Top of the Table - Yeovil Post Match

[Milky]

I thought we were trying to play good, entertaining football. Particualrly in the first half. We need a bit of perspective here. These lads are in league one for a reason! I can see them trying to do the right things, but they just don't have that extra quality. I don't know, perhaps my expectations have sunk too low after the turgid last few years

[Fez of Mahrez]

I thought we were trying to play good, entertaining football. Particualrly in the first half. We need a bit of perspective here. These lads are in league one for a reason! I can see them trying to do the right things, but they just don't have that extra quality. I don't know, perhaps my expectations have sunk too low after the turgid last few years

No you're just not a miserable old bastard.

I was pleased with tonight. We did the job and there was some good entertainment along the way. We always looked like we were going to win the game and I hope the players built some confidence after some poor recent performances. I don't buy this constant need to criticise. It's that culture which has led to all this booing. But that's just my opinion.

Well played boys. Top of the league.

[Tommeh]

Good game by us, King, Oakley and Dyer were spot on tonight. Also enjoyed Howard, Fryatt and Mattock.

What we needed, get the job done very comftably.

Why did everyone panic at the end!

I panicked at the end because the last home game on my birthday 2 years ago Barry Hayles, yes THE BARRY HAYLES popped up in the 94th minute to equalise for Plymouth making it 2-2.

You can never be sure with Leicester.

[syston_fox]

No you're just not a miserable old bastard.

I was pleased with tonight. We did the job and there was some good entertainment along the way. We always looked like we were going to win the game and I hope the players built some confidence after some poor recent performances. I don't buy this constant need to criticise. It's that culture which has led to all this booing. But that's just my opinion.

Well played boys. Top of the league.

I think thats the fairest summary Ive read so far. It's not often that we come away from the Walkers with three points AND having been entertained along the way. The first half was a joy to watch at times as the players actually looked interesting in creating some different things - in fact I commented that for once it looked like they'd actually been training for once.

I'd have loved more goals so that it wasn't a nervy last five minutes but I felt we were always in control and I'd have taken that at kick off.

[Porky]

Fantastic result, and great to be back at the top of the league.

I really wish they'd stop messing about towards the end of the match though; I couldn't help but think they'd nick a last minute equaliser.

[Hullfox]

Half-time I was almost drooling.

That'll be the dementia.

Some of what you have written confirms that.

[carterfox90]

we hardly broke into a sweat in the game................................. but my god were they there for the taking we should have won that by at least 3or 4 - nil hope we dont regret not scoring the extra goals come the end of the season!!!!

[Thracian]

That'll be the dementia.

Some of what you have written confirms that.

The day you and I see a game the same will be the day I really worry about the state of my mind.

[Daggers]

Gosh.

It seems that most of you are more desperate than a teen with an underwear catalogue.

"We will be beating teams 4 or 6:0" was frequently spouted earlier this season - last night was that opportunty.

Amazingly, many younger people nearby felt the same...but perhaps that was just my miseable old ears playing tricks on me.

[DB11]

We're top

Yeovil were absolutely crap though

[Asha]

We're top

Yeovil were absolutely crap though

Agreed, they couldn't hold on to possession for more than a few seconds on many occassions.

Part of me thinks we could have stuffed them, but 3 points is 3 points.

[dandannieldanok]

The 26-year-old smashed the ball home following a neat flowing move midway through the first half.

I think the BBC are mistaken on that one, the goal was a Morrison hoof to the head of Howard straight to Dyer. Hardly neat and flowing

[James.]

Not every game will be slick passing. Not every game will be a horrible grindathon. Not every game will be 4-0. Not every game will be 0-0. The bottom line is we won 1-0. By the sound of it (yes I know I wasn't there) we played some very nice football. People who I respect on here were entertained. Oh and did I mention we won 1-0? And that we're top of the league? And that we're averaging over 2 points per game? And that we have won our last 3 games scoring 6 and conceding 1? And that the JPT doesn't count?

Well pleased.

[reynard]

Some of the reaction in this thread is simply amazing.

Let's deal with Yeovil first. They were a very poor side and were there for the taking. But then Oldham probably thought that as well and I seem to recall Yeovil winning up there something we failed to do. The first half they were not only moved all over the place by our own movement and passing but they did exactly what we have been doing for the last few seasons and stood off us especially in midfield and gave us the space to play in. The second half was different. They made an effort to get closer to us and it showed.

Yes we didn't score 4 or 5 goals but we could have. we created openings and with more calmness in front of goal would have put the game out of reach by 70 mins.

The second half wasn't quite as good as the first but the reaction of some is just riduculous. We had several corners and at least two free kicks in dangerous places. I recall at least one break where if Oakley had played a better final ball to Fryatt he may have scored. The keeper made two good saves and we spent the vast majority of the half in the yeovil half of the pitch.

What I saw last night was a concentrated effort to play the type of football played by the top sides; possession, movement and a real effort at keeping the ball. We may not have the quality of the top sides but this is how they try and play and is why they tend to win more games than they lose.

As for criticism (Thracian) of trying to kill off the game by taking the ball into the corner. Come on get real. This was done with 1 minute to go and is exactly what you would expect the best sides to do. They get to a stage in the match where they simply decide to "kill off" the game.

What I have seen this season is the gradual transformation from a side that simply played long aimless passes to a side that tries to build from the bakc and to pass it through the opposition with short passes and movement off the ball. It is very much a work in progress but anyone who can't see this isn't watching the same games I've seen. Recent weeks have seen a drop in standard but the picking of a more balanced midfield looked to have paid off last night.

The positive thing is we won and played some good football in so doing.

[Guest]

Oakley's corners are whack.

Our corners are whack, full stop.

[sbfox]

Our corners are whack, full stop.

I haven't heard someone use the word 'whack' since 1999!

Relatively happy with the performance last night, it sounded like we didn't get out of second gear (not that we needed to) and just had a bit of a run-out. Happy to be sitting up at the top, but only a win will do against Swindon and then comes the big game at Scunneh. Anyone got any news of Edworthy by the way?

[Ric Flair]

I want to be happy with last night's performance as first half it was some of the best passing i've seen us string together for as long as I can remember but the 2nd half transformation and inability to score more goals has put a bit of a dampener on things. I'm not going to go over board though, what I saw first half was the early signs of this team trying to use a new approach to unlock teams by passing in triangles between Berner, King and Oakley and stretching the opposition. Far better than hit and hoping like we had been doing.

Andy King was sublime in the first half, absolutely on the money. He might not have much pace but when it opens up for him, due to our more inventive passing, it gives him the opportunity to show his array of positive and effective passing. That ball over the top to Oakley, I think it was, was unreal. I want to see more of this, because the talent is certainly there for King, he just needs to be allowed to impose himself more and recently he has been doing.

Howard was the face of 2 evils. First half he was quality, ball on deck and he was holding it up and causing all sorts of problems. 2nd half, he looked tired to me and his passing and knock downs were very poor. Pearson should have changed it, he very rarely changes things when we are winning, slender lead or not. Yeovil were there for the taking and Howard was upsetting some of the rythm in the 2nd half. Didn't deserve the abuse he was getting from the brigade behind me though, crazy, yet again.

Tunchev was colossal, in defending and bringing the ball out of defence. Passing was cock on, tackling was cock on, heading was cock on. I want him as captain when he picks up the lingo, inspirational.

Mattock had a blinder first half, except for his invisible piledriver that had me in stitches, great build up play for that as well. I'm really pleased to see Joe back in the team and confident, he looks good going forward right now and with the new formation, it's certainly needed if Dyer drfits inside to support the front two.

Dyer was yet again, mr dependable. 7th goal of the season and several of those have won us matches. Cool and composed finish, thought he was nailed on for another when the goalie spileld Fryatt's shot in the 2nd half. He must be set for an impressive total from a winger this season. Excellent.

Morrison impressed me last night, even when moved to right back he didn't look out of place. Obviously I hope Gilbert or Edworthy are back soon as they are more fluent going forward, but i'm pleased Morrison is back in the fold because he is very talented for his age.

Oakley was superb first half, I like his new role. I am upset Gradel and Adams aren't involved right now, at the very least they should be on the bench, but Oakley was maraudering down the inside right last night and Yeovil looked shit scared of him. Could have scored a wonder goal from King's sexual pass in the first half and it's a shame he didn't as he's another who looks to be only a goal or two away from really hitting form.

Second half was very frustrating, it could have cost us and that would have left a very sour taste. We must start being more ruthless in front of goal. Goals have to start coming in from different areas of the team. Pearson needs to be sometimes taking chances with his substitutes, Dickov and DJ should be capable of scoring goals and they need to be involved to put games to bed, such as last night. This is one of my only criticism's about Pearson. Whether he told the team to stop playing in the second half is questionable, I doubt he'd be that negative against a team like Yeovil, but he must work on pulverising teams when the opportunity arises.

All in all, impressive and refreshing first half, but a frustrating and very familiar second half. Happy with the 3 points and moving back to the top, but I hope last night's performance is used as a yardstick for what we are capable of doing and what we still aren't doing consistently.

Tunchev against Simon Cox on Saturday will be interesting, let's hope the whipper snapper is given a rude awakening.

[Ultra]

Another win, taking us to the top of the division. We've now won as many home games in the past three months as in the WHOLE of last season.

And yet...large sections of the fanbase remain to be convinced about this team. Last night's attendance was the lowest for a league game in the stadium's history. I doubt that the missing thousands will be tempted back by a 1-0 scoreline.

The real test will come in the next two games, when we need to improve on some appalling recent away form. If we can grind out results at Swindon and Scunny we will prove ourselves as genuine contenders.

[Katy]

I am relatively happy with last nights performance, happy in that we actually looked like a good side albeit we were playing against a fairly bad team but still. We need to nail these one nil leads though and push on, the chances we missed were sloppy and we do have a tendency to shoot ourselves in the foot when we have a lead.

Overall it was a better performance than than in the past few games and we are top and we shouldn't really be moaning about that should we.

[Lillehamring]

Second half was very frustrating, it could have cost us and that would have left a very sour taste. We must start being more ruthless in front of goal. Goals have to start coming in from different areas of the team. Pearson needs to be sometimes taking chances with his substitutes, Dickov and DJ should be capable of scoring goals and they need to be involved to put games to bed, such as last night. This is one of my only criticism's about Pearson. Whether he told the team to stop playing in the second half is questionable, I doubt he'd be that negative against a team like Yeovil, but he must work on pulverising teams when the opportunity arises.

Our corners are whack, full stop.

there's your answer - i mean, king, dyer and oakley have scored more from the midfield this season than our midfield have scored for the previous three years (i'm guessing), so you can't be too critical in that area, but goals from defenders is unlikely to happen until our set pieces improve...

hopefully, this will come with confidence....

[Corky]

Another win, taking us to the top of the division. We've now won as many home games in the past three months as in the WHOLE of last season.

And yet...large sections of the fanbase remain to be convinced about this team. Last night's attendance was the lowest for a league game in the stadium's history. I doubt that the missing thousands will be tempted back by a 1-0 scoreline.

The real test will come in the next two games, when we need to improve on some appalling recent away form. If we can grind out results at Swindon and Scunny we will prove ourselves as genuine contenders.

I think we'll do better against S****horpe. Swindon are a bit hit-and-miss, drew at S****horpe but lost at Histon, so we'll have to wait and see about them.

S****horpe look very strong and they will be our toughest test so far, but I believe we will raise our game and come away with a good result.

[Tilley]

I think we'll do better against S****horpe. Swindon are a bit hit-and-miss, drew at S****horpe but lost at Histon, so we'll have to wait and see about them.

S****horpe look very strong and they will be our toughest test so far, but I believe we will raise our game and come away with a good result.

Me too.

I think we'll come away with three points, I see Swindon being harder for some reason, it's a step into the unknown for us.

As I & many others have said, we need to be more ruthless.

[marbelladave]

Ric and Reynard.

Good posts, very informative. Just a couple or three questions if you have the time to answer.

How did our shape/formation look and how important was it to the way we played the passing game?

It seemed to me (from the commentary) that we passed better out of defense than we have managed recently, was this the case?

Why did we not put the game out of reach second half, did we sit back like at Brighton or was it just poor finishing?

Sorry, that sounds so anal, but I could not get to the game and the reports sounded contradictory, some very positive, some not.

[Ric Flair]

Ric and Reynard.

Good posts, very informative. Just a couple or three questions if you have the time to answer.

How did our shape/formation look and how important was it to the way we played the passing game?

It seemed to me (from the commentary) that we passed better out of defense than we have managed recently, was this the case?

Why did we not put the game out of reach second half, did we sit back like at Brighton or was it just poor finishing?

Sorry, that sounds so anal, but I could not get to the game and the reports sounded contradictory, some very positive, some not.

Shape wise, first half was excellent. We were passing in triangles, from defence through to midfield and then it stretched Yeovil and it gave King a lot of time on the ball to move it through to Howard and Fryatt and it looked refreshing. I put this down to Tunchev taking control of things and Berner being another outlet to use before being tempted to hoof the ball up pitch.

It's still too early to say whether it's down to the formation or down to Kisnorbo's absence and the fact that Tunchev and Morrison seem intent on passing the ball as much as possible. Either way it's definitely the way forward, certainly for the majority of the matches we play.

RE: Finishing. It was a mixture of poor finishing and perhaps a lack of luck. But we have to make our own luck and take our chances. We could have been 4-0 up inside 30 minutes.

[Sniffer-Clarke]

They do yes but i am just saying the lack of goals from his part is an issue and there's been times when Howard just goes walkabout and looks lazy, if there was fit back up all season would Howard have kept his place? he's gotta put some more chances away!

Yes mate i will agree with you on this one, If Fryatt aint scoring it difficult to see where the goals are going to come from, with that i thought city played well last night and i am not a Howard fan but i thought he a had good 1st half.But we should have killed them off early as we were far superior to them.