Swansea City ended their 8-game unbeaten run as Yeovil maintained their 100% record against us at Huish Park. After our third visit, we are still yet to score there and again we found it difficult cope with Yeovil’s style of football.
Kenny Jackett was forced into making 3 changes to the starting line up as Ricketts was involved in today’s 3-2 Welsh win against Northern Island while McLeod was out injured and Akinfenwa was suspended after picking up his 5th booking of the season last Saturday at home to Blackpool. This meant starts for Forbes, Monk and Robinson.
It was Yeovil who dominated possession in the first half and their quick passing game was causing problems for us early on. When we had the ball we still struggled as they closed us down well and never gave us much time and space. Our first real chance on goal in front of our travelling support consisting of 1,500 jacks involved good 1-pass football but we were unable to finish the move off. Robinson also went close but he went too far and was eventually tackled inside the penalty area.
With Akinfenwa and McLeod missing, we didn’t really have a targetman to compete with Sodje in the air are we desperately needed to play the ball along the floor as often as possible.
Alan Tate was soon receiving stick from the fans although he was no worse than any other player today. Izzy Iriekpen went close from Martinez’s set piece cross but he couldn’t direct his header goalward. Leon Britton was showing the workrate and commitment that we our other players seemed to lack but goal opportunities were very limited and Weale in goal was rarely called into action.
Swansea would have been lucky to go in at half time scoreless but 6 minutes from the break and the hosts took a deserved lead. A pacey out swinging cross from former Swansea target, Lee Johnson was met by Skiverton who headed passed Willy Gueret.
Jackett needed to sort his side out in readiness for the second half if we were going to get anything out of this match and he decided to bring on Marc Goodfellow for Andy Robinson on the left and used his assistant manager for the first time as Kevin ‘OAP’ Nugent replaced Forbes up front – hoping to win more aerial challenges. And to be fair to the veteran, Nuge was winning the flick ons and was laying the ball off well but Trundle was marked closely and rarely had a shooting opportunity.
Marc Goodfellow lashed a stinging volley from a loose bouncing ball but Weale got a hand to it as the ball went out for a corner. Martinez also had a go from just outside the area but Weale was able to make a comfortable save from a shot that lacked power and direction.
Trundle then stepped up to take a free kick from shooting range but it didn’t dip enough as it curled around and over the wall, and over the bar. Bean also tried his luck but didn’t get his foot around the ball enough as it curled well wide.
Yeovil then played the last 10 minutes or so in the corners, wasting as much time as possible and therefore it never looked as if we’d rob them to share the points.
Overall it was our worst performance of the season in which we struggled against a side that passed and moved quickly and we were unable to cope with their frantic style of play. Despite Johnson leaving to manage Bristol City, they still play the attractive football we’ve seen from them in the past two seasons and it was surprising that they didn’t make the best of starts to the new season.
Player Ratings
Gueret 6
Not a bad game, kicking again was lacking but couldn’t do anything about the goal.
Monk 6
Defensively ok but making slight errors, but everyone was today.
Austin 6
Didn’t offer anything going forward apart from one run, plays much better in centre.
Tate 6
Sometimes made the wrong option when passing, was criticised but was no worse than anyone else.
Iriekpen 6
Had a chance on goal and did ok defensively.
Robinson 5
Dissapointing from Robbo, out of position and took the ball too far when we ran into the penalty area.
Britton 6
Involved on the right a lot first half and was our best player I thought, 2nd half was much quieter from him though.
Martinez 6
Went close a few times and encouraged his team-mates well to try and raise the spirits to get a goal back.
Bean 6
Like Tate, criticised but didn’t stand out. Not enough ball winning/defensive work in midfield and at times our whole midfield was non existant.
Forbes 5
Couldn’t cope in the air and didn’t offer anything up front.
Trundle 6
Constantly marked and didn’t have no room to have a shot at goal, came too wide leaving no one in the box to attack a potential cross.
Goodfellow 6
Did offer a little more than Robinson and went close with a fierce volley but no real attacking runs or crosses.
Nugent 7
Won a lot in the air and layed the ball off well to his colleagues. Went off injured for Anderson.
Anderson coming on meant Trundle was the only striker, didn’t have time so can’t really comment.
Manager Rating
Kevin Nugent was the only striker Jackett had available and with Forbes unable to cope in the air, he brought the veteran on and to be fair and did win headers and laid the ball off well. Jackett owned up to the fact he got things a bit wrong and with a lack of strength in depth with some players missing we was unable to improve things enough to get an equaliser.
Opponent Rating
They marked Trundle out of the game which you have to do when playing us really. They didn’t give us much time or space and we struggled as a result.
