Bank Holiday Monday saw Huish Park host a clash that both teams could not deny the importance of. Both Yeovil and Chesterfield had endured a tough start to the new season, with Yeovil starting the day bottom of the table without a victory to their name and Chesterfield lying only two places above the Glovers.
Yeovil boss Gary Johnson replaced the suspended Efe Sodje with fans' favourite, Adam Lockwood, and Andy Lindegaard made a surprise return to the starting eleven in place of Arron Davies.
Victory for either side had the potential to kick-start their respective seasons, and it was Chesterfield who were to engineer the first opportunity with only three minutes on the clock. Thankfully for Yeovil, the Spireites were unable to unlock the Yeovil defence, with Derek Niven's speculative effort from 30 yards dipping over the cross bar.
Twenty minutes into the half Yeovil were certainly the more entertaining and attractive side going forward, but were failing to create that telling chance. However, with 23 minutes gone, the Glovers came agonisingly close, tearing Chesterfield to shreds with pace.
Kevin Amankwaah's surging run down the right saw the ex-Bristol City defender skip past his marker, cutting in field with class. His lay off found Lee Johnson on the edge of the 18 yard box, whose shot flew narrowly wide of the left post.
Amankwaah's incisive running was creating problems for the visitors, who struggled to deal with his electric pace. Luciano Alvarez and Pablo Bastianini were also proving a handful, with their effort and silky footwork impressing the Yeovil faithful, whilst terrorising the Chesterfield defence.
It was Amankwaah's blinding attacking and Alvarez's fantastic work rate that combined to supply Yeovil's opener and Luciano's first goal in English football. Embarking on yet another explosive run shortly after half an hour, Amankwaah brushed aside the Chesterfield captain, Shane Nicholson with ease, placing a low cross into the six yard box. Alvarez latched onto the opportunity, putting the ball over the line from a matter of yards.
However, the Huish Park outfit were unable to hold on to their lead, with Chesterfield making the most of a rare attack and indecisive defending to level the scores with only two minutes left of the half. A Spireite corner created panic amongst the Yeovil defence, and, having being unable to clear, former Jamaica international, Paul Hall stabbed home from close range.
Moments later, Bastianini created something from nothing, spotting the opponents' 'keeper off of his line. Still on the half way line, the Argentine attempted an audacious chip that saw Barry Roche scamper back to his goal. Unluckily for the Glovers, the effort was wide of the target and the teams went in level at the half time interval.
Half Time: Yeovil Town 1 Chesterfield 1
Lindegaard's first start of the season was to be cut short during the break, with the local lad being replaced by former Manchester United youngster, David Poole. Chesterfield also felt the need to make a change; loanee Kevan Hurst failed to return for the second half, making way for Adam Smith.
Chesterfield's change of personnel made the difference, as the Derbyshire side took the lead seven minutes into the half. Counter-attacking with flair, Chesterfield found Yeovil exposed at the back, with the majority of green and white personnel still up field following a corner. Paul Hall's nippy attack up front provided substitute Smith with a one-on-one opportunity with Chris Weale. Smith calmly took his opening, chipping over the helpless shot-stopper.
A minute later Yeovil went in search for the equaliser, with Colin Miles testing Roche with a stinging drive from the left of the penalty area. Bastianini was sharp to react to the rebound, but was unable to steer his header on target.
With Yeovil lacking that final cutting edge, Johnson again felt the need to change things around, wanting to introduce fresh legs. Colin Miles and Alvarez left the pitch, with Matt Harrold and Kevin Gall entering the fray. Harrold and Gall presented new and different problems to the opposition, giving Yeovil an increasingly attacking outlook.
In the space of two minutes, Yeovil were to come close to finding a leveller, sorely testing Chesterfield. Bastianini was at the thick of both attacks that came in the 71st minute, elegantly earning a corner after fending off the presence of three defenders, before heading wide the resulting set piece.
However, with Yeovil pushing forward, the hosts were once again on the back foot defensively. Mark Allott capitalised on further indecisive and anxious defending, before Smith made slack marking and statuesque play at the back pay to fire home his second of the half after 75 minutes.
Only a minute later, the home side were provided a lifeline, as Bastianini proved again to be the thorn in Chesterfield's side by earning a penalty after being felled by the visiting keeper. Typifying Yeovil's start to the season, things were not to go the way of Johnson's men, with Roche superbly tipping Pablo's spot-kick around the post.
As the clock wore down Yeovil looked less and less like bringing themselves back into the game, with lady luck looking unfairly upon the home team. With three minutes of normal time remaining, both Amankwaah and Bastianini escaped a tight offside trap, and with the goal bearing down on him, Amankwaah disappointingly fired straight at the impressive Roche.
At the start of injury time, Smith had the opportunity to complete a memorable hat-trick. With only Lockwood for company, the aggressive substitute turned his man, only to fire against the crossbar. Yeovil replied by creating a chance at the other end, with Kevin Gall bringing the best from Roche, as the 'keeper comfortably pushed the ball wide.
Yeovil's poor start to the season continues, and slack defending appears to be letting down good attacking play. The midfield still seems not to have gelled, with the central players having quiet games. The Glovers are failing to convert chances and possession, struggling in the second half to recreate the flair and panache of the first period.
Roche for Chesterfield had a superb game, foiling Yeovil throughout and demonstrating excellent concentration. Bastianini's skill and eye for the game was yet again a class above, however the classy attacker appeared to tail off towards the end of the game.
Once at full fitness, Alvarez will be a constant threat and will provide Yeovil with a potent attacking option. Amankwaah and Jones look to be enjoying their attacking game, with Amankwaah in particular shining on a disappointing day. Gary Johnson will work his men hard in training before they make the long journey to Hartlepool at the weekend.
Full Time: Yeovil Town 1 Chesterfield 3
Report by Chris Sweet
Thommo's Post Match Press Comments:
Steve, it's been another disappointing afternoon for yourself, for Gary and for the team. What did you make of the side's performance today?
ST: "Well, we're obviously very disappointed with the result and we were a little disappointed at half time with the first half performance. As you saw for yourself, in the second half we created ten, not half chances, but clear cut, good chances and also didn't put the penalty in. It's disappointing that we haven't finished them, but gives us hope in the fact that we have created those chances.
"However, the two goals we conceded are a problem. They're both a problem in the that they're goals that shouldn't be conceded, one from a corner, and the other one a clearance that wouldn't go ten yards - the ball has got to go a lot further than that.
"We were punished, we seem to be getting punished for everything at the moment, but that's the way football goes. You have those runs where everything goes for you and those where things go against you, and at the moment it's going against us in that respect.
"We missed a penalty, we missed opportunities and we're conceding goals. But, we've spoken to the guys in there. It's very important for us all to stick together and very important for Gary and I to look at areas where we can improve. Some will, no doubt, over the course of the season, or very soon, find that they are not up to this level, and that's for Gary, the staff and I to decide.
"At the moment we're so disappointed that we couldn't put some of those chances away. I thought the crowd were fantastic, stuck with us throughout the game and were very good at the end. There were very few moans and groans, or anything like that, so we'd obviously like to thank them for that. The players noticed that, and we have noted that.
"We're not used to being in this position, but whether you're at the top or bottom it's all about winning football matches and it's about showing character. In fact, it's more about showing character in the position we are in now, and it will be very important for everybody to show that."
The goals today were another example of how mistakes in this league go punished, whereas maybe in League Two or the Conference, you might get away with them a bit more. Is that your view as well?
ST: "Yes, as you go up the leagues you get punished more and that's been shown in the last two games. Obviously it was a little bit different earlier in the season when we weren't really making those mistakes at the back, but we weren't really creating enough chances. That certainly changed in respect to the games at Ipswich, Swindon and today's fixture, where we created a lot of chances in all three games.
"It's like one of those runs where when you're not really scoring, but not really conceding. Then when you start scoring, you start conceding at the other end. It's obviously worrying to lose games, and I make no bones about it. But, we would be a lot more worried if we hadn't created ten or twelve clear-cut chances in today's game, as we probably had a couple in the first halfas well.
"We are worried, but we'd be a lot more worried if we weren't creating chances, which we weren't at the start of the season. We've changed that, but are letting in stupid goals."
Two games in three days is quite an ask, isn't it? Especially when it was so hot like today?
ST: "Yes, it was quite hot and I thought at times both sides looked as if they were lagging a bit. But I don't think we were any more tired than Chesterfield. At the end when we were going strong, trying to get the game back, we had a couple of players that looked a little tired, which is expected when you play two games in three days in hot conditions and use the same players.
"You will tire, it's the nature of football, it's a very athletic game, certainly perhaps more athletic than it used to be ten or fifteen years ago. Chesterfield have come here and won - we had the chances to win the game, but haven't taken them, and that's disappointing."
Was the half-time substitution of Andy Lindegaard tactical or did he take a knock?
ST: "No, he didn't take a knock; we just felt that he wasn't getting into the game enough from that position, which was hard for him because that position is a little new to him. It was something we wanted to do, but I suppose it didn't really come off in that respect.
"We went in one all at half time and looked to freshen it up for the second half and I think we created so many chances that we should have won the game, but we haven't. We have no excuses really."
You said at the start of the conference that some players would find themselves surplus to requirements. Is that why you are here talking to us instead of Gary? Is he wheeling and dealing at the moment, trying to get some players in and some players out?
ST: "I wouldn't say wheeling and dealing, but I think he wants to talk to the players, as he realises that this is an important moment now in the fact he feels that it's very important that the players understand exactly what is required. So, that's one reason why he is talking to them, and maybe some talk will go on about where future's lay, but it's certainly not a case of wheeling and dealing today.
"Gary and I will analyse the video, as we always do. We don't need to analyse the video in respects of knowing we missed a lot of very good chances, but we do need to analyse the video for, maybe, other problem areas."
You say Gary is talking to the players, is he not on the phone talking to others?
ST: "No, he's talking to the players. He wanted to talk to each one individually because it is an important time. I think the players will realise they are bottom of the league and they will want to know, if they don't know already, their own performance today and maybe where they go from here."
Is Gary looking at bringing in any more players?
ST: "I wouldn't rule it out, but he's going to have to be sharp, because the transfer window closes in a few days. I would imagine there would be some talking on the phone, but at the moment he's talking to the current players."
Is Arron Davies injured?
ST: "Arron Davies is not injured, no."
He's out for the next couple of games due to international commitments, isn't he?
ST: "Yes, he is, that's right. He's out for the Hartlepool game because he's playing for Wales, so that obviously came into play with team selection today."
Lee Johnson gave a very long lap of the pitch after the game. Is that significant regarding his future at the club or was it Lee just thanking the crowd?
ST: "No, I haven't spoken to Lee since the end of the game, but I think he was thanking the fans for their support today, because like I have said, I thought they were great. They didn't get on anyone's back and were fabulous today. So I think that's the reason why Lee has made a point of going round, as did the other players, because it was not just Lee."
So you haven't heard anything from Swansea for a while?
ST: "No, there are no further developments on that front from what you heard last Wednesday."
