Slade alive!* Yeovil 2 Brighton 2

*Not just the title of a rather good live album by the eponymous 70's glam-rockers, but also a description of the health of the former Glovers manager Russell Slade, who was present at Huish Park yesterday for the 2-2 draw between Yeovil and Slade's current side Brighton after being laid low by a virus last week, which put his attendance at the match in some doubt. There was a lot of talk beforehand about what sort of reception Russell would receive from Glovers fans, in the event it seemed from where I was in the Cowlin that he was treated no differently than any other visiting manager, and fair enough at that.

The match itself was very much a game of two halves, with the Seagulls dominating the opening stanza and the Glovers on top for the final 45 minutes. Yeovil began diffidently, not surprisingly perhaps for a team shorn of so many regular starters, and the visitors took advantage by going 2-0 up after 41 minutes and in truth looked full value for that lead. Scott Murray's well-taken first half injury-time goal gave the Glovers hope for the second half and Skivo's team talk obviously pulled no punches because after the break we were a different side. Yeovil pushed forward and dominated possession and thoroughly deserved the equaliser when it came in the 81st minute, Murray again the scorer.

We lined up as follows, in a 4-2-3-1 formation, though this changed to a standard 4-4-2 in the second half:

1. Alex McCarthy: 6/10 - Not sure he was his usual solid self yesterday - looked a little unsure at times, especially on crosses. Maybe all the travelling he's done took it's toll.

18. Andy Lindegaard: 4/10 - A quiet day at the office for Andy. Very, very quiet.

6. Terrell Forbes: 8/10 - Another outstanding display. We've always known he's a good L1 centre-half, this season he's been an excellent L1 centre-half. Looking increasingly dangerous at set-pieces going forward too, and won the penalty that led to the equaliser. Great stuff!

2. Craig Alcock: 6/10 - Pressed into action as an emergency centre-half and generally did well in an unfamiliar position. Always struggling with the high balls however and their first goal followed directly from a poor clearing header.

3. Nathan Jones: 5/10 - Steady game. Unspectacular. Okay. That's it.

21. Jean-Paul Kalala: 6/10 - JP's match was a microcosm of the Glovers as a whole. Poor in the first half, much improved after the break.

7. George O'Callaghan: 6/10 - As above, a poor first half followed by a much better second period. Looked to be getting forward more after the break and was much better for it. Might he be worth a go as the attacking midfielder/second striker in the 4-2-3-1 formation when Ryan Mason isn't available? I think he might.

16. Scott Murray: 9/10 - That's why we signed him! A constant threat on the right, provided a steady stream of quality crosses and took both goals with aplomb. More, please.

10. Gavin Tomlin: 4/10 - Not his day. No surprise that he was substituted fairly early in the second half.

11. Andrew Welsh: 6/10 - Made our first goal with a good break on the left, but relatively quiet otherwise.

9. Sam Williams: 7/10 - Battered from pillar to post by Brighton's thug defenders and given absolutely no help by the idiot referee and his equally moronic assistants. Nevertheless still a good outlet and did his best to bring others into the game. Needs to start scoring more himself however, otherwise he will be displaced when others return.

Subs:
26. Jonathan Obika (58 mins for Gavin Tomlin): 5/10 - Nice to see him back, but on this form I'd prefer to see Craig Davies on the pitch next time out.

I don't normally mention the officials but yesterday's threesome are worthy of a mild rant. Both of Brighton's goals came directly after erroneously awarded free-kicks, both coincidentally given against the unfortunate Sam Williams, and while the defence should undoubtedly have dealt better than they did with the resultant free-kicks (both from deep in the Brighton half) the fact remains the ref, Oliver Langford, and his assistants got it badly wrong in the first place. It's been a long time since I've heard all three home stands at Huish Park united in a chorus of 'the referee's a wanker' like on Saturday. The crowd's disapproval evidently had its effect at any rate, as in the second half Mr Langford was transformed into an 'homer', with barely a decision going against the Glovers, culminating in the award of a penalty. Doesn't make up for those bad first half decisions of course...

Four games in a row unbeaten then, or to put it another way 6 points out of the last 12. Next up is another struggling side, Carlisle, at home. With the return of all our loanees next week team selection becomes even more interesting, but it's the kind of 'interesting' that all manager's enjoy.

Muffwatch: The issue that's caused more angst and division amongst Weymouth supporters than any other has finally been settled: The smoking ban at the Wessex Stadium has been lifted. All 541 (count 'em!) Muffers at yesterday's 0-5 home defeat against the mighty Maidenhead could poof puff away to their hearts content, and to be fair they probably needed to after a 0-5 home loss. Their manager, former Glover Matty Hale, had enough after yesterday's debacle anyway, and handed in his notice after the game. Who can blame him? Judging by yesterday's attendance most Weymouth fans appear to have already jumped from the sinking ship.