Reaction From Yeovil Boss Terry Skiverton

Last updated : 18 October 2009 By Thetashkentterror
Terry Skiverton
Glovers manager Terry Skiverton spoke to BBC Radio Somerset's Pete Simson after his side's 3-1 win against Carlisle at Huish Park, Skiverton understandably pleased with Yeovil's efforts in the first-half :



PS: Terry, three points well earned today. What did you make of the performance?

TS: I think that in the first half we were excellent. I think our passing and movement really created them problems and they didn't really know how to deal with Ryan Mason in the hole. With Sam Williams pushing their back four really really deep, it gave Ryan an opportunity to pick up the ball and he has scored two magnificent goals. In the second half, they came back into it and they deservedly came back into it.

I thought Carlisle played really good football and they got tight to us and they penned us in and we couldn't get out for a really long period in that second half, so credit has to go to them. But it was an inspired substitution, because Keiran (Murtagh) comes on and gets the goal to make it a bit more comfortable again. I think special credit really does have to go to Alex McCarthy, who at 2-1 made a fantastic one-v-one save and really that got us the win more than anything.

PS: Strange in a way that it was a role reversal of last weekend (against Brighton) wasn't it?

TS: Yes, because we're trying to play football, you can't do it for 90 minutes every week. Teams are going to get tight. They are going to change their formation. They are going to get in your face and they are going to make tackles and put you under pressure. One thing I have done is not pressurised them if they do make mistakes. We've still kept on and still had the principles of our play. I know that if we keep digging in and keep trying to do the right things then we will come out on top more often than not.

PS: Of course you then managed to pull it around at last. Was it relief when Keiran Murtagh scored, when you said it was an inspired substitution? He hadn't been on the pitch very long had he?

TS: No, that's right. I think we put Craig Davies out on the right and it wasn't really working. So we put him out on top with Sam Williams and went back to a 4-4-2. One thing that was happening was that every time Alex McCarthy caught the ball, we were hitting them on the break. I think there were three or four opportunities where we could have got more attempts in on goal, but these things happen. It was a really pleasing performance and we're really happy to climb a few places in the league as well.

PS: You mentioned Ryan Mason. He seems to really revel in playing that position just off Sam Williams and he had two well taken goals today.

TS: Yes, I think it's been a fantastic week for all of the lads who have been away. They've gained great experience internationally. They're playing League One football, they're enjoying themselves and there's no pressure here and it's a really good environment for those type of players and for the lads under contract to go out and express themselves.

As I keep saying, I'm not putting any pressure on the players. If they go out there and they make mistakes then I don't care. I want them to pass the ball and to enjoy what they're doing. I think that if we keep putting the performances in and keep playing the way that we can, then I think the supporters at the club might be able to have some fun this season.

PS: A word on Shaun MacDonald who got the Man of the Match. He seems to be a different sort of player to the one that came here last season when he was playing in more advanced positions. He really seems to be assured in front of that back four and is really controlling things.

TS: Yes, I think he's got everything. I think that him and Jean-Paul (Kalala) have got a good understanding. The key to our play is switching play and I think they both get on the ball in good areas and we've got two good energetic full-backs who can bomb forward as well. So it's vitally important that they sit in and protect the back four and it's been working out really well for us.

Shaun is vital to that and he has got such a measured head on young shoulders. He doesn't get flustered. You never see him stand up and want to go toe-to-toe with anyone and get himself into trouble. He just goes about his business in a calm and assured way and you can see why he is a full Welsh international.

PS: Finally, unbeaten in five now, which is a great run for yourselves. It bodes well for what should be a tasty encounter and a derby game at Bristol Rovers next weekend.

TS: Yes, I think for us we just go there. Last season I think we got beaten 3-0, which was under Steve Thompson. They were on fire that night and they've been doing really well this season and it will be a difficult game. But I'm not worried about local derbies or anything like that. It's just another opportunity for us to go out and get three points and we will be going out there to win the game. We won't just be going out there to hold back. We want to go there and get three points.


*This interview has been taken from Ciderspace, an unofficial Yeovil Town website that can be visited by clicking here