AFC Fylde came to town yesterday put Yeovil Town to the sword in a 1-4 defeat at Huish Park. Here are Ian’s Five Conclusions…
A bump back to reality. If last week was a ‘well Southend are pretty good’ sort of reaction, this result was a massive bump back to reality. The Glovers were second best from the coin toss and Fylde controlled the game from the moment they turned Yeovil around. They may have only had four shots on goal, but I thought they nullified most of play, unless we went long for Archie Davies.
It could have been so different. At 0-1 in the 44th minute Archie Davies found himself with a golden opportunity and hit the post when he looked sure to repeat last weekend at Southend. Moments later Fylde got the second and totally killed our momentum. It was a real sucker punch but shows the fine margins in the National League this season.
I think we need more options up top. Another game of two halves for each of our strikers and it’s fair to say neither of them set the world alight yesterday. Walker was hooked at half time so that Yeovil could “change the press” with Slavi. Both have their strengths but neither could provide the solution yesterday. Could the answer be James Daly? Charlie Lennon? Or are we waiting for Joe Haigh? I think we’re lacking a nippy Adam Stansfield-esque striker.
Fylde were impressive. I think they were the best team I’ve seen at Huish Park this season. Well-organised with an effective press, we really struggled to play out from the back. The visitors were also able to get into that shape which seems to make everyone stand still and do nothing which Joy Mukena seemed to fall victim to when he had the ball. They moved the ball nicely and took their chances when they came. You can they’re a side with momentum following a domination of the National League North last season.
Photography by Andy Preston AP Photography
We’re still a work in progress. The early results and brief flirt with top spot saw a lot of rational thinking go out the window and the Green Day rule (no league table discussion until September ends) left in tatters. But the last two games have shown how much of a work in progress we still are, and given us a reminder that this group is still in its infancy as a team. Injuries to Ben Radcliffe and Joy Mukena only disrupted things further. There’s no time to dwell on it though, with Aldershot and Solihull around the corner in yet another busy week and a chance to get back on form.
All photography courtesy of Andy Preston – AP Photography
The third conclusion was bang on. It’s been one fixable but lingering concern since pre-season. The two strikers are way too similar. Ste Walker reminds me of Carl Alford (but without the experience). Aside from early season flashes Ste hasn’t got going yet – a bit too passive. If he can find those pockets of space in the box like McCormick seems to, he’ll start banging them in…but he isn’t…so what to do?
Haige is the medium term project. October or maybe November onwards? In the short term, I would perhaps try JD in the front line at Aldershot. We know he won’t stop running or giving defenders those extra seconds on the ball.
Haigh is a striker, neither is Daly, we’re past the round pegs in square holes.
We missed JD’s tough character too yesterday. Agree the two strikers haven’t hit their straps but goals haven’t been the problem they were the last two seasons. More worried about the ease they got through us at the back