Yeovil and Gateshead played out a goalless draw under the Huish Park lights on Friday night. Here are my Five Conclusions.

It was an improved performance. I thought we played with a lot more purpose and intent last night, especially in the first half. There was a concerted effort to get the ball forward more quickly and I enjoyed the way our defenders hassled Gateshead when they started knocking it around in our half. We enjoyed plenty of possession as well against a side who normally likes to have the ball themselves, but the visitors were set up to be defensively sound and get away with what they could and could have nicked it late on.
What a difference with a left-back. Oh how we’ve missed Alex Whittle. It’s quite the unlock having the left-back return from injury. Mark Cooper was able to return to a back four (prompting celebrations in Perkins HQ) and I thought we looked much more assured. There’s a place for the back three and wingbacks, we made it work for a bit when we needed to but I’m back four kind of guy. I thought our structure looked better and everyone knew what their job was. Charlie Cooper and Matt Worthington made it difficult for the Gateshead midfield giving Brett McGavin that deep playmaker role and in Sims and McGurk we had genuine width. Give me wingers!

The Wright Stuff. Ollie Wright, take a bow for that save in the closing stages. That will be on the lad’s show reel for years to come. Moments after being saved by his post, Wright had to deal with a tremendous effort from McGowan to tip wide of his other post. The growth we’ve seen in Wright through the season has been great to see. He’s comfortable with the ball at his feet and in recent weeks has started to dominate from crosses and corners.
We need to build on this performance. The next match is a trip to seventh-placed Rochdale, which won’t be easy. There were still groans in the stands at full time, but this wasn’t Woking or Ebbsfleet levels. With the recent additions of Twamley and Maddox and the injury to Aaron Jarvis, we’re inevitably going to see a different kind of attacking play from here on out. I feel like I’ve said this before, hopefully it clicks and we start putting teams to bed.
Mr 250, Matt Worthington. I can’t finish without mentioning Matt Worthington. Back into the team and giving his typical performance in midfield. It’s a remarkable achievement at our level to reach 250 games and Worthy has seen it all. He joined us when we were an EFL club and has seen some dark days in between lifting the National League South trophy last season. I’ve no doubt the opportunities to leave Huish Park have come his way through the years but he’s stuck by Yeovil, and Yeovil by him. He has always given everything in a Yeovil shirt and is the standard-bearer with his work-rate. Congratulations Worthy!

That was a solid ‘got what we deserved’ performance. Definitely raised the game. As you said, Ian, having a LB makes all the difference! There were two 10 minute spells where the forward play looked inventive, fluid and (but for a post and fluffed shot) we could actually make it count. Play like that for longer periods/with a slightly better end product and we’ll start finding the net.
Target man type needed??