Ian, Ben and Dave return to dissect the Southend loss. It was an improvement but not enough to get three points. We also discuss Prabhu’s pre-match interview with BBC Somerset and take your GCQs. Caution: contains moaning.
There was yet more disappointment at Huish Park yesterday with a late goal consigning a much-improved Yeovil to defeat. Here are Ian’s Five Conclusions.
We improved – again. After the Carlisle draw I wrote: That was just the tonic the supporters needed after the poor run. Many – me included – feared a bit of drubbing at the hands of a team that is unbeaten in October but we really showed that there’s more to this team than what we’ve seen of late. The same applies this time, but it’s an unsustainable way. The longer this run goes on, the more those three wins in September look to be a postive reaction to the chaos of Danny Webb’s departure. Things have ‘calmed’ down since then and while Yeovil keep turning a corner to improve the performance, Dryden’s men just can’t get a win.
It was an entertaining game. I thought both sides competed well in a fairly even affair. There was spirit in both teams and it didn’t feel like 18th vs 7th for a lot of the match. Mistakes at the back allowed Southend to spurn some glorious chances but we stuck with playing out (which I’m okay with) and when got through the lines we did create moments. Once again though, we tired towards the closing stages where other teams seem to find another gear, or their substitutes make an impact. Their late winner was a real kick in the knackers but I don’t think many will argue that Southend didn’t do enough to get all three points.
Where would be without Jed Ward? The glove man was imperious – again – in the Yeovil goal, keeping out a handful of efforts and saving his teammates bacon on more than one occasion. It’s not the first game (but it would be nice if it’s the last) where if were not for the Rovers loanee, Yeovil would have been on the end of a cricket score. As it was, he pulled off some blinding saves to keep the Southend attackers stumped.
Chances are hard to come by. If you don’t make the goalkeeper make a save, you can’t expect to get anything and that was the story yesterday. Southend’s keeper didn’t have a shot to save. Yeovil worked openings and got shots away that were charged down by defenders, but we’re back to “bits and pieces” around the box being called chances. We tried something different with the front three I thought it looked okay in the first half. Morias, Sims and Daly had energy, pace and fluidity that caused some problems when the wingbacks got involved too. Despite the attacking options on the bench, I don’t think Oluwabori or Jarvis improved us when they came on for the tired legs. We’re dangerously closed to lauding final third entries as our ‘Special One’ once did, but if we dont start testing keepers we’re not going to get points.
The echoes of 2022/23 are ringing. Sadly, I think we’re in a dog fight and I’m worried. That miserable relegation year is not a distant memory and there are parallels from that season. Changing manager early in the season, struggling to hit the back of the net, patching up a team until January. This time, however, we have committed owners who, I believe, genuinely have the best interests of the club at heart. Prior to kick off yesterday, Prabhu Srinivasan talked to BBC Somerset about the ambition to reach the EFL by the end of next season. I have no doubts that the new owners have invested in the club. Before selling the club, Martin Hellier said how the club was costing £200,000 a month to run and that number will not have changed – it will probably have increased. The problem is that on the face of it – and on the pitch – that investment is just enabling the club to stand still/regress. We really need to hope this ‘blueprint’ starts bringing results or we’ll be back to regional football.
James Daly has spoken of his – and his teammates – frustration after the Glovers fell 1-0 to Southend on Saturday. A 92nd minute winner saw the Shrimpers take all three points. The forward spoke to BBC Radio Somerset’s Jack Killah after the game:
“It’s a gutter, I think, as well as we played first half, I think the intent was there, the work rate, the attitude, it’s what you want to see. It’s the bare minimum you need when you’re, in a rut like this and you’re not getting results, every man carried themselves brilliantly in terms of their work rate and effort but, when you’re in a way like this and you’re not getting the results things can go against you, so, we’re just bitterly disappointed really.
Our intent, our pressing definitely, as I say, work rate, a togetherness that we haven’t really seen, been isolated at times, the second ball recoveries were brilliant today, I think our reaction when we lost it, and to break as well was good. Both boxes, brilliant as well, Jed [Ward] made some unbelievable saves, and I think decision making in the final third let us down today, including myself.”
The Glovers have failed to score if five of their last six league games, and only three sides (Brackley 13, Braintree 15, Truro 17) have scored fewer this season, speaking on their troubles in front of goal, he said;
“It’s disappointing, it’s going to take one of them that comes off a shin pad or comes off a knee and go in, and that’s what we need right now is a bit of a break and that happens on the training ground, get back to work and we’re all in agreement, we need more emphasis on crosses, we need more quantity getting into the final box, the final third, then something will come our way, something will drop, if we keep playing how we are with the work rate, and intent, things will change.
I think the only way out of these situations is [Richard Dryden] goes to one side and you’ve got to work as hard as possible and something will drop, so we’re bitterly disappointed, we’re gutted in there, but it’s back to the training ground on Monday and keep going.”
Yeovil head to Morecambe next week, a side who have conceded 48 goals so far and he wants his side to really up their game.
“I wouldn’t put the emphasis on [doing things] differently, there’s positives to take, you’ve got something from that, definitely, I think, more final third entries, decision making, including myself at times, today wasn’t good enough, but as a basis, a foundation of the work rate and intent was good, it’s something to build on, it’s not all bad.”
Yeovil fell to another defeat against Southend, extending their winless run to seven matches, and Richard Dryden bemoaned his sides’ continued struggles in front of goal.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah the Yeovil boss also said the visitors probably created more, but that he felt his side could have a couple of penalties: “You look at the chances, they probably created more than us, but we defended well. [Our] Keeper played well, back three played well. We kept them out, but at the other end we didn’t take our chances. We probably had better ones [chances] in the first half with a couple of blocked shots. You look at the clips, we could have had a couple of penalties – there’s a couple of basketball saves in the goal mouth but at the end of the day, we haven’t scored again and we’ve lost 1-0 at home.”
Yeovil improved on their last home outing against Wealdstone (not a difficult task) but failed to test the Southend keeper all afternoon. Dryden said they’ll keep working on creating chances, though.
“We’ve got to keep working hard. Keep giving them more chances, delivering the ball in the box, which we worked on a little bit and we’ll be working on it again before the next game. We’re not creating enough, everybody knows that, but were getting into positions to create but sometimes is the final ball or the runs and it’s killing us a little bit at the moment.”
“We’ve got to keep putting the ball in decent areas and expect the forwards to get in there, or the midfielders or the wingbacks and load the box. It’s the hardest thing in the world to do, put the ball in the back of the net, but we’ve got to start doing it.”
Southend broke the deadlock in 92nd minute through Slavi Spasov, and Dryden said it was a ‘tough one’: “You look back at it, we can stop it a bit, there’s always little chances to stop a goal, but it’s just a sickener.”
Thanks, as always, to Gary Brown for the photos. Follow him on Instagram here.
Yeovil Town were on the wrong end of a 92nd minute sucker punch as Southend United scored in the dying minutes of the game to stretch Yeovil’s winless run to seven.
The Glovers failed to register a single shot on target and Jed Ward pulled off multiple saves to keep the visitors at bay.
An improved performance from the home side, but another defeat and another blank in front of goal.
There were three changes from the 1-0 defeat at Scunthorpe United last weekend with Finn Cousin-Dawson, James Daly and Junior Morias returning to the starting XI. There was no place in the squad for defender Kyle Ferguson, who started in Lincolnshire, but on loan Exeter City winger Andrew Oluwabori returned on the bench alongside midfielder Leo Ramirez-Espain, who signed on loan from Watford during the week.
Daly lined up in the middle of a front three alongside Morias and Josh Sims, not exactly your archetypal number nine. The opening exchanges at Huish Park were dominated by Southend and when Yeovil got hold of the ball they looked to try and hold on to possession. There was also an early booking for Southend captain Nathan Ralph, who had a spell at Huish Park around a decade ago, for a foul on Sims after just ten minutes.
The visitors had a golden opportunity to open the scoring on 14 minutes when Jake Wannell totally misjudged a header back to goalkeeper Jed Ward and presented Southend top scorer Andrew Dallas with a glorious chance which he inexplicably put wide. The Glovers had another let off seconds later when a loose pass out by Ward almost let Southend in, but fortunately Cousin-Dawson was there to clear it up. Almost a fatal mistake of our own making – twice!
There’s lots of energy and running from Yeovil’s front three, but there’s definitely not a focal point. There’s definitely a desire to try and keep the ball as much as we can, but James Daly is struggling to get much change out of the visitors’ giant defence.
With 35 minutes, great pressure from Max Jolliffe won possession and a good turn by Morias in the middle of the pitch saw him feed Josh Sims who burst forward down the right side but lifted his shot over the bar. Better intent from Yeovil.
Moments later, Dallas had another good opportunity after jumping on a sloppy attempted pass from Luke McCormick gifted the on loan Barnsley striker a chance, which he put straight in to the hands of Ward. Then it was Morias’ turn to have a shot at goal, he thundered a dipping shot in from 25 yards just over the bar with 36 minutes played,
Two minutes later there was another good chance for Yeovil. Morias broke away down the left and fed it in for McCormick whose shot was blocked by Ralph and broke to James Plant who had an open goal to shoot in to but Ralph got a fantastic block in to deny him.
Yeovil’s tails were up and again it was the tenacity of Jolliffe which won possession, Morias was involved feeding Sims and he managed to get it out to McCormick on the right of the box but his angled effort was blocked by Ralph again.
With four minutes of the half remaining, Yeovil almost became masters of their own downfall – again – when Cousin-Dawson’s poor pass saw Dallas set away, his effort was well saved by Ward who got up in time to push Oli Coker’s follow-up shot out. Four great opportunities for Southend in this match and they have all come from our mistakes.
A big improvement from the disappointing displays in the last outing at Huish Park against Wealdstone and the last match at Scunthorpe United. Our biggest threat seems to be ourselves with sloppy passes gifting Southend all their opportunities, but there’s some energy going forward and it is creating chances.
It took just two minutes for the first chance of the second half and it came from another (yes, another) loose pass this time from Cousin-Dawson which gave Southend the chance to float a ball in to Dallas who rose highest to head it down in to the six yard box who was joined by Cousin-Dawson who managed to get it away. Big appeals for hand ball from the away end, but the referee uninterested.
McCormick had his own penalty appeal after 52 minutes following a run the full length of the pitch which ended with him tumbling under pressure inside the box. Three minutes later, we were grateful to Ward again when Guss Scott-Morriss’ superb cross found James Walker inside the area, but his header was superbly kept out by the on loan Bristol Rovers man.
With an hour played, Andrew Oluwabori came on replacing Alex Whittle with Plant going to the left wing-back with Sims going right wing-back and the substitute moving in to the forward line. On 72 minutes, Aaron Jarvis replaced Sims.
There’s not been much for either side since the opportunity for Walker earlier in the half, but Southend are certainly dominating possession. On 76 minutes, Southend substitute Keenan Appiah-Forson had a shot saved by Ward, before Jarvis spun his man from a long ball forward, got past keeper Nick Hayes, and had a huge shout of a handball as he tried to shoot towards goal.
Some great defending from Harry Taylor denied Jarvis with nine minutes of the match remaining. A great run and cross from Oluwabori down the right saw him play it in to the middle, but Taylor won out over the Yeovil substitute.
With time ticking, Southend continued to be comfortable on the ball, but for all their possession, numerous blocks and tackles kept the Shrimpers at arm’s length.
Junior Morias was replaced by Harvey Greenslade for the final couple of minutes, the front man feeling the effects of a busy afternoon and a couple of robust challenges.
Jarvis entered the book for a ‘strikers challenge’ before the sucker punch landed.
Jed Ward made his umpteenth save of the game but instead of keeping the ball safe in hands, the effort from Leon Parillon squirted out to Slavi SPASOV who made the telling touch to break Yeovil hearts.
A final minute corner for the Glovers was calmly claimed by Nicholas Hayes in the Southend goal.
With players stretched, Chambers-Parillon skied a breakaway chance.
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 15th November, 3pm kick-off
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Slavi Spasov 90+2 (0-1)
Pitch: Held up well
Conditions: A chilly early winters day
Attendance: 3,060 (530 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Max Jolliffe 45+5, Luke McCormick 51, Junior Morias 62, Jarvis 90+1, Jake Wannell 90+6
Scunthorpe United: Nathan Ralph 10, Guss Scott-Morriss 44
Referee: Scott Jackson
Yeovil Town (3-4-3)
Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for Alex Whittle, 60), Aaron Jarvis (for Josh Sims, 72), Harvey Greenslade (for Junior Morias, 90), Dan Ellison (not used), Ramirez-Espain (not used), Tahvon Campbell (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Southend United: Nick Hayes, Guss Scott-Morriss, Nathan Ralph, Ben Goodliffe, Andrew Dallas (for Tom Hopper, 90+3), Josh Walker (for Slavi Spasov, 64) , Harry Taylor, Cav Miley, Sam Austin (for Leon Parillon, 78), Oli Coker (for Keenan Appiah-Forson, 64) , Harry Boyes.
Substitutes (not used): Collin Anden-Ndi, Jack Bridge, Joe Gubbins.
Yeovil Town owner Prabhu Srinivasan has said his family has invested “a lot of money” in to the club since he took over at the end of May.
The Dubai-based businessman said the investment had delivered “a lot of financial stability” and insisted that manager Richard Dryden was “following a blueprint” which he hopes will have the Glovers challenging for EFL status next season.
Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Jack Killah at Huish Park ahead of Saturday’s game with Southend United, the owner also revealed he hoped that the club would be reunited with land around the stadium by the end of this season.
Speaking about investment, he said: “We as a family have invested quite a bit of money in the last five months, more than most clubs have, to do what is right for the club going forward. There is a lot of financial stability is the club, more than there was before.
“We have invested a lot already, a lot more than other clubs have done. I do not think there is any paucity of investment for this club.”
On plans to purchase the land from Somerset Council, he added: “It is our top priority, we are working with the council to get that organised. Hopefully if all goes well we will have it by the end of the season. That is the hope. It means a lot of us, the fans and I keep saying this to the fans ‘please be with us because we are in it for the long term and your support on the pitch is very important for us.’
“The stadium is one of the top stadiums in the National League and better than some of the League Two stadiums as well. From an infrastructure perspective, I do not think things will change too much.”
Yeovil go in to the match with Southend United in 18th place in the National League Premier Division table without a win in their last six games, including an exit from the FA Cup at the hands of lower league Hemel Hempstead Town.
Asked about his thoughts on the performance so far this season, Prabhu added: “It is on the plan. We have given Richard what he wants, he needs to deal with that on the pitch, that is what he is trying to do. Looking at the numbers we have seven new players in contract since the start of the season, we have let go of two players, one is on loan and we have five new loan players, so that is 12 new signings this year. We have to do this slowly, it is not something that is going to change instantly. Richard and the team is doing what they need to do. Do we want more from them? The obvious answer is ‘yes’, but we are all following a blueprint and it will take time to put that together. If we get the blueprint right, by the end of next season we will hopefully be in League Two, that is what we are aiming for.“
Summer signing James Daly is back in the Yeovil Town starting line-up for the first time in almost three months as manager Richard Dryden makes three changes for the visit of Southend United to Huish Park today (3pm kick-off).
The winger, who has come off the bench in the previous three games as he returns from an injury picked up in late August, is joined by defender Finn Cousin-Dawson and striker Junior Morias, who started on the bench in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Scunthorpe United.
New loan signing Leo Ramirez-Espain is named among the substitutes alongside Exeter City’s on loan winger Andrew Oluwabori, who was not in the squad seven days ago. Defender Kyle Ferguson, who started in Lincolnshire, is not in the squad along with full-back George Nurse.
Back to Huish Park today and we welcome back a familiar voice to give us the lowdown on Southend United. Chris Phillips returns for this Foot in the Opposition camp.
