Now this one could really challenge you and don’t bite our heads off for asking, but which Yeovil Town player impressed you most in today’s 1-0 home defeat to Bromley?
If you need any inspiration, take a look at the picture in the banner (above) to see who we think you might want to consider.
Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton had called on his team-mates to unite to pull the club out of the relegation scrap at the bottom of the National League table.
The skipper admitted the recent influx of a number of new players in recent weeks had proved difficult to integrate in to the group which started the season.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the 1-0 home defeat to Bromley, he said that he was “taking the pressure” on behalf of his team-mates and urged them to play with a “freedom” which was obviously lacking at Huish Park this afternoon.
He said: “It is important every single player is pulling in the same direction and it is my job to unify the dressing room. People are under pressure and pressure does strange things to people in terms of decision making and characteristics, this would be a much easier integration if we were relaxing in the middle of the table.
“It is clear to see that we look like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders and it is my job to relieve that pressure and keep it on myself and let the boys play with a sense of freedom they should have.
“I would run through a brick wall for this football club and it is important that everyone in that dressing room has the same mentality. You will never find me blaming my body – I hurt, I ache but will go out there and do everything for the football club. The boys do look tired, but when I am looking them in the eye I am asking them to give everything for the club and I wanted every single player to find that extra 10%.
“It’s essential (we have that unity) and if we don’t have it we will be in a very difficult position in a few weeks time. Characters at this stage of the season are worth points, they make a difference, stand up, run through brick walls for each other and get you those few points when you really need them. So it is important we all take the time to realise what we are playing for and it has to be your driving force.”
He gave his backing to manager Mark Cooper who is looking to lift the team which could be in the National League relegation zone before the kick a ball in the televised fixture against Southend United next Saturday afternoon.
Gateshead, who sit one point and one place below them, host Dagenham & Redbridge in midweek and a win for the North East side would see them go above the Glovers.
On his manager, Staunton said: “I support Mark Cooper, he is one of the best managers I have ever worked under. As a person, he is a fantastic person and there’s not a better man to deal with the pressure. I trust the Gaffer and I respect that he takes a lot of the responsibility and I will try and take as much pressure off every single player in the dressing room as I can.”
On the performance against Bromley, he added: “The first five or ten minutes we were in disarray, but we managed to gain some sort of control and finished the first half well. I thought second half they had a lot of territory and really could have hurt us on the break but we had lot of balls in the box and we are clearly trying to do things the right way. But we had no answers to any questions today.“
Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper pointed to the absence of a number of energetic midfield players as the reason for his side’s lacklustre performance in today’s 1-0 home defeat to Bromley.
He said that it was unrealistic to expect new signings Callum Harriott, Zanda Siziba and Scott Pollock, who all featured in the loss, to hit the ground running having not played in recent months.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, the boss said: “We had a lot of the ball today but we had very little to show from it, we have been crying out for that impetus at the top of the pitch and we just haven’t got it.
“If we are expecting the new lads to come in and just be fit enough to cope with it, it’s just not going to happen. Apart from Miguel (Freckleton) the rest are going to play catch up and it is going to take them two or three games to get up to match fitness.
He added: “I can’t question their effort, the boys gave everything that they had and it was not enough. I have to be there for them, put my arm around them and find a way of getting enough points (to keep us in the league).
“If you take Stevens, Young, Worthington out of our team it takes away a lot of impetus. Our team is based on energy and legs, if you take the legs out of the team, you are not going to be the same.”
He confirmed that Harriott, who was replaced by Pollock at half time, suffered a quad injury towards the end of the first half and defender Chiori Johnson also appeared to be struggling with a hamstring injury at the final whistle.
With permanent signings Harriott, Siziba, Pollock all featuring alongside loanees Miguel Freckleton and striker Reo Griffiths, the boss was asked whether the recruitment led by new owners SU Glovers had made a difference.
Speaking the week, owner-in-waiting Matt Uggla had said the new recruits had been selected by group of people involved with the owners rather than “the old school model” of the manager being in sole charge of recruitment.
On this, Cooper said: “We need players that are match fit and they only way we are going to get them match fit is to keep putting them on the pitch, but then we risk them getting injured.
“It is a bit of a puzzle that we have got to find the right answers to. We are always going to differ on targets and players we are going to bring in, that’s just the way it is, Matt has made it clear he is going to recruit the players he is going to recruit and that’s fair enough – it’s his money and it’s his club.”
The manager added that “the last week has really effected” his team, saying: “There was three or four that kept going as they do every week, the new boys have to add to that now and be really effervescent and bubbly, even if it is only for 20 minutes.“
Venue: Huish Park
Saturday, 25th March, 3pm kick-off
Pitch: Sticky after some heavy rain overnight
Conditions: On and off rain and a strong wind
Attendance: 3480
Scorers: Besert Topalloj 5 (0-1),
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Grant Smith 65
Bromley: Ryan Stirk 56, Arthurs 65
Referee: Richie Watkins
Yeovil Town (4-3-3)
Substitutes: Scott Pollock (for Callum Harriott, 46), Zanda Siziba (for Jordan Maguire-Drew, 54), Reo Griffiths (for Andrew Oluwabori, 54), Max Hunt (not used), Malachi Linton (not used).
Bromley: Charles-Cook, Reynolds, Sowunmi, Whitely, Dennis (for Krauhaus, 86), Cheek, Stirk, Arthurs, Topalloj (for Bingham, 46), Elerewe, Fisher (for Vennings, 66). Substitutes (not used): Kendall, Forster.
A dreadful display from Yeovil Town saw them fall to a 1-0 home defeat against Bromley which pushed them within a point of the National League relegation places.
A fourth minute goal from Besert Topalloj was the difference on the scoresheet but the visitors spurned numerous other chances and Glovers’ goalkeeper Grant Smith pulled off a number of fine stops to prevent the scoreline being greater.
Perhaps more worrying was the complete lack of effort from many in green and white who were met by boos at the end of either half from second biggest crowd of the season at Huish Park.
It was the worst possible start for Yeovil as they fell behind after just five minutes. Kellen Fisher got away down the right for Bromley, Andrew Oluwabori got to him but the wideman still got the ball in and a complete failure to clear by the Yeovil defence saw it break to Besert TOPALLOJ who slammed it past Grant Smith.
That was the first attack of the game but it set the tone for a start which saw the visitors completely on top. It was on 10 minutes that a terrible pass by Oluwabori saw the ball break to Michael Cheek who burst in to the box and was denied by a point blank save from Smith. From the resulting corner a header by visiting defender Deje Elerewe, on loan from Charlton Athletic, was turned over by Smith.
Every time Bromley are coming forward they look like they can score. The visitors looked every inch a side pushing at the top end of the table and whilst looking threatening on the attack, they also looked confident in snuffing out anything approaching forward play from Yeovil.
It took until the 24th minute for Yeovil to get their first effort on goal when a long ball forward found Oluwabori who did well to bring it down, cut inside and Harriott took the ball off his team-mate who hammered in a shot which took a deflection and was well turned aside by Reice Charles-Cook in the visitors’ goal.
That sparked a bit of possession for the home side but balls in from Chiori Johnson down the right and then Oluwabori from the left were about as near to a threat on goal as Yeovil got as the game ticked past the 30 minute mark.
On 32 minutes, a beautiful ball over the top found Louis Dennis who had time to take a touch on the edge of the area but lifted his effort over the bar. Bromley will be baffled as to how they are only 1-0 up.
The half-time whistle was met with boos from a bumper home crowd boosted by visitors coming as part of Non-League Day and the #PackThePark ticket offer. A very poor first half from Yeovil.
The interval saw Harriott, who had not played a competitive minute since the start of January, replaced by Pollock. The winger appeared to be playing with a knock at the end of the first half.
On 51 minutes, Yeovil got a huge let off as Bromley waltzed through the hosts’ defence and lifted a ball over the top to Cheek (don’t worry, he’s only one of the best strikers in the division, lads) who put his effort over from a tight angle.
By the 54th minute, manager Mark Cooper had clearly seen all he needed to see as Maguire-Drew and Oluwabori, neither of whom had affected the play in a positive fashion, were replaced by Reo Griffiths and Zanda Siziba. But with a spark desperately needed, Yeovil simply could not get the ball off their comfortable visitors.
From the crowd to the players to the dug out, energy was completely missing – literally no-one was up for this one. Except Bromley, of course, who seemed to be quite happy to let their hosts get frustrated. This could not be more different to the feeling in the previous home game, the 1-0 win over Eastleigh.
Thatchers end make some serious noise!!! The boys need you!!
— Matt Uggla (@matt_uggla) March 25, 2023
With 63 minutes gone, Billy Bingham’s challenge broke to Cheek who slid it in to Dennis, from the resulting scramble Smith was able to grasp it and took a kick in the process. The referee booked Arthurs for Bromley for the kick and Smith for his protests.
Dennis smashed a shot over a minute ago and it was the visitors who were asking all the questions and Corey Whiteley had another effort over the bar.
At the other end, there was a scramble in front of the away end after 68 minutes with Ryan Law and Fisher in close proximity but neither were able to prod the ball home.
Ugh. We simply don’t look like a team at the moment. Cooper was full of running, Johnson got forward well in the second half and (as ever) only captain Staunton seemed interested in driving forward whilst Smith did his part at the back. The rest? The body language spoke volumes, lots of arms waved in the air and very little else.
On 82 minutes, Griffiths won a free-kick just outside the penalty area, Cooper did superbly to pick out Fisher in the middle of the box but his header flashed wide. Four minutes later Dennis bent one round the post. How are they not more than a goal ahead?
From minute one to minute 90+5, Yeovil were second best and the final score flattered them thoroughly.
New signings winger Callum Harriott and defender Miguel Freckleton are handed debuts as Yeovil Town go in search of victory against Bromley at Huish Park today (3pm kick-off).
Harriott, who joined on a short-term contract in the week following his release by Gillingham last month, is expected to start on the right of a three man attack including top scorer Alex Fisher and Andrew Oluwabori, whilst Freckleton is expected to play in the middle of the park.
Chiori Johnson comes in on the right side of defence in place of the injured Edwin Agbaje, who has returned to Ipswich Town after his loan spell.
There is also a place for midfielders Scott Pollock and Zanda Siziba on the substitutes’ bench which also features defender Max Hunt, on loan striker Reo Griffiths and frontman Malachi Linton, who came off the bench to score a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw at FC Halifax Town last weekend.
Venue: Hayes Lane
Saturday 14th January, 3pm kick-off
Conditions: Strong wind across the pitch
Pitch: Plastic
Attendance: 2,245 (149 away supporters)
Scorers: LouisDennis 9 (0-1), Besart Topalloj 32 (0-2), Louis Dennis 63 (0-3), Andrew Oluwabori 65 (1-3), Corey Whitely 87 (1-4).
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Max Hunt 11, Alex Fisher 51.
Referee: Wayne Cartmel
Yeovil Town (4-3-3)
Substitutes: Jordan Young (for Lawson D’Ath, 59), Malachi Linton (for Max Hunt, 70), Chiori Johnson (not used), Charlie Cooper (not used), Will Buse (not used).
Bromley: Charles-Cook, Reynolds, Coleman, Whitely, Dennis (for Alexander, 89), Cheek, Webster, Forster (for Krauhaus, 88), Vennings (for Bingham, 73), Topalloj, Fisher. Substitutes (not used): Bingham, Sowunmi, Arthurs.
The wheels came off Yeovil Town’s unbeaten run of seven National League games in spectacular style as their defensive solidity abandoned them at Bromley.
Having fallen behind to a bizarre opener from the home side when striker Louis Dennis’ shot cannoned off a visiting defender to complete wrong-foot Grant Smith in the Yeovil goal, they preceded to gift a second to Besart Topalloj. But, there were also gilt-edged opportunities missed first by Jordan Maguire-Drew and then Andrew Oluwabori, the latter being clean through on goal.
A further defensive calamity gifted Dennis his second just after the hour and although Oluwabori pulled one with his first since arriving on loan soon after, Corey Whitely wrapped up a well-deserved win for Bromley – their first over the Glovers at Hayes Lane since September 1987.
Here’s Coatesie’s report from the wind-battered away end in that corner of Kent…..
Within two minutes the start a sickening clash of heads with Yeovil skipper Josh Staunton saw Bromley’s Jamie Vennings go down for a lengthy period of treatment. The midfielder returned to action.
But seven minutes later a bizarre deflection gave Bromley a lead. A shot from the edge of the box from striker Louis DENNIS took a wicked deflection off Max Hunt and completely wrong-footed Grant Smith.
On 13 minutes, on-loan Millwall full-back Besart Topalloj’s header went just over from a corner for the home side who had totally dominated the opening exchanges with Yeovil struggling to cope with a strong wind behind them.
Andrew Oluwabori put a shot over the bar from distance, but the best chance of the half came on 27 minutes when Jordan Maguire-Drew’s free-kick in from the left found its way to Ben Richards-Everton. The centre half’s cross forced Bromley keeper Reice Charles-Cook in to action but no-one in Parma Violet could get an effort in on goal.
Oluwabori’s broke forward again on 23 minutes but unfortunately his touch evaded him and the attack broke down, and soon after Maguire-Drew jinked his way in from the right but his effort could not get past Charles-Cook.
Bromley had no such issues from a well-worked corner – ably assisted by some uncharacteristic sloppy defending – saw them a second on 32 minutes. TOPALLOJ slammed home from just inside the box to double the advantage.
If anyone needed any explanation why Yeovil are the lowest scorers in the division, the answer arrived when Oluwabori was clean through on 36 minutes. The Peterborough United loanee put his effort high and wide with only the keeper to beat.
The opportunities to score for the visitors were there. It was the ability to take them that was the problem.
Yeovil thought they had pulled one back ten minutes after the restart when Matt Worthington headed home a cross from Oluwabori – only for it to be ruled out by an offside flag.
Smith had to be a his best soon after, making a superb finger tip save to turn an effort from Kellen Fisher.
A strong run forward by Harry Forster left the visitors’ defence at sixes and sevens and the ball broke to DENNIS who turned home from close range to make it 3-0. Hint of offside? Perhaps I am clutching at straws here, but given how far behind play the assistant referee was, I suspect my guess is as good as his.
The response was almost immediate. Alex Fisher got away down the right flank and laid across the face of goal to OLUWABORI who side-footed it home. Too little, too late?
Even with Malachi Linton and new signing Jordan Young on to add to the three forwards they started with, there was no shape to the Yeovil attack. The tactic seemed to be lump it forward and hope for the best – but the best never came.
Then three minutes from the end another defensive horror show served up Bromley’s fourth. Forster’s effort from right was turned on to the post by Smith, the keeper then made a great reaction save to deny Dennis before Corey WHITELY tucked home.
New signings midfielder Charlie Cooper and forward Jordan Young are named on the bench for Yeovil Town’s visit to Bromley (3pm kick-off).
In the starting XI, Alex Fisher returns to the line-up after being among the substitutes for the New Year’s Day win over Torquay United.
He is supported by loanees Jordan Maguire-Drew and Andrew Oluwabori.
New signing Jordan Maguire-Drew gets his Yeovil Town debut as his new club look to progressed in the FA Trophy at home to Dorking Wanderers (3pm kick-off).
The winger, signed on loan with a view to a permanent move this week, is joined by on loan goalkeeper Will Buse, who gets just his second start since arriving from Bristol City in the summer.
In defence, Morgan Williams and Jamie Reckord are back after missing last weekend’s goalless draw at home to Scunthorpe United.
Yeovil Town (5-3-2):
Substitutes: Lawson D’Ath, Andrew Oluwabori, Charlie Wakefield, Malachi Linton, Louis Britton.
Yeovil Town have named just threebstitutes on the bench for the National League match at home to Scunthorpe United (3pm kick-off).
Morgan Williams and Jamie Reckord are missing through illness and injury respectively with captain Josh Staunton dropping back in to a three-man defence.
Malachi Linton and Andrew Oluwabori are the only outfield players on the bench alongside substitute goalkeeper Will Buse. There is no Anthony Georgiou, who started the abandoned game at Bromley last weekend.
Louis Britton, who got his first goal as a Yeovil Town player in the midweek Somerset Men’s Premier Cup second round win over Taunton Town in midweek, is named up front alongside top-scorer Alex Fisher with on-loan Bristol City man Ewan Clark expected to play more advanced midfield position.
Yeovil Town (5-3-2):
Substitutes: Will Buse, Andrew Oluwabori, Malachi Linton.
Louis Britton is given his first start since joining Yeovil Town as they look to extend their unbeaten run at Bromley today (12.30pm kick-off).
The former Bristol City striker is paired alongside top scorer Alex Fisher as one of two changes from last weekend’s home win over FC Halifax Town, with winger Anthony Georgiou also starting.
They replace the suspended Matt Worthington and Andrew Oluwabori, who is among the Glovers’ substitutes with Charlie Wakefield, who returned to training this week having missed the past five games through injury.
Our guess is that Georgiou will start in behind Fisher and Britton, which the line-up builder app does not allow for – but you get the idea.
Yeovil Town (5-3-2):
Substitutes: Will Buse, Lawson D’Ath, Charlie Wakefield,Andrew Oluwabori, Malachi Linton.