovil who had the pick of the early chances, with a fierce long range drive from Paul Wotton showing what kind of a strike he has got on him, whistling narrowly past the Argyle goalpost. Then Paul Huntington had a header flicked over the bar by Argyle keeper David Button for a corner. Wotton also managed to hit the crossbar from another header - albeit a looping one that bounced on top of the goal frame.

The Glovers were doing well to keep League One's top scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips quiet, but Argyle's main danger man became Joe Mason, with Shaun MacDonald having his hands full trying to track him, and often seeing him squirm loose. Mason's beautifully weighted curling pass into the path of Rory Patterson set the latter clean through on goal, but a slightly weighty first touch allowed John Sullivan to come off his line and scramble to block the ball at Patterson's feet. Mason also saw a blocking tackle deny him a shot on goal, although the deflection on the ball saw it loop just over Sullivan's bar.

Just before the half hour mark, the Glovers got themselves a golden opportunity when a turn inside the box by Andy Williams saw him go down under a challenge from Curtis Nelson. If there was contact then it was minimal, but referee Brendan Malone pointed to the spot. Unfortunately striker Sam Williams is not having the best of times at present, and his weak penalty was easily parried by home keeper David Button and the Glovers couldn't scramble home the loose ball.

Right on half time, Andy Williams got the ball in the back of the net, latching onto a far post ball which he converted from close range. Unfortunately referee Brendan Malone had long since blown up for a foul when Yeovil won the header in the box, and by the time Williams hit the back of the net, most knew it wouldn't count.

The less said about the second half the better. In fact there wasn't a lot to say about it at all from an entertainment perspective. Argyle came out looking a far better side and Yeovil spent a fair chunk of the opening 20 minutes defending in numbers, but without keeper John Sullivan being tested too hard. It took a good 15-20 minutes for Yeovil to muster their first serious shot - a Dean Bowditch attempt that went just wide from 25 yards.

Yeovil introduced Jean-Paul Kalala for Andy Welsh and switched their formation to a 4-1-4-1 as Wotton protected the back four. But this wasn't a case of defences being on top - even with Argyle's frequent territorial superiority, the corner flag was in more danger of damage than John Sullivan's goal with Sully having few opportunities to keep his hands warm in the ever-freezing temperatures.

Overall if Yeovil were going to win the game, they should have scored their goal during the first half. As the game wore on there was little to justify either side gaining all three points, although the Glovers will be kicking themselves that they didn't convert the gift-horse penalty that they did get. Another point away from home is no disaster, but they will need to start converting some of these 0-0 draws into wins. The result moves Yeovil above Walsall on goal difference, and closes the gap on the safety line down to five points. But with Rochdale and Notts County winning their games, the bottom five clubs are now on their own, and Yeovil will need to get a minimum of three points from their next two home matches to ensure that gap continues to be whittled away.

Final Score: Plymouth Argyle 0 Yeovil Town 0.

Scorers: None.

Plymouth Argyle:
31. David Button
36. Stephane Zubar 35. Curtis Nelson 5. Reda Johnson 29. James Paterson 4. Carl Fletcher 11. Kari Arnason 15. Onismor Bhasera (76) 8. Rory Patterson 10. Bradley Wright-Phillips 16. Joe Mason

Substitutes:
1. Romain Larrieu (GK) 2. Karl Duguid 6. Chris Clark 18. Jack Stephens 19. Yannick Bolasie (76 mins for Onismor Bhasera) 21. Anton Peterlin 23. Krisztian Timar

Yeovil Town: (4-4-2)
1. John Sullivan
8. Luke Ayling 5. Paul Huntington 14. Max Ehmer 6. Nathan Smith
11. Andy Welsh (62) 20. Paul Wotton 25. Shaun MacDonald 10. Dean Bowditch
9. Sam Williams 7. Andrew Williams

Substitutes:
4. Stefan Stam 16. Edward Upson 17. Craig Calver 21. JP Kalala (62 mins for Andy Welsh) 23. Billy Gibson 31. Rhys Baggridge

Plymouth Bookings: James Paterson (17 mins, foul)
Yeovil Bookings: Luke Ayling (61 mins, foul), Sam Williams (68 mins, diving)

Referee: Brendan Malone

Attendance: 9,720 (including 692 Yeovil fans)