Team News From The Yeovil Camp

Last updated : 12 October 2007 By Thetashkentterror
Russell Slade
Glovers boss Russell Slade spoke to This is Somerset about the match against Carlisle at Huish Park tomorrow, Slade talking about his own side's scoring and injury problems :


"To say Carlisle are in good form is an understatement. They have scored eight in their last two games and 13 in the last four. They have a new manager and they are looking to impress. It will be a difficult game.

"It doesn't get any easier. We do seem to be picking teams who are in form. Hereford had won four out of five but we managed to stop them, and Leeds hadn't lost any points at home at all when we went there last week.

"I think that scoring goals is just a temporary problem. The important thing is we are creating chances. It is nothing to do with the set-up of the team or working from a defensive base. I can change the shape but am I changing it for the better?

"The last time I tried to play with an open shape we lost 4-1 at Hereford (in the Carling Cup in August). I would love to play 4-4-2, but at the moment I have lost the likes of Lee Morris and Marvin Williams, who are my natural wide players.

"It is unbelievable that he (Marcus Stewart) has got a hamstring injury. He is a doubt as well and it (the injury crisis) is incredible. He will be a last-minute thing. I will possibly have none of the injured players back by the weekend and that is the worst scenario. Our best scenario is that Nathan Jones gets over his dead leg.

"It makes such a difference when you have a fully-fit squad in a lot of ways because the manager has choices, the bench is stronger and there is competition for places. I do not want to make a big thing of it but it is so frustrating and difficult at the minute."



Meanwhile right-back Mark Lynch, who picked up a tight hamstring in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy win over Hereford on Tuesday commented :

"They have been scoring a few goals but that is nothing for us to worry about. We shut up shop against Leeds last week against two excellent centre-forwards and in the end they went four up front. The only way they could score was by lumping it in the box. We have been really tight at the back and it gives us something to build on."


The Glovers have massive injury problems ahead of the game tomorrow. Starting with the 50-50 cases who will undergo late fitness tests we have veteran striker Marcus Stewart (hamstring) and fellow frontman Darryl Knights (shoulder), defenders Matty Rose (virus), Nathan Jones (dead leg) and Mark Lynch (hamstring), as well as on-loan Liverpool midfielder Lee Peltier (ankle).

Definitely out of contention though are goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall (hip), defender Curtis Ujah (ankle), midfielder Marc Bircham (hamstring) and strikers Lee Morris (knee) and Marvin Williams (ankle). Captain and centre-half Terry Skiverton will also be missing after going for a scan on a long-standing groin problem earlier this week.

Meanwhile midfielders Gary Dempsey and Justin Cochrane may earn a place on the bench although they are still some way short of first-team fitness as they make their way back from respective foot and ankle problems. 19-year old Charlton striker James Walker played on trial for Yeovil's reserves in a 2-0 win over Bristol City on Wednesday, and Glovers boss Russell Slade may decide to draft him in on loan today in an effort to ease his injury crisis.


The referee for tomorrow's match is Grant Hegley from Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, and he will be assisted down the lines by Steve Creighton from Reading in Berkshire and Andrew Laver from Portsmouth in Hampshire. Meanwhile the fourth official will be John Flynn from Calne in Wiltshire.