Gary Johnson refuses to allow Glovers' season to slide despite loss
Manager Gary Johnson has refused to allow Yeovil Town's play-off bid to fizzle out – even if he is not confident of his team responding with spirit at Carlisle United.
The Glovers make the long trip north on the back of a morale-sapping 2-0 defeat to npower League One top-six rivals Swindon Town on Tuesday. Having only picked up draws in their two previous games, Johnson's men boast just one victory from their past six outings.
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Gary Johnson. Picture by Pinnacle
Adam Rooney's second-half penalty, after Marek Stech's uncharacteristic barge on Gary Roberts, gave the Huish Park visitors the lead in midweek, before James Collins wrapped up matters.
The added-time strike was enough to send Yeovil crashing out of the play-off zone on goal difference, with four points now separating seventh place and second.
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With recent performances threatening to derail what had last month seemed a run destined to end in at least a play-off place, Johnson defiantly said the Glovers would eventually return fighting.
"We mustn't let our season fade away, I won't let that happen," the Yeovil boss said.
"I will tell them some home truths, as I always do. We have got to make sure that in the next couple of games we fight back and get ourselves back in those play-offs."
However, Johnson added he was unsure whether that recovery would start at Brunton Park on Saturday, despite coming up against a Carlisle side and manager under pressure themselves to improve on their lowly 17th position.
Asked if he was confident Yeovil would bounce back in two days' time, Johnson said: "No, not right this minute I'm not. I'm confident me, Terry and Darren will do all we can to get a response at Carlisle.
"Again, it was only the second half that was an issue on Tuesday because, as the pitch got heavier it got harder for both teams. Swindon dealt with that better than us.
"We can't complain about our home form because it has been decent, but it was a poor result and we have got to make sure we are ready for the next away game."
The Glovers will be without captain Jamie McAllister for the clash in Cumbria. The Scottish left-back received his tenth booking of the season when he aimed a flailing arm at Swindon's former Glover Andy Williams early in the second half.
He was substituted minutes later after aggravating an ankle injury he has been struggling with since facing Doncaster Rovers last month.
Johnson said: "We have got to give him a rest, we have been giving him injections anyway.
"He's got a rest now anyway because he's got ten bookings. We will have to deal without him, which is a shame because without him we don't seem to be half the team. We will have to find somebody to fill that role for a couple of games whilst he is suspended."
Johnson had few complaints with the penalty that gave Swindon the lead, but he was not totally happy with referee Keith Stroud.
He said: "I'm not going to complain about the penalty, but I am going to complain about inconsistent decisions about the park.
"What I can complain about a little bit is the inconsistency of Mr Stroud. I always seem to get his inconsistency when he comes against my teams, so I hope it's not just me."
Johnson also confirmed that Jamaican central midfielder Omar Holness has left the Glovers following an unsuccessful trial. "He's gone," the Town boss said. "We didn't feel he was going to be anywhere near our first team, even after Tuesday's performance."
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