Five Conclusions: Solihull Moors 0 Yeovil Town 1
Gloverscast Ben was at his second game in a row as the mighty green and whites held off an aerial bombardment to claim all three points at Solihull.
Here are his five conclusions.
We dealt with the physical side of the game
We knew it wasn’t going to be pretty, Solihull sit rock bottom of the league, without a win to their name and there was only one way they could really go about things. Physically.
Not dirty, they weren’t kicking lumps out of us – even if Kyle Ferguson’s left knee might disagree (ouch!) – but they had every trick in the book to give it right go.
It was fairly route one from the hosts and the back line must have headed 100 footballs between them throughout the 90 minutes.
Dan Creaney is an almighty handful and the units they can call up on at the back made it easy for the local air traffic control to keep tabs on the intended targets.
The long throw was dealt with and the defence should be chuffed with the clean sheet.
We still need a little more nous.
Against Halifax, I cried out for a ‘quarter-back’, particularly when things get a bit hurried in the latter stages, and whilst Brett McGavin did that to a certain extent, I did find myself getting frustrated at the amount of times we gave up possession needlessly in defensive situations.
Too many times, the ball was hurried when a calmer – but still positive – options were on, too many clearances were rushed which gave our front line a tough task to keep the ball and relieve the pressure.
We need to make a few better decisions, on another day, we can beat that Solihull side far more comfortably. I understand a little chaos and uncertainty may have set in after throwing away some leads of late, I hope the confidence of that win will do them the world of good.
It’s a thin squad
Charlie Cooper was at the game in his tracksuit, but no sign of Jacob Maddox or James Daly and it’s hard not to take a sharp intake of breath when a player goes down.
If Luke McCormick or Brett McGavin were unable to complete the game, the system and style has to change. The same applies in either full-back area. We’ve got forwards in abundance and that’s brilliant to be able to call up players like Jarvis and Campbell, but they’re not like for like switches with Sims and Morias.
Whether or not Richard Dryden has that wiggle room given the uncertainty at a longer term manager right now, but the games come thick and fast and it looked and felt like a few tired, battered and bruised bodies walked off the Damson Park pitch.
We have the exciting players to make things happen
We have seen Junior Morias score three in three now, but I wanted to highlight the work that’s going on creatively in and around him.
Harvey Greenslade probably wasn’t at his most mobile best on Tuesday, the context of the game and conditions didn’t suit – he also came off nursing an ice pack with a wince on his face – but his pressing and endeavour must be a nightmare to defend against.
We’re starting to see the best out of McCormick, I think after a slowish start. He’s far more suited to being one of the central midfielders that one of the attacking ‘bank of 10s’, he can be far more effective and really help turn defence into attack.
Morias’ pumping tree trunk legs are a sight to behold, when they get moving, you either foul him or you don’t stop him. McGavin’s range of passing and ability to spot the play before it unfolds needs to be brought out of it’s shell a bit, but it’s there.
Plant and Sims have been given the nod to express themselves, with a little more final ball quality, they’re clearly a real danger.
….and breathe.
We needed that win, didn’t we?
No matter how it came, no matter who got the decisive winner, no matter how much it was substance over style – or what blend of them both it was – it was a win.
A win each of the last two games SHOULD have garnered.
It will calm the nerves, it will settle everyone in the crowd – and the boardroom – and shows that we have got a group to grow from.
It doesn’t get any easier, a well rested York come to town on Saturday, but we have a foundation to hand over to the incoming manager, whoever and whenever that may be.
