http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/yeoviltown/yeoviltownnews/Wotton-adds-experience\
-Yeovil-squad/article-3055646-detail/article.html

Wotton adds experience to Yeovil squad
Saturday, January 01, 2011, 09:00

Former Plymouth Argyle captain Paul Wotton could be all set to play at
Home Park today – for npower League One rivals Yeovil Town.

The 33-year-old defensive midfielder, who spent 13 years with the
Pilgrims, joined the Glovers on a month's loan from Southampton
yesterday, after a loan spell with League Two side Oxford United came to
an end this week.

Yeovil also borrowed 18-year-old Germany-born midfielder Max Ehmer from
Queens Park Rangers yesterday. If the Football League gives its approval
to the two temporary moves – the transfer window opened at midnight last
night – the pair will be added to Town's squad for this afternoon's
League One fixture at Plymouth. Goalkeeper Richard Martin has returned
to Huish Park on a short-term contract to sit on the substitutes' bench.

Wotton made his debut for Argyle in 1996, and went on to make 438
first-team appearances for the Pilgrims. "I believe I'll be allowed to
play tomorrow, and I'm fit," the 33-year-old said yesterday. "I didn't
know who Yeovil were playing when I first heard they were interested in
me. It was a nice surprise.

"It's exciting, and it's great to be going back there. It has changed a
lot since I was there, and for the worse, but it's still going to be
special. If I said it was going to be any other game, I'd be lying.

"Yeovil are propping up the league, and there's only one place to go
from there and that's upwards," he added.

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/regionalsport/Reid-does-best-focus-football/arti\
cle-3055633-detail/article.html

Peter Reid does his best to focus on football after a week of turmoil
Saturday, January 01, 2011, 09:39

At the end of a week of total turmoil at Plymouth Argyle, Peter Reid has
to confront the reality of trying to win a football game in adverse
circumstances this afternoon (3pm).

First, Keith Todd had his role as Argyle's executive director taken away
from him, although he will remain on the board. Next, Sir Roy Gardner
quit as the Pilgrims' chairman, in protest at the treatment of Todd.
Then Peter Ridsdale was confirmed in a full-time, but unpaid, role as
Argyle's football consultant.

Amid all of this, Reid has retained the same calm demeanour he has shown
ever since the threats to the future of the financially-stricken club
first became evident. Many folk in his position would have walked out by
now, but not the 54-year-old.

On the eve of today's npower League One home game against Yeovil Town,
Reid said: "You always want it right from top to bottom at football
clubs, but there are some things you can't affect and it's no use
expending energy on them.

"I'm sure the board of directors and Peter Ridsdale will sort out the
ongoing financial problems. That's all I want, that's all the players
and staff, and that's what the supporters want. Whatever way they [the
club's board and Ridsdale] go about doing it, I'm fully supportive of.

"My job is to get lads focused and try to give the supporters something
to cheer about," added Reid, who knew when he took over as Argyle
manager in June that he would have to cut the wage bill considerably.

"Certain cards are dealt to you, and you have got to get on with it. I'm
sure, if this club had the money to invest in players, it would do,"
Reid said. "The most important thing is for Argyle to carry on as a
football club. It's crucial. It has such great history, great tradition
and great fans. We have to keep it going."

Argyle's first League One fixture of 2011 will be against a team who are
making their first competitive visit to Home Park. Yeovil are last in
League One, six points from a position of safety, after failing to win
any of their last eight League games. Argyle are unbeaten in their last
three matches, but Reid will not be taking anything for granted.

The Argyle boss said: "It's up to us to go out there and put a
performance on to earn the right to win the game. If you look at it, we
are the favourites but, I tell you what, it doesn't always work that way."

Reid will be without Craig Noone today, as the winger's £300,000
transfer to League One leaders Brighton & Hove Albion was completed
yesterday. Apart from Noone, Reid hopes to be able to call upon the
players who saw service in the 1-1 draw with Notts County at Home Park
on Tuesday.

"Curtis Nelson came off in that game with a bit of cramp, and Onismor
Bhasera had a bit of flu, but we are expecting them to be OK," he said.

Winger Yannick Bolasie could replace Noone against the Glovers, while
the experienced Jim Paterson is also pressing for a first-team start.

The left-back came on as a substitute against County and made two blocks
late in the game to deny the Magpies. "He's a great pro who has been
terrific whilst I've been here," Reid said. "We talk about silky
football, but the side of football that often wins you games is putting
your body on the line, and Jim is great at that. I'm delighted he's fit
and that I've got a good experienced player in my squad."

Plymouth Argyle (from): Larrieu, Button, Chenoweth; Zubar, Duguid,
N'Gala, Johnson, Timar, Bhasera, Paterson, Molyneux, Arnason, Fletcher,
Clark, Peterlin, Bolasie, Mason, Wright-Phillips, Patterson, Nelson,
Stephens.

Unavailable: Summerfield, Walton (knee).

http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2255186,00.html

EHMER JOINS YEOVIL
Posted on: Sat 01 Jan 2011

R's youngster Max Ehmer has joined Yeovil Town on loan.

The German-born creative midfielder has signed a one month deal with the
npower League One side and could make his debut later today against
Plymouth Argyle.

http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10364~53208,00.html

Argyle 0 Yeovil Town 0
Date: 01/01/2011

by RICK COWDERY

WITH a degree of irony, given the pre-match fuss about the opposition's
new loan-signing, a saved penalty saw Argyle stretch their unbeaten home
run to four matches.

A 0-0 draw against the team ranked 24th of 24 in the npower League 1
might not rate in the top 200 Argyle results of all-time, or even the
top 2,000, but, given what had happened at the club in the preceding
week, it was a solid enough outcome.

It took man of the match David Button's fine anticipation and
athleticism to take the point prisoner after Yeovil had been awarded -
wrongly - a 28th-minute penalty from which Sam Williams was denied.

The loss of Craig Noone, snapped up before the January transfer-window
had even opened by league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion, meant that
Peter Reid was committed to at least one change from the Argyle starting
11 that had drawn 1-1 with Notts County at Home Park the previous Tuesday.

In the end, he limited himself to just that one change, Jim Paterson
coming in at left-back which allowed Zimbabwean international Onismor
Bhasera to move forward into midfield.

For once, there was probably more attention focused on the opposition's
starting 11, and the team-sheet of Yeovil - visiting Home Park for the
first time - did not disappoint: at number 20, Paul Wotton.

Back at Home Park for the first time since his emotional departure in
April 2008 was the most successful captain in the club's history; twice
player of the year; once leading scorer; one of only nine players who
has made 400 or more starts for the Pilgrims out of the near 950
Pilgrims to have represented the club.

'Wottsy' was at Home Park for 17 years, man and boy, making 438
appearances and scoring 63 goals, most of them thunderous free-kicks or
howitzer penalties. He first pulled on the Green in February 1995 - for
a 3-2 defeat at Shrewsbury - and last wore the colours of his hometown
club a little more than 13 years later, when two late Preston goals
deprived him of a winning Home Park curtain-call.

He is, and always will be, an Argyle legend.

Wotton was one of five new faces in the Yeovil side whose last outing
had been a 4-2 FA Cup defeat at Hartlepool 18 days earlier - and that
after leading 2-0.

Alongside him was another new loan recruit, QPR's Max Ehmer, while there
were also recalls for striker Sam Williams and defenders Nathan Smith
and, as captain, Paul Huntington, who had a one-game trial at Argyle
five years ago while at Newcastle.

Craig Alcock, Tom Parkes, Nathan Jones, Ed Upson and Jean-Paul Kalala -
another ex-Pilgrims trialist in days gone by - made way.

It took less than ten minutes for Wotton to remind most of those
watching - most of those apart from the current Argyle first-team squad,
come to think of it - of the prowess in his right foot.

Given the time and space that he has thrived on for his entire career,
he seized a loose ball, sized up the opportunity, and let rip. Button
was at full stretch as the ball whished wide.

That preceded a testing little period for the Pilgrims in general, and
particularly Button. The goalkeeper tipped over Huntington's header from
a cross by Andy Welsh, who then put Button and his defenders under
pressure with a couple of questioning crosses.

Argyle responded with a splendid move that saw Bhasera pick up Réda
Johnson's domineering headed clearance and set Joe Mason on his way.
Mason's cross demanded that Rory Patterson's technique be 100% and the
shot was scuffed.

Mason again teed up Patterson, this time with a perfectly weighted and
directed pass that played the Irishman in behind Yeovil's defence, but
Patterson's touch was heavy and allowed Glovers' goalkeeper John
Sullivan to reach the ball first.

Young Mason continued to keep Yeovil on the back foot as Argyle enjoyed
a passage of calm ascendency. Seizing on Kári Árnason's pass, he sliced
his way through the middle of the defence with a tricky run before his
final shot was deflected by a challenge by Huntington that smacked of
desperation.

Yeovil relieved the pressure with a raid down the right from Smith that
ended with Andy Williams tumbling under a penalty-area challenge from
Curtis Nelson. Replays subsequently proved that Nelson had made no
contact with Williams so what followed was sweet justice indeed.

The home crowd's gaze turned towards the white-shirted number 20, but
there was no inkling of him being asked to, or, indeed, wanting to, take
the spot-kick.

Relief turned to joy as Button dived full length to his right to keep
out Sam Williams' decent low attempt. Saved, rather than missed.

Mostly, though, the Pilgrims had little to worry about from Yeovil, and,
in return, gave them little to worry about. Although the Glovers pressed
the Pilgrims with discipline, the real pressure came from self-imposed
mistakes, like when last man Johnson slipped and gave away possession.

Argyle's re-starts have not been the best of late, but they came out for
the second half early and with more of the composed brightness that had
been a hallmark of the first half.

More patient build-up produced two more corners and a driven goalbound
shot from Carl Fletcher that required a brave, and possible painful,
defensive block by Huntington.

Despite their neat football, and some enterprising interplay between
Bhasera and Mason, there was little end product as the second half
largely followed the pattern of the first: Argyle probing, Yeovil
looking to counter.

A long throw from Árnason threatened to unlock the Glovers' defence as
the ball broke loose in the box, but Johnson lifted his shot over the
crossbar.

Button was reminded he was still in the game when he was called upon to
deal with a long-ranger from Dean Bowditch before Sam Williams was
booked for trying to con another penalty out of referee Brendan Malone,
who did not buy his dive for a minute.

Argyle survived a second Wotton Moment when the ex-Argyle skipper's
25-yard free-kick, greeted by an eerie half-expectant, half-fearful
hush, was repelled by an unbroken defensive wall.

Reid sent on Yala Bolasie for the final 15 minutes of a match that
looked increasingly destined to remain deadlocked.

The winger won one corner that Paterson swung on to the head of Johnson,
who could not direct his attempt on target, and got on the end of
another, from Paterson, but Sullivan saved easily.

So Argyle were left to take comfort from the fact that, less than
halfway through the season, they are probably more than halfway to
avoiding relegation, all other things being equal.

Argyle (4-3-3): 31 David Button; 36 Stephane Zubar, 35 Curtis Nelson, 5
Réda Johnson, 29 Jim Paterson; 11 Kari Árnáson, 4 Carl Fletcher (capt),
15 Onismor Bhasera (19 Yala Bolasie 77); 8 Rory Patterson, 10 Bradley
Wright-Phillips, 16 Joe Mason. Substitutes (not used): 1 Romain Larrieu
(gk), 2 Karl Duguid, 3 Bondz N'Gala, 6 Chris Clark, 18 Jack Stephens, 21
Anton Peterlin, 23 Krisztián Timár.

Booked: Paterson 17, Nelson 52.

Yeovil Town (4-4-2): 1 John Sullivan; 8 Luke Ayling, 5 Paul Huntngton
(capt), 14 Max Ehmer, 6 Nathan Smith; 11 Andy Welsh (21 Jean-Paul Kalala
62), 20 Paul Wotton, 25 Shaun MacDonald, 10 Dean Bowditch; 9 Sam
Williams, 7 Andy Williams. Substitutes (unused): 4 Stefan Stam, 16 Ed
Upson, 17 Craig Calver, 23 Billy Gibson, 31 Rhy Baggridge (gk).

Booked: Ayling 60, S Williams 68.

Referee: Brendan Malone.

Attendance: 9,720 (692 away).

Goals : Plymouth 0 Yeovil 0
Possession : Plymouth 45% Yeovil 55%
Shots On Target : Plymouth 6 Yeovil 4
Shots Off Target : Plymouth 10 Yeovil 5
Corners : Plymouth 11 Yeovil 2
Fouls : Plymouth 10 Yeovil 8
Most Fouls : Nelson (4) Ayling (2)
Yellow Cards : Plymouth 2 Yeovil 2
Red Cards : Plymouth 0 Yeovil 0

http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~2256022,00.html

'I'M PRAYING' - WOTTSY
Posted on: Sat 01 Jan 2011

AN emotional Paul Wotton spoke of his grave concern for his beloved
hometown club after the Pilgrims' goalless draw with his latest
employers, Yeovil Town.

Argyle face a critical High Court hearing on February 9 over unpaid tax
bills with their very future hanging in the balance, and Wottsy said:
"I'm praying like any other Plymouth Argyle fan - because that's what I
am - that it can get sorted.

"There's something about this football club - it just sucks you in. I'm
born in the city, all my family and my wife's family are from the city
and I've got a massive, massive affection for the football club."

Wottsy is a name that will forever remain synonymous with Plymouth
Argyle, and the club's most successful captain expressed his concern
over the current plight on his first return to Home Park since leaving
in 2008 after over 400 appearances for the Greens.

Paul said: "I'd love to have been coming back in better times for
Plymouth but unfortunately it's not meant to be.

"You can't be with the club and do what I've done for the club without
being emotional about it, so when I see the present situation it does
fill me with sadness and it fills me with a certain amount of anger as
well, because something somewhere has gone massively wrong.

"That's not for me to say because I don't know. I had a similar
situation at Southampton but fortunately that got sorted out very, very
quickly. I can't sit here and say the club won't die, but it's a very
serious situation."

Wotton admitted marking his Yeovil debut with a trip home was a surreal
experience, thanking the Green Army for their positive ovation before
kick-off.

"To be honest I'd be disappointed if I didn't [get a good reception]. I
never wanted to leave the club, I got told to leave. I think they
appreciate what I did here, it was nice.

"It was a little bit strange to be honest. If I said it was like any
other game I'd be lying but it was great.

"I love the football club and it was brilliant to play out there again -
under different circumstances, but I thoroughly enjoyed it."

So which of the Argyle players stood out through the eyes of an Argyle
legend?

"I thought Mase did really well, I think he looks a really good player,
good movement. I certainly didn't need to be chasing him about the last
20 minutes that's for sure. I couldn't even get close enough to whack him!

"The young lad at the back [Curtis Nelson] is only 17 and he's playing
league football, he's obviously got a chance. He didn't look out of
place that's for sure."

Let's hope Wottsy is right, and the future is indeed bright for Plymouth
Argyle Football Club. One thing is for sure - he'll be hoping so just as
much as the rest of us.

Mark Perrow

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_league1/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=so\
ccer_league_1_and_2/11/01/01/manual_181225.html&TEAMHD=nationwide2

BUTTON EXTENDS ARGYLE RUN

Plymouth goalkeeper David Button saved a penalty as his side extended
their unbeaten run in a 0-0 draw with Yeovil.

Button, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, dived low to his right to keep
out Sam Williams' spot-kick after Andy Williams had been fouled by
Curtis Nelson in the 28th minute.
Yeovil had the better of the south west meeting at Home Park, where the
Glovers' new loan signing Paul Wotton nearly scored early on. The former
Argyle skipper let fly with a speculative 30-yard effort that whizzed
just wide of Button's left post in the eighth minute.

Argyle's Joe Mason looked lively and it needed a block by Yeovil captain
Paul Huntington to deflect the youngster's 18-yard shot over the bar.

League One's 12-goal top scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips unselfishly teed
up Reda Johnson during a goalmouth scramble but he looped his shot from
close range over.

Yeovil countered with Dean Bowditch forcing Button to make another
spectacular save, diving to his right to turn around the 25-yard angled
drive as it ended all-square.

http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/Post/0,,10364,00.html

LACK OF CUTTING-EDGE
Posted on: Sat 01 Jan 2011

by RICK COWDERY

ARGYLE manager Peter Reid was left to bemoan a missing cutting-edge as
Argyle were held to a goalless draw at home by Yeovil Town on New Year's
Day.

"I thought there was some good football played," he said.

"I don't think either side worked the goalkeeper enough. Whether that's
credit to the defence on both sides or the lack of quality is debatable.

"Even though there was some good passing movements by both side in the
game, there wasn't enough real cutting-edge, certainly from our point of
view.

"We kept the ball but there wasn't enough quality we didn't get on the
end of anything that bounced in the box and the dead-ball situations."

Argyle were able to claim a point thanks to goalkeeper David Button's
28th-minute penalty save from Sam Williams, after Yeovil's other
Williams, Andy, had won a dubious decision against Curtis Nelson.

"It was a great save from David," said Peter. "I thought we might have
had a foul in the build-up -on Rory Patterson on the far side - and the
referee made a decision which I'm still not convinced about.

"So it was a clean sheet for us, and you know how much 'keepers like
their clean-sheets, so I'm pleased for David."

The draw was Argyle's fourth successive home game without defeat, but
they now travel far and wide from Home Park, starting with three away
games - at Bristol Rovers, Bournemouth and Huddersfield - in eight days.

"We've got a tough month coming up, but these three away games will
really test us," said Peter. "I think it is fair to say that I will try
to mix it up and rest players, and use the squad system.

"I'll get together with the sports scientist and have a look at the
yardages that players are getting through in the game."

With the transfer-window now open, and Argyle needing to sell players to
help with their tax demands, it is unlikely the Pilgrims will reach the
end of the month without further goings - and maybe comings.

Peter said: "It's a difficult situation for everyone concerned. We've
got to get the money to pay the Revenue, and, if that means selling
players, it's got to be done.

"Once we've sold players, hopefully the embargo will be lifted and I can
get some loan ones in.

"It's a tricky situation, but that's the way it is at the moment. You
just have to take it day by day."

The temporary blog set up for moments when Ciderspace is down has been
brought back to life given that you may have noticed we have site
problems that our ISP is working on.

Yesterday's match report is here:

http://ytfcciderspace.blogspot.com/2011/01/plymouth-0-yeovil-0-spot-kick-miss.ht\
ml

http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10327~2256376,00.html

STEPHEN SET FOR YEOVIL RETURN
Posted on: Sun 02 Jan 2011

Stephen Henderson is poised for a return to Yeovil Town on Tuesday, City
manager Keith Millen has confirmed.

The Irish keeper spent two months with the Glovers earlier this season,
making eight appearances before returning to Ashton Gate.

City have now agreed to let Stephen join Yeovil for the remainder of the
2010/11 season, subject to any injuries suffered at QPR tomorrow.

"He had a good spell with Yeovil back in September and October," said
Keith on bcfc.co.uk.

"This will be a good opportunity for him to go out and get games under
his belt. With a keeper you've always got the security of a recall, so
it works for everyone."

League ever-present David James and Dean Gerken have been main stays in
the squad throughout this season, the latter having played just once in
the Carling Cup at Southend back in August.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11729_6630414,00.html

Skiverton hails dogged Glovers
Last updated: 2nd January 2011

Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton hailed his side after they climbed off the
foot of the table with a 0-0 draw at Plymouth.

Argyle's on-loan goalkeeper David Button dived low to his right to keep
out Sam Williams' penalty after Andy Williams had been fouled by Curtis
Nelson in the 28th minute.

Yeovil had the better of the south west clash at Home Park, where the
Glovers' new loan signing Paul Wotton nearly scored early on.

But Skiverton was content with a point, saying: "It's a big positive, we
are off the bottom of the table. That's two clean sheets on the bounce
in the league and the fact we are off the foot of the table is a huge
lift to everyone at the club.

"I was delighted with the way the two new signings - Paul Wotton and Max
Ehmer - fitted in. Paul Wotton had a really good game for us in midfield
and Max fitted in well at the back and they both played their part in
making sure we kept another clean sheet because we withstood a fair
amount of pressure in the second half.

"I was pleased with John Sullivan in goal, he did well although despite
Plymouth having a fair amount of possession in the second half they did
not have that many clear-cut chances. In the first half I felt that we
could have maybe been one or two up, given the fact that Sam Williams
had his penalty saved."

Skivo's Verdict on the Plymouth Game:

http://ytfcciderspace.blogspot.com/2011/01/skivos-verdict-on-plymouth-game.html

Man of the Match voting for Plymouth:

http://ytfcciderspace.blogspot.com/2011/01/man-of-match-voting-for-plymouth-argy\
le.html

Henderson To Make Glovers Return:

http://ytfcciderspace.blogspot.com/2011/01/henderson-to-make-glovers-return.html

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_league1/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=so\
ccer/11/01/02/manual_165607.html&TEAMHD=nationwide2

YEOVIL SET TO BE UNCHANGED
Yeovil 13/8 MK Dons 13/8 Draw 23/10

Yeovil are likely to remain unchanged as they prepare to host MK Dons on
Bank Holiday Monday.

The Glovers earned a gutsy point in a battling 0-0 draw at Plymouth on
New Year's Day, although they were left to rue a missed penalty from Sam
Williams.

On a brighter note, manager Terry Skiverton has no fresh injury worries
to contend with versus the Dons.

Paul Huntington completed 90 minutes at Home Park, showing no adverse
reaction to a rib injury, but Stefan Stam only made the bench on his
comeback from a hamstring problem.

Fellow defender Adam Virgo, nursing a knee injury, didn't make the squad
and he remains a doubt.

Dons will be without Michael McIndoe.

The on-loan Coventry winger has returned to the Ricoh Arena after his
spell with the Dons came to and end following the 2-0 home win over
Bristol Rovers on New Year's Day.

Striker Sam Baldock continued his comeback from an ankle injury by
coming off the bench after 62 minutes against the Pirates and it remains
to be seen whether he is fit enough to now be included in the starting XI.

Winger Luke Chadwick also continued to fulfil the role of impact
substitute on Saturday as he steps up his recovery from injury and he is
likely to occupy that role again as youngster Dan Powell, the player he
is trying to displace, hit the opening goal against Rovers.

On-loan QPR striker Angelo Balanta will be out of action until March
with an ankle injury while utility player Jude Stirling is nearing a
return to action after a groin strain, but Monday's clash is likely to
be too soon for him to make the squad.

Karl Robinson's side have won their last two matches - which have both
come on home soil - but they have been nowhere near as impressive away
from stadium:mk this season, losing eight of their 10 league games.

http://www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~2256035,00.html

JOHN CONFIRMS McINDOE EXTENSION
Sun 02 Jan 2011

Assistant manager John Gorman says the Dons have agreed an extension to
the loan of winger Michael McIndoe from Coventry City.

But he is unsure as to whether the deal will be finalised in time for
the Scottish wide-man to play at Yeovil on Bank Holiday Monday.

Saturday's 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers was due to be the final game of
McIndoe's initial seven-week loan from the Sky Blues.

But after reaching an agreement for an extension until the end of
January with his parent club, the Dons are now waiting on clearance from
the Football League that he can feature at Huish Park.

John said: "We're going to keep him; our staff are trying to get the
league to come back to us to confirm it so it's good news because he's
another good player.

"Whether he can be available for Monday or not we'll have to wait and
see, but it might not do him any harm to have a rest because we've got
fresh legs waiting to come on."

Since joining the Dons in mid-November, McIndoe has played in every one
of their six league games, but missed out on another three chances to
shine due to postponements.

He was particularly impressive in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Bournemouth,
providing the assisting pass for Mathias Kouo-Doumbé's late clinching goal.

http://www.mkdons.com/page/MatchPreview/0,,10420~2256424,00.html

PREVIEW: JOHN - IT'S ALL TO PLAY FOR
Sun 02 Jan 2011

Assistant manager John Gorman says a brace of positive results on the
road this week could help the Dons cement their place among the League 1
promotion-contenders.

Karl Robinson's side face two long trips to the South West in the next
six days - Monday's trip to struggling Yeovil followed by a visit to
mid-table Exeter.

And having moved within two points of the automatic promotion berths
with back-to-back triumphs over Bournemouth and Bristol Rovers,
confidence is high that the Dons can force their way into the
top-of-the-table shake-up.

Eight wins from their 11 league games at stadiummk has left Robinson's
side with the best home record in the division, so it will surely be
their form on the road, where they have won just twice, that will define
their season from here on in.

And number two John hopes the next two trips could be the start of the
Dons finally converting their excellent home form into profitable away
displays.

He said: "We've got it all to play for, so if we can put a little away
run, starting with two difficult games on the trot, who knows where it
could take us. I think we've got a great opportunity to cement our place
in this play-off area.

"If we'd lost our last two games we'd be looking over our shoulders now,
but we're right back in it again and only two points behind the team in
second. That shows how competitive this division is.

"Everybody wants to play at the minute, we've had two good home wins and
I can't wait for our next game."

Saturday's win over Bristol Rovers was the perfect start to a
hectic-looking January in which the Dons will play seven League 1 games.
Goals from Daniel Powell and Peter Leven effectively secured the points
before the quarter-hour mark, affording them a relative stroll ahead of
battles that lie in wait.

But John insists there is plenty of depth in the squad, despite the
departure of Aaron Wilbraham to Norwich and Jermaine Easter's ongoing
loan at Swansea.

He said: "We've actually got players to come back in now, players like
Luke Chadwick, Sam Baldock, Jemal Johnson, Gary MacKenzie, Adam Chicksen
who got on again today, and Mark Carrington, who was playing well
recently and didn't really deserve to be out of the side. Even Didi
Hamann could be used as well because he's still training, although we're
hoping we won't need to use him.

"We're really pleased with the squad, even though we've lost players
like Aaron Wilbraham, we're getting on with it and we're not feeling
sorry for ourselves.

"It would have been nice to have got the third goal on Saturday because
then we could have rested a few people, perhaps someone like Sean
O'Hanlon who has been out recently. But Sean found the game no problem,
he's fit as a fiddle and things are looking good."

The Dons will arrive at Huish Park looking for their first ever win at
the home of the Glovers, having managed just two draws from their three
previous visits.

But despite their lowly league position, off the bottom of the table
only on goal difference, John does not expect an ugly game against Terry
Skiverton's team.

He said: "If it's a scrap it would be unusual, because Yeovil, from
years gone by, have always had a tradition of playing good football.

"They've got a good young manager and I expect them to be a footballing
side, but it's a game where we will go there confident in the way we're
playing."

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/yeoviltown/yeoviltownnews/Penalty-miss-costs-Glo\
vers-away-victory/article-3057697-detail/article.html

Penalty miss costs Yeovil Town away victory
Monday, January 03, 2011, 07:00

Sam Williams' penalty miss meant Yeovil Town had to be content with a
point from an engrossing goalless draw at Plymouth Argyle.

The result was enough to see the Glovers climb off the foot of npower
League One as they returned to the pitch for the first time since
mid-December.

Argyle stopper David Button made a comfortable save diving to his right
to keep out the spot-kick awarded for a foul on Andy Williams midway
through the first half.

Both defences weathered pressure but Yeovil goalkeeper John Sullivan
enjoyed the quieter afternoon to register the club's second successive
league clean sheet.

Despite the penalty miss, manager Terry Skiverton considered it a point
gained rather than two dropped.

"They (Plymouth) came out in the second half and they put us under
pressure," he said. "We had to withstand that and the positive thing for
our football club is that in the league now that is two clean sheets.

"I think in the first half we should have been a little bit home and dry
had Paul Huntington headed down and put the keeper under pressure.

"Andy Williams should have done better with the cutback. Also with the
penalty as well, as Sam has been putting them away in training.

"Two clean sheets on the bounce in the league is excellent for us and it
takes us off the bottom of the league, which is a massive step."

Skiverton made five changes to the side beaten 4-2 by Hartlepool United
in the FA Cup second round on December 14.

Last-minute loan signings Paul Wotton and Max Ehmer came in for Ed Upson
and Craig Alcock (back) respectively.

Nathan Smith returned from suspension at left-back ahead of assistant
manager Nathan Jones, Sam Williams replaced Jean Paul Kalala (groin),
and Paul Huntington came back for injured Tom Parkes.

A brisk start resulted in Yeovil's first chance on seven minutes as
former Argyle hero Wotton reminded home fans of his prowess from range.

Playing against the side he led to two promotions, the Southampton
loanee sent Button scrambling from 30 yards, as the ball crept wide.

Two minutes later, Tottenham Hotspur youngster Button tipped
Huntington's header over the bar before Andy Williams' looping header
dropped onto the woodwork from the subsequent corner.

On 19 minutes Joe Mason's diagonal ball sliced through the Yeovil
defence to find Rory Patterson. However, the midfielder's poor first
touch invited Sullivan off his line and the visitors' Millwall loanee
dived bravely at his feet.

With 23 minutes on the clock the Glovers' defenders backed off Mason,
allowing him to accelerate to the edge of the 18-yard box before his
shot was deflected over.

Three minutes before the half-hour mark, Sam Williams was presented with
his chance from the spot after Curtis Nelson tripped Andy Williams.

Andy Williams rolled clear of Nelson, only to be pulled back as he
looked to cut into the box. The former Bristol Rovers man rode the
challenge but saw his run stopped by referee Brendan Malone who chose
not to play advantage. However, Sam Williams' shot lacked conviction.

Plymouth made a strong start to the second period.

On 65 minutes Kari Arnason's long throw was laid off to Reda Johnson by
Bradley Wright-Phillips only for the division's leading goalscorer to
fire over.

Button was called into action three minutes later, pushing away Dean
Bowditch's deflected shot from 25 yards.

The keeper's heart was in his mouth on 71 minutes when Nelson sliced
behind and wide from Bowditch's cross.

Four minutes before the final whistle Stephane Zubar beat Huntington to
a Plymouth corner, but was unable to find the target with a header.

The hosts' final chance of the match came deep into injury time when
another Jim Paterson set piece was headed straight at Sullivan.

Plymouth Argyle (4-4-2): Button; Zubar, Johnson, Nelson, Paterson;
Patterson, Arnason, Fletcher, Bhasera (Bolasie 76); Wright-Phillips,
Mason. Substitutes (not used): Larrieu (gk), Duguid, Clark, Stephens,
Peterlin, Timar.

Yeovil Town (4-4-1-1): Sullivan; Ayling, Huntington, Ehmer, Smith; Welsh
(Kalala 62), Wotton, MacDonald, Bowditch; S Williams; A Williams.
Substitutes (not used): Stam, Upson, Calver, Gibson, Baggridge.

Attendance: 9,720.

Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire).

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/yeoviltown/yeoviltownnews/Wotton-backs-Yeovil-da\
nger/article-3057699-detail/article.html

Wotton backs Yeovil to move out of danger
Monday, January 03, 2011, 07:00

Midfielder Paul Wotton believes Yeovil Town's spirit will stand them in
good stead as they look to climb out of npower League One's bottom four.

The Southampton loanee made his debut for the Glovers at former club
Plymouth Argyle less than 24 hours after completing a temporary switch.

Wotton, at Huish Park for a month, earned the praise of manager Terry
Skiverton for his impact in the goal-less draw at Home Park.

A point was enough to see Yeovil leapfrog Walsall at the foot of the
table, taking them to within five points of safety ahead of today's
clash with MK Dons.

Despite playing just one match for the Somerset side, Wotton was
impressed by the Glovers' character as they frustrated Argyle's attackers.

He said: "I have played just 90 minutes for the team, but from what I
could see today there was a great spirit.

"In the first half we looked by far the more threatening team. In the
second half we were certainly camped in our half a bit but I cannot
remember John Sullivan having to exert himself.

"We held the edge of the box for long periods, but did so quite
comfortably and Plymouth ran out of ideas in the end.

"If you are bottom of the league before a game and you show spirit like
that then, having been in relegation battles before, I think you have
got a chance."

Wotton made more than 440 appearances for the Pilgrims, leading them to
two promotions in 13 years, before his release in the summer of 2008.

The Plymouth-born player remained in the south with Southampton, but has
found chances limited at St Mary's and spent four games in League Two
with Oxford United before heading to Yeovil.

Wotton, 33, said he hoped his Football League experience could benefit
the Glovers both on and off the pitch.

"That would definitely be behind the manager's thinking as well," he
said. "All throughout my career, even when I was a young lad, I have
always been vocal in the dressing room.

"They are still learning the game and I am as well at my age. I can
definitely help them along, I think, and on the pitch it is not always
easy for the manager to get his point across and I think I know the game
well enough to say the right things at the right time."

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/yeoviltown/yeoviltownnews/Glovers-line-new-loan-\
Hendo/article-3057671-detail/article.html

Glovers line up new loan move for Stephen Henderson
Monday, January 03, 2011, 07:00

Bristol City goalkeeper Stephen Henderson could make a return on loan to
Yeovil Town this week after the Glovers revealed a deal had been agreed.

Manager Terry Skiverton also revealed he remained in the chase for up to
two further players, including a striker.

The Huish Park boss signed Southampton midfielder Paul Wotton and QPR
youngster Max Ehmer on Friday and said he was hopeful of adding
Henderson before Saturday's npower League One clash with Brentford.

Skiverton said: "We have had a chat and anything can happen as he is
still their player. Advanced discussions have taken place and a deal has
been agreed, but touch wood nothing happens to their keepers in their
next game.

"I keep going on their website to make sure that David James and Dean
Gerken do not go down (injured)."

The former Yeovil defender praised Millwall loan stopper John Sullivan
for his efforts in ahead of his final game for the club today against MK
Dons.

The Glovers also announced the return of goalkeeper Richard Martin last
week. He will be available on Saturday after the completion of a
seven-day notice of approach given to former club Crawley Town.

Skiverton said he was "close" to signing a striker that he hoped would
add competition for places.

He said: "I am looking for someone that comes into the team with a bit
of experience that can take chances.

"It then adds that real competition.

"I feel that in midfield we have got competition, at the back we have
got good competition when Adam Virgo comes back and I want to make sure
that we have got that competition in the striking area."

Yeovil Town from: Sullivan, Jones, Stam, Huntington, Smith, A Williams,
Ayling, S Williams, Parkes, Bowditch, Welsh, Ehmer, Upson, Calver,
Wotton, Kalala, Gibson, MacDonald, Clowes, Doyle, Matthews, Baggridge.

http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/sport/Alex-Russell-leaves-Bath-City-join-Yeovil-Town\
/article-3058680-detail/article.html

Alex Russell leaves Bath City to join Yeovil Town
Monday, January 03, 2011, 13:00

Alex Russell has left Bath City and returned to the Football League with
Yeovil Town.

Glovers boss Terry Skiverton had made no secret of his desire to sign
the former Bristol City midfielder, who had been training full-time with
Yeovil during his successful three-month stint at Twerton Park.

Russell, who started for City at Newport County on Saturday but went off
injured after 35 minutes, has now agreed a deal to join the League Two
strugglers until the end of the season.

City boss Adie Britton is sad to see Russell go but understands why he
was in demand.

"I have nothing but praise for Alex, he did fantastically well for us,"
said Britton.

"Since he came on board Alex played something like 12 games for us and
we only lost two. He gave us a different dimension to our play, gave us
huge ball retention and just joined us up as a side.

"Should the opportuntity arise I would love to have him back but I hope
he goes to Yeovil, does a good job for them and gets them out of the
trouble they are in."

http://www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~2257106,00.html

HALF-TIME: YEOVIL TOWN 1 MK DONS 0
Mon 03 Jan 2011

Work to do for MK Dons after a gruelling opening 45 minutes at Huish
Park, where second-bottom Yeovil take a 1-0 lead down the tunnel and
into the half-time break.

Pressed and hurried by their burly hosts since the first whistle, the
Dons have been unable to piece together the passing movements that were
the hallmarks of their two wins at home in the last week. They have been
forced into a direct game in which front-man Jabo Ibehre has battled
manfully, but the inspiration from those around him has been somewhat
lacking.

Yeovil have had the better of the openings, two dangerous crosses from
the right being narrowly directed off target before skipper Paul
Huntington put them in front on ten minutes - heading accurately past
David Martin from an Andrew Welsh cross.

Martin was forced into decent saves to deny Shaun MacDonald and Dean
Bowditch not long after that, but the Dons did start to take the sting
out of the hosts as the half wore on.

Peter Leven was denied by close-quarters by a reaction save from John
Sullivan, and Mathias Kouo-Doumbé headed onto the roof of the net from
the resulting corner.

The threat from Yeovil remains, but having not won in nine league games,
one wonders how they will approach the remainder of this game if the
Dons don't score early in the second half. If they retreat to hold what
they have, it could be a tense second period.

Listen to live, full-match commentary now on MK Dons Player.

Yeovil Town (4-4-1-1): Sullivan; Ayling, Huntington (c), Ehmer, Smith;
Welsh, Wotton, MacDonald, Bowditch; S. Williams; A. Williams.

Subs not used: Upson, Calver, Kalala, Gibson, Baggridge.

Goals: Huntington 10

Booked: Wotton

MK Dons (4-4-2): Martin; Woodards, O'Hanlon, Kouo-Doumbé, Lewington (c);
Guy, Gleeson, Leven, McIndoe; Baldock, Ibehre.

Subs not used: Searle, MacKenzie, Carrington, Chicksen, Chadwick,
Powell, Johnson.

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)

http://www.mkdons.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10420,00.html

Yeovil Town 1-0 MK Dons
Date: 03/01/2011

MK Dons' frustrations on the road continued as Paul Huntington's
solitary goal gave struggling Yeovil a first win in ten games.

Huntington rose highest to head home an Andy Welsh cross ten minutes
into a gruelling contest at Huish Park, where the Dons were again unable
to turn their outstanding home form into a profitable performance on the
road.

Karl Robinson's team have now lost nine games away from home this
season, in stark contrast to their eight wins at stadiummk, as they
continue to search for the magic ingredient on their travels.

Yeovil, while no closer to safety than they were at the start of play,
survived the late dismissal of substitute Jean-Paul Kalala to at least
climb above Dagenham to 22nd in the division and will feel they were
worthy of the spoils after limiting the Dons to a small number of
chances on a ground they have yet to conquer in four attempts.

But they must pick themselves up quickly ahead of a near-carbon-copy
trip next weekend, when they make the journey to face a
mercurially-talented Exeter City.

After back-to-back victories at stadiummk, Robinson opted for minimal
disruption to the chemistry his side have discovered in the last seven days.

Joint-leading scorer Sam Baldock was the only new face introduced in
place of weekend goalscorer Daniel Powell, as Michael McIndoe's loan
from Coventry was extended in time for him to face one of his former club.

Without a win in nine games, Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton looked to be
working to the same logic as he stuck with the eleven that grinded out a
goalless draw at Plymouth.

But despite showing virtually the same personnel, the Dons looked a
different side to the one that so quickly dismantled Bristol Rovers at
the weekend.

They were hustled and hurried by a frantic Yeovil midfield, Paul Wotton
and Shaun MacDonald throwing themselves into every tackle in the middle
of the park, and were forced to go long to relieve the pressure on their
back four.

It worked for Yeovil, who frustratingly turned the Dons back four time
and again, dumping balls over the top for Dean Bowditch, Sam Williams
and Welsh to chase.

They threatened twice before opening the scoring - Bowditch unable to
reach a decent Andy Williams cross from the right before Sean O'Hanlon
flicked an even better one from Welsh over his own crossbar.

It should have served as a warning, but Welsh was allowed too much time
to deliver after Jabo Ibehre had cleared his original corner, and
Huntington rose unattended to head past David Martin.

Playing their first home game since mid-November, it was the perfect
start Yeovil could provide for their vociferous supporters and they
looked to build on the momentum as Shaun MacDonald and Bowditch both
forced Martin into manageable saves.

A scuffed Baldock free-kick blocked by Huntington aside, the Dons had
offered little in terms of chances, but did begin to exert some pressure
as Peter Leven forced a good save from John Sullivan from a Danny
Woodards cross and Mathias Kouo-Doumbé headed just over from the
resulting corner.

But their fluency was missing, unaided by a sponge of a pitch that
became increasingly difficult to negotiate as the drizzle descended over
Somerset.

Welsh threatened to open them up again on the half-hour, cutting inside
from the right to deliver another in-swinging cross, but Sam Williams
wasted the free header.

The break afforded Robinson the chance to reshuffle, bringing Lewis Guy
into a narrower role from the right flank, and both he and McIndoe
threatened to breach the Yeovil line early in the second period.

But the Glovers showed few signs of a retreat as they came within a
whisker of some much-needed breathing space.

Leven's header back looked a little light and when Andy Williams got his
toe in ahead of Sean O'Hanlon, he beat the outrushing Martin with
another flick but only found the outside of the post.

It kicked off an end-to-end period as Luke Chadwick, on to replace Guy
just moments before, took an unnecessary touch inside the box that cost
him a shot at goal, before Dean Lewington intervened at the death to
deny a clean-through Welsh.

With time wearing down and Yeovil increasingly keen to hold onto their
lead, the Dons quite naturally saw more of the ball, but were unable to
truly penetrate.

Their hopes were boosted six minutes from time when Kalala, only
introduced six minutes previously, crazily raised a hand to McIndoe
after tripping the Dons winger. The Congolese midfielder saw red, to the
furious appeals of the home fans, while McIndoe's involvement earned him
a yellow.

But the visitors, despite throwing substitute Gary MacKenzie up front as
a make-shift striker, could not mount the necessary pressure to make
their numerical advantage count.

The defeat does not do serious damage to the Dons' hopes of reaching the
play-offs, as they remain just a point behind the team in sixth.

But their concerns on the road continue, ahead of another long trip to
Exeter City on Saturday.

Yeovil Town (4-4-1-1): Sullivan; Ayling, Huntington (c), Ehmer, Smith;
Welsh, Wotton, MacDonald, Bowditch (Calver 90+4); S. Williams (Kalala
78); A. Williams.

Subs not used: Upson, Gibson, Baggridge.

Goals: Huntington 10

Booked: Wotton

Sent off: Kalala 84

MK Dons (4-4-2): Martin; Woodards, O'Hanlon (MacKenzie 65), Kouo-Doumbé,
Lewington (c); Guy (Chadwick 55), Gleeson (Johnson 75), Leven, McIndoe;
Baldock, Ibehre.

Subs not used: Searle, Carrington, Chicksen, Powell.

Booked: MacKenzie, McIndoe, Leven

Attendance: 3,508

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)

Goals : Yeovil 1 MK Dons 0
Possession : Yeovil 49% MK Dons 51%
Shots On Target : Yeovil 8 MK Dons 4
Shots Off Target : Yeovil 2 MK Dons 3
Corners : Yeovil 5 MK Dons 3
Fouls : Yeovil 13 MK Dons 11
Most Fouls : Williams (4) Ibehre (3)
Yellow Cards : Yeovil 1 MK Dons 3
Red Cards : Kalala 84

http://www.mk-news.co.uk/Sport/MK-Dons/Dons-suffer-against-ten-man-strugglers-Ye\
ovil.htm

Dons suffer against ten-man strugglers Yeovil
03/01/2011 18:04 - Updated: 03/01/2011 18:09

BY ADAM THOMPSON

YEOVIL  TOWN 1
MK DONS 0
League One
Huish Park

MK Dons continued their poor away form with yet another away defeat,
this time to relegation threatened Yeovil.

A 10th minute, Paul Huntington, header settled the game with MK Dons
having lost nine away games from the last 10.

In truth the 1-0 score line could have been a lot worse for The Dons but
for poor finishing from the home-side with their only silver-lining
coming from them still being a point outside the play-offs.

But their away form must improve if they are to mount a serious
promotion challenge this season.

Their performance was a shadow of the levels seen in the two previous
home games, where they had out classed the opposition. But Yeovil’s
hunger and spirit made a mockery of their league position as they
recorded their first league victory since September.

MK Dons made one change to the side that beat Bristol Rovers at the
weekend with striker Sam Baldock coming in for Dan Powell.

The first chance of the game fell to Yeovil.  A cross from the right
swung in by Andrew Williams was almost met at the far post by Dean
Bowditch but Yeovil’s top scorer was inches away from getting a head to
the ball and it went harmlessly wide.

Yeovil continued to press, Williams providing another cross from the
right which was turned over his own cross bar by Sean O’Hanlon for a corner.

The home side’s pressure paid off in the 11th minute. Once again a ball
into the box from the right, this time by winger, Andrew Welsh, was met
by Yeovil skipper, Paul Huntington, and his powerful header couldn’t be
kept out despite Dons ‘keeper, David Martin’s best efforts.

Still The Dons allowed Yeovil to play. Midfielder Shaun McDonald pinched
the ball from Peter Leven in the centre of the park before unleashing a
fizzing drive that forced Martin to scramble down to his right.

A low free-kick by Sam Baldock was about as close as The Dons got to
goal in the first 20 minutes, but that was wasted and easily cleared
away by the home-side’s defence.

Again The Dons had their number one to thank. A searching ball punted
forward by Nathan Smith dropped over the head of Doumbe. Live-wire,
Bowditch latched onto it but his effort was well saved when it looked to
be heading for the bottom right corner.

Dons’ first real chance of the game came just before the half-hour mark.
A looping ball into the Yeovil area was flicked goalwards by Leven but
Yeovil ‘keeper, John Sullivan, easily tipped it behind.  Mathias Doumbe
met the resulting corner but could only find the top of the net.

The right-wing seemed to be of much attention for Yeovil. An in-swinging
cross by Welsh almost found Sam Williams who was left un-marked in the
penalty area. Fortunately for The Dons the towering striker couldn’t
make contact with the header which would have surely made it a deserved
two-nil lead.

Perhaps three games in a week was taking its toll on Robinson’s men.
For the first 45 minutes they were lacking the cutting edge that had
swept both Bournemouth and Bristol Rovers aside and without Martin in
their goal, relegation threatened, Yeovil,  could have been out of sight.

The Dons started the second-half much better, with Ibehre at the centre
of any attacking threat.

Lewis Guy was close to latching onto a deflected clearance. His one-two
with Baldock was cleared by Yeovil’s defence but that clearance
pin-balled back into the home-sides area but was just out of reach of
Guy’s charging run.
The Don’s continued to press,  Ibehre held off Luke Ayling and drove a
ball across the face of goal but Sullivan got down smart with The Dons
attack ready to pounce.

The Glovers were desperately close to making it two against the run of
play just before the hour-mark. A forward ball found Williams one-on-one
with Martin he lofted it over the ‘keeper but his effort trickled onto
the far-post and out for a goal kick.

The game became a more open affair after that chance. Substitue, Luke
Chadwick’s,  touch let him down when it was begging to be struck first
time just six-yards out.

The Dons could have been long out of the game but for fortune, a Yeovil
free-kick on the right could only be cleared to the edge of the area,
and but for brave defending by Dean Lewington, Wooton’s effort would
have found Martin’s corner.

The Don’s captain again saved his side. Doumbe dived in for a challenge
missing Sam Williams and the ball. Williams fed Welsh who barred down on
goal, but Lewington somehow managed to get back and nick the ball off
the toe of the lively winger before he could fire a shot away.

In the 82nd minute Yeovil were reduced to 10 men.  Michael McIndoe who
had to endure chants of ‘Judas’ on his return to Huish Park was
involved. He and substitute Jean Paul Kalala went for a 50-50 ball in
the centre circle, Kalala retaliated and raised his hands to the loanee
and was given his marching orders just six minutes after coming on.

But The Glovers held on to a deserved victory.

MK DONS: Martin, Woodards, Doumbe, O’hanlon (McKenzie, 65), Lewington
(c ), Leven, Gleeson (Johnson, 73), McIndoe, Guy (Chadwick 53), Baldock,
Ibehre.

YEOVIL TOWN:  Sullivan, Huntington, Smith, A.Williams, Ayling, S.
Williams (Kalala, 77), Bowditch, Welsh, Ehmer, Wotton, MacDonald.

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)

http://www.mkdons.com/page/MatchReaction/0,,10420~2257279,00.html

ROBBO: NIGHT AND DAY
Mon 03 Jan 2011

Karl Robinson couldn't hide his frustration after his MK Dons side fell
to another away defeat at struggling Yeovil.

Paul Huntington's first-half header inflicted the Dons' ninth reverse on
their travels this term, denying Robinson's men the chance to break back
into the League 1 play-off places after back-to-back home wins.

Yeovil saw substitute Jean-Paul Kalala sent off for a violent swipe at
Michael McIndoe, but hung onto their lead to record a first win in ten
games.

Robinson said: "You can't blame playing away from home, we just didn't
turn up today. We weren't good enough - that's not the side we're trying
to build. It was night and day in comparison to our last two
performances, but we've got to swallow it.

"When you come to places like this, you've got to be defensively sound
and I thought we were on the back foot today. We gave them opportunities
early-on, which gave them momentum, and their goal was a catalogue of
errors.

"We've got to be strong defensively and mentally when we come away. You
can't always play the pretty football everyone wants to see, you have go
direct sometimes, pin them in and ride storms. It wasn't there today, it
simply wasn't good enough.

"We've got to get it right, because we're away from home again next week
and we've got to start picking up points on the road if we want to get
into the play-offs. If we don't, we're going to fall short."

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/294049?cc=5739

Huntington hands Glovers win

Paul Huntington scored the only goal AS 10-man Yeovil won a much-needed
three points against MK Dons.

Andy Welsh was in tantalising form on the right and provided the cross
for Huntington to fire past goalkeeper David Martin after only 11 minutes.

Yeovil came close to a second goal when Welsh provided another great
cross, but a diving Sam Williams narrowly failed to connect.

Andy Williams hit the inside of the post as the Glovers threatened again
before substitute JP Kalala was shown a straight red card for a foul on
former Yeovil player Michael McIndoe with six minutes left.

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/yeoviltown/yeoviltownnews/Huntington-gives-Glove\
rs-massive-lift/article-3060237-detail/article.html

Paul Huntington gives 10-man Glovers a massive lift
Tuesday, January 04, 2011, 09:00

YEOVIL TOWN 1 MK DONS 0

at Huish Park

Paul Huntington's first-half header proved enough for ten-man Yeovil
Town as they defeated MK Dons for their first victory since October.

The 1-0 success saw the Glovers climb to third from bottom in npower
League One as they registered a third successive league clean sheet.

Second-half substitute Jean Paul Kalala lasted just six minutes before
seeing red for a clash with former Yeovil wide man Michael McIndoe.
However, it was not enough to derail the hosts.

Manager Terry Skiverton said: "I felt that it was one of those games
where again we created a lot of chances but we looked a lot stronger.

"We had to sit back because we could not retain the ball and, to be
fair, the sending off worked in our favour because then it slowed up
their tempo a little bit.

"I am pleased with the attitude, the commitment and desire that we had
for defending and that for me was excellent today. We were defending as
a team."

Skiverton named an unchanged starting eleven to the one that drew 0-0 at
Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, dropping only defender Stefan Stam from the
bench. The boss revealed that the Dutchman no longer figured in first
team plans and would need to find football elsewhere.

On five minutes the Dons were given a warning of Yeovil's attacking
intent when Andy Williams' whipped cross from the left was inches away
from a diving Dean Bowditch.

The Glovers went one better as Huntington notched his second of the
season. The visitors failed to clear a corner, allowing Andy Welsh time
to cross to an unmarked Huntington who found the net.

Five minutes later Nathan Smith beat his marker on the left before
firing straight at David Martin and Shaun MacDonald came close from 30
yards following a crunching challenge on Steven Gleeson.

Smith's deft right-footed ball forward on 24 minutes allowed Dean
Bowditch a shooting opportunity, but after creating an angle his effort
was comfortably parried.

Three minutes before half-time only the athleticism of Yeovil 'keeper
John Sullivan kept his team ahead, as Jabo Ibhere and Sam Baldock were
allowed to head towards goal before the 'keeper tipped over.

The Glovers responded positively and Sam Williams should have done
better, trying to convert Welsh's wicked delivery with a header.

MK Dons dominated the opening exchanges of the second half and Sullivan
bravely dived at the feet of Baldock to smother the ball on 50 minutes
after Huntington's clearance struck his own man.

However, Andy Williams spurned a clear opportunity on 57 minutes,
beating Martin to a ball over the top only to strike the upright with a lob.

Bowditch fired straight at Martin from 20 yards on 62 minutes before a
deflection prevented Paul Wotton's first-time effort from a poorly
defended corner hitting the target.

Four minutes later Welsh could have scored, racing clear of the MK Dons'
defence on the counter-attack, only to delay a shot, allowing Dean
Lewington to track back.

The Glovers were reduced to ten men with eight minutes to spare when
Kalala raised his hand to McIndoe after the pair leapt into a challenge.

The French midfielder continued his dispute with Baldock as he left the
pitch, while McIndoe, who had received a verbal battering from the home
support all match, got a booking.

Despite four minutes of added time, Yeovil dug deep to ensure MK Dons
failed to get a sniff of goal.

Yeovil Town (4-4-1-1): Sullivan; Ayling, Huntington, Ehmer, Smith;
Welsh, MacDonald, Wotton, Bowditch (Calver, 90); S. Williams (Kalala,
77); A. Williams. Subs not used: Upson, Gibson, Baggridge.

Scorer: Huntington 11.

Booked: Wotton.

MK Dons (4-4-2): Martin; Woodards, Doumbe, O'Hanlon (McKenzie, 64),
Lewington; Guy (Chadwick, 53), Leven, Gleeson (Johnson, 74), McIndoe;
Baldock, Ibhere. Sub not useds: Powell, Chicksen, Carrington, Searle.

Booked: MacKenzie, McIndoe, Leven.

Attendance: 3,508.

Referee: Simon Hooper (WIltshire).

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/yeoviltown/yeoviltownnews/climbing-8211-Skiverto\
n/article-3060240-detail/article.html

Now we must keep on climbing, says Yeovil Town boss Skiverton
Tuesday, January 04, 2011, 09:00

Yeovil Town manager Terry Skiverton has set his sights on passing clubs
above him after the Glovers registered their first win in almost three
months.

The Huish Park hosts built on Saturday's goalless draw at Plymouth
Argyle to defeat MK Dons 1-0 in npower League One yesterday.

The Glovers are still five points from safety, but victory saw them
climb to third from bottom after starting 2011 at the foot of the table.

Skiverton said: "It is another bit for this momentum to reel in another
one. Again, the mindset is different. We are in one of those
cross-country runs and we found ourselves at the back for whatever reason.

"Now it is that one where you latch on to the next one and now we are
looking at Bristol Rovers and teams that are above us to see if we can
pass them.

"We are not a bottom of the league club where everything is doom and
gloom, we are not a club that is going into administration and we are
not a club where nobody is turning up and everybody is having a go at
the way we play.

"We are not a club like that, we are a club where things have conspired
against us, the results have not gone for us, we have not taken chances
and there have been missed opportunities that we needed to take. Today
we took an opportunity and we will move on."

Millwall goalkeeper John Sullivan and Swansea City midfielder Shaun
MacDonald both return to their parent clubs today after completing loan
spells at Yeovil Town.

Dutch defender Stefan Stam has been told he no longer figures in
Skiverton's plans, while Jean Paul Kalala is now suspended for four
games after receiving a red card for raising a hand to MK Dons' Michael
McIndoe yesterday.

However, stoppers Stephen Henderson and Richard Martin are expected to
complete deals to return to Yeovil, and should be joined by Bath City
midfielder Alex Russell and an unknown striker.

http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10327~2257937,00.html

STEPHEN SECURES LOAN SWITCH
Posted on: Tue 04 Jan 2011

Stephen Henderson has completed his loan switch to Yeovil Town.

The Irish keeper spent two months with the Glovers earlier this season,
making eight appearances before returning to Ashton Gate.

As first revealed by bcfc.co.uk on Sunday, City have now agreed to let
Stephen join Yeovil for the remainder of the 2010/11 season.

"He had a good spell with Yeovil back in September and October," said
Keith on bcfc.co.uk.

"This will be a good opportunity for him to go out and get games under
his belt. With a keeper you've always got the security of a recall, so
it works for everyone."

League ever-present David James and Dean Gerken have been main stays in
the squad throughout this season, the latter having played just once in
the Carling Cup at Southend back in August.

http://www.swanseacity.net/page/Latest/0,,10354~2258110,00.html

Shaun returns after Glovers spell
Posted on: Tue 04 Jan 2011

Swansea City can confirm that Shaun MacDonald has returned to the club
following his loan spell at Yeovil.

The 22-year-old midfielder joined the League One outfit for a fourth
time in August and played 17 games for the Glovers.

His last appearance came in Monday's 1-0 home win against MK Dons but
the Somerset side still languish in the relegation zone.

The one-cap Wales international is also joined by Kerry Morgan after his
loan at Newport County came to an end.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/9337114.stm

Yeovil Town sign midfielder Alex Russell from Bath City
13:11 GMT, Tuesday, 4 January 2011

Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton has added to his growing squad with the
signing of Bath City midfielder Alex Russell.

Russell, 37, is Yeovil's fifth signing of the transfer window, following
deals for Richard Martin, Paul Wotton, Max Ehmer and Stephen Henderson.

And Skiverton is hopeful there will be more to come, with a move for a
striker at an advanced stage.

"Until it's all done and he's played his first game you can't count your
chickens," he told BBC Somerset.

"The ones you've got your eye on are always the ones other people have
their eye on. We hope we can get him in, get it done and get him signed."

Much-travelled midfielder Russell arrives from Blue Square Premier side
Bath, where he appeared in 12 games and was instrumental in their climb
away from relegation zone. His deal at Yeovil runs to the end of the season.

The veteran of 10 clubs including Rochdale, Torquay and Bristol City
scored two goals at Bath and appeared in just two defeats in those dozen
outings.

The move has been on the cards in the run-up to the transfer window as
Russell has been training full-time with the Glovers since signing a
short-term deal with Bath following his release from Exeter in the summer.

Yeovil secured their first league victory in almost three months with a
1-0 win against MK Dons on Bank Holiday Monday, and Skiverton also
confirmed that match was the last game at the club for Shaun MacDonald
and John Sullivan.

Swansea midfielder MacDonald, who was in his third loan spell at Huish
Park, and Millwall stopper Sullivan both played 17 games for the club.

"They have been exemplary in the way they have acted and conducted
themselves," said Skiverton.

"They've been a credit to their host club. When you've people like that
fighting for the cause it makes my job easier. They're good people and
good players."

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/yeoviltown/yeoviltownnews/Yeovil-clinch-Russell-\
chase-striker/article-3065605-detail/article.html

Yeovil Town clinch Russell signing and chase a striker
Wednesday, January 05, 2011, 09:00

Yeovil Town have filled the void left in midfield by Shaun MacDonald's
return to Swansea City and Jean Paul Kalala's impending suspension by
snapping up experienced midfield playmaker Alex Russell from Bath City.

The 37-year-old former Bristol City, Cheltenham and Exeter City man has
agreed a deal for the remainder of the season and is manager Terry
Skiverton's fifth signing of the January transfer window.

Russell has played a pivotal role in helping the Romans pull clear of
the relegation zone in the Blue Square Bet Premier and with a wealth of
first team appearances under his belt, he brings a vast amount of
experience to the Glovers' young squad.

"I am looking forward to him coming in. Alex was here to watch us
against MK Dons and he will be available for Saturday," Skiverton said.
Click here for more

Kalala will miss Yeovil's next four matches having picked up his second
red card of the season for hitting out at former Glover Michael McIndoe
in Monday's 1-0 victory over MK Dons. He could also be without
defender-cum-midfielder Luke Ayling, who suffered a broken nose in the
same game.

Skiverton also hopes to have added an experienced striker by the time
his side take on Brentford at Huish Park on Saturday, but he refused to
name his top target – although he did let slip that the player concerned
is a target man that would come straight into the team.

"Until it's all done and he's played his first game you can't count your
chickens," Skiverton said.

"The ones you've got your eye on are always the ones other people have
their eye on. We hope we can get him in, get it done and get him signed.

"When you look at our bench, you realise they are real youngsters there.
I am willing to use Craig Calver, Billy Gibson has been used and Ed
Upson, who has been involved, but that is why we need to bring in more
people because we need to make sure the squad is fighting and if there
are any injuries and suspensions, which we have now got, we will have
people ready to step in."

Yeovil's new arrivals will compensate for the loss of MacDonald and
Sullivan, who have returned to Swansea City and Millwall respectively
after their loan arrangements came to an end.

MacDonald leaves having enjoyed four different loan spells with the club
in which he racked up 51 appearances, scoring five goals, while Sullivan
made 15 appearances. Tom Parkes has also left the club and returned to
Leicester with injury curtailing his short loan stint with Yeovil.

"I wish Shaun and John all the best. I think the pair of them have been
exemplary in the way they have conducted themselves and they have been a
real credit to their host clubs," Skiverton said.

"When you have people like that, who are fighting for the cause, it
makes my job a little bit easier and they are very good players and very
good people as well and that is the most important thing to me."

Yeovil have also completed the loan signing of goalkeeper Stephen
Henderson from Bristol City, who will remain at Huish Park for the
remainder of the season.

The deal had been expected to go through for a number of days now and it
was confirmed on the Glovers' website yesterday.

The 22-year-old, who enjoyed a short stint in Somerset earlier in the
season making eight appearances, will take over as the regular number
one from Sullivan and the former Aston Villa youngster will face
competition for the jersey from Richard Martin, who rejoined the club on
a free transfer from Crawley Town earlier this week.

Meanwhile, the Glovers have parted company with physiotherapist Simon
Baker, who has left the club to spend more time with his family.

Baker, who played for Yeovil's youth and reserve team, joined the staff
at Huish Park in the summer of 2009 having struck up a friendship with
first-team coach Darren Way, whom he helped rehabilitate following Way's
career-ending car accident in December 2008.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/jan/05/wessex-clubs-frank-keating

Epic tales of the Wessex footballing crowd

Eightsome reel of Wessex clubs have made notable contributions the
English game, and all could be in League One next season

Wednesday 5 January 2011
By Frank Keating

Although League One's Carlisle are accustomed to regular travels to what
must seem like the ends of the earth, the club's daunting 700-mile-plus
FA Cup third-round trip on Saturday to Torquay's palmy riviera at least
rewards them with a scenic route to a fresh destination.

The most far-reaching English league football fixture would be Newcastle
v Plymouth – though 30 seasons ago I recall a minor back-page stir when
the respective residents of the distinct and very distant St James'
Parks, Newcastle and Exeter, met down south in a fifth‑round replay (the
travellers being rudely dispatched by 4-0).

Romantics can box up the Wessex league clubs into a neat little
eightsome reel – Plymouth, Torquay, Exeter and Bournemouth along the
coast, Yeovil in the middle and, to the north, Swindon and the two
Bristols. In fact, if Torquay put on a spurt to win promotion from
League Two, and if Bristol City slump to relegation from the
Championship, then all eight of them could be playing next season in
League One. Just a thought.

As a boy in north Gloucestershire – no Cheltenham Town of any
significance then – we always considered Bristol Rovers "our" county
team: City played across the Avon in dreaded Somerset. Working on the
desk of the Bristol Evening World more than half a century ago my
favoured trip was always to more pastoral, earthy Eastville.

The World's football man then was David Foot and in his disarming new
memoir, Footstep From East Coker (Fairfield £15), our own octogenarian
confirms the ingrained disparity in the demeanour of the two clubs: City
with its miscellany of dictatorial, thirsty and snobbish directors, and
Rovers' "much humbler survivors with a loyalty of fans, however
restricted, perhaps unmatched in affectionate feeling".

Fidelity remains an appealing western trait: both Bristols still cherish
memory of two immense and faithful goalscorers: City's John Atyeo (314
goals between 1951 and 1966) and Rovers' Geoff Bradford (245 between
1949 and 1964); and just up the road at Swindon don't forget John
Trollope uniquely logging 770 appearances for a single club in the two
decades from 1960.

Yeovil, of course, are forever notched by history for their FA Cup
defeat of Len Shackleton's Sunderland in 1949. Around that time I saw my
own first FA Cup tie, when Dad took me to the County Ground. We stopped
for a wee at that olde-worlde hotel in Cirencester's market square and –
wow – there were the then high-flying Cardiff City strutters finishing
their slap-up, meat‑and-two-veg, sit-down lunch. Within hours,
Wiltshire's cocky Robins had sent the Bluebirds packing in extra time. I
can still recall the delirium; it was the first overwhelmingly exultant
throng I'd ever been part of.

Arsenal and England's lynchpin left-back and captain in the 30s and 40s,
Eddie Hapgood, was a Bristol Rovers colt. Further up the same Highbury
touchline sprinted the wing racer "Boy" Bastin, Hapgood's Wessex
confrère signed at 17 from Exeter.

Another Bristol Rover, Nigel Martyn, was the first goalkeeper ever
transferred for £1m (to Crystal Palace in 1989), but I'd say the best
from the west between the sticks remains Exeter-born Dick Pym, Bolton's
flat-capped and unflappably cheerful last line in three FA Cup finals –
1923, 1926 and 1929 – without letting a goal in.

Moderns may consider Plymouth-born Trevor Francis the west's most
famous, but he never actually played for Argyle, Birmingham snaffling
him at 16. True-great Hapgood captained England 33 times (including
wartime) and won five league championships and two FA Cup winners'
medals; Bastin played 21 times for England and won the same glinting
stash of medals as his captain – posting his first FA Cup medal back,
with thanks, to his Exeter elementary school headmaster.

Alas, Arsenal's "Boy" hero ended up deaf and disillusioned and running a
down-at-heel cafe in the capital's dreary Neasden. Wessex's two other
footballing figures of grandeur left the madding crowds behind to return
to their native heath and hearths. Thomas Hardy himself could have
immortalised both of them – for poor Hapgood was to finish as a bitter,
brooding warden of a dingy Weymouth apprentices' hostel while Pym, more
happily, left Bolton for Exeter and home, and a full, rich and contented
long life minding different nets as a wise and successful fisherman out
of Topsham harbour.

Mind you, bravest Wessex attempt at the big time must remain Bournemouth
& Boscombe's name change in 1970 – to AFC Bournemouth so they could head
the whole league, alphabetically at least. A grand idea – till someone
pointed out the fates of the original Accrington and Aldershot clubs.