Christophe Berra’s 40th minute goal saw Town to a 1-0 victory over Yeovil in their first ever visit to Huish Park. The Scottish international diverted Tommy Smith’s header from Stephen Hunt’s corner into the roof of the net to claim the Blues’ first away win of 2014.

Mick McCarthy handed Sylvan Ebanks-Blake his full league debut for Town in place of Paul Taylor in the Blues’ first ever game at Huish Park.

Luke Hyam, Paul Anderson and Hunt returned in midfield with Taylor, Paul Green and Jay Tabb amongst the subs and the injured Frank Nouble not travelling. Carlos Edwards and Teddy Bishop made the trip but were left out of the 18.

The home side won an early corner and after the ball was cleared, Tom Lawrence struck a powerful shot just past Dean Gerken’s left post.

On nine James Hayter hit an effort over from the edge of the box having been found by Lawrence, then Ishmael Miller saw a strike blocked with the home side on top in the opening stages.

Hunt crossed too close to Yeovil keeper Marek Stech, a one-time Town trialist, in the 13th minute with Ebanks-Blake lurking behind him. But the Glovers were still on top, Luke Ayling hitting a low shot through to Gerken two minutes later.

The Blues created their first significant chance of the game in the 20th minute when Anderson burst through the middle and found Daryl Murphy to his left but the Irishman sliced well wide much to the home fans’ amusement.

Just before the half hour, Cole Skuse smashed a half-volley well wide with the Blues starting to make some headway, albeit unconvincingly. On 35 Hyam was booked for a foul on Duane Holmes.

Anderson found Ebanks-Blake at the far post with a left-wing cross a minute later but the Town striker was unable to get in a header under pressure. The ball fell to Hunt, who shot wide.

The Blues were getting on top and in the 38th minute the lively Anderson played the ball into Murphy’s feet, he laid it back to Ebanks-Blake and his strike was blocked by Byron Webster.

Murphy headed the second of several successive Town corners wide but the pressure was building and from the fourth flagkick, the Blues went in front.

Hunt sent the ball over from the left and Smith’s header looked to be going beyond the far post until his central defensive partner Berra slammed it into the roof of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

Anderson shot well wide from distance soon after the goal but neither side looked like scoring again in the closing minutes of the first half.

Town came more into what had been a scrappy game as the period wore on and their first real spell of pressure led to Berra’s goal. Yeovil had started brightly, creating a number of early opportunities but faded as the Blues imposed themselves in the latter stages.

Yeovil made two changes up front at half-time, Kieffer Moore and Sam Hoskins replacing Miller, who had been a handful early on before presumably picking up an injury, and James Hayter.

Soon after the restart, Skuse saw a shot blocked, then at the other end Hyam similarly prevented Glovers midfielder Ruben Palazuelos’s strike. The half had started in the same scruffy manner as the first period with both sides looking to get the ball forward quickly at every opportunity.

Ebanks-Blake shot low to Stech in the 57th minute, then just before the hour mark Hunt was booked for a foul on Webster right in front of the technical area. Soon after, Jonny Williams replaced the Irishman, Town having been planning to withdraw Ebanks-Blake prior to Hunt’s booking.

Mings replaced Ebanks-Blake on 65, Cresswell moving to left midfield. Moments later, Williams curled a shot well over.

There was a scare for the Blues a minute later when Moore took down a ball over the top but the advancing Gerken forced him wide and then blocked his shot. Soon after, Yeovil midfielder Joe Edwards was booked for a dive midway in the Town half.

The Blues came close to a second in the 70th minute when Cresswell’s freekick from the left ran loose but neither Murphy nor Anderson could apply the decisive touch and Stech claimed.

As the game moved into its final 15 minutes the match was surprisingly open, the impressive Williams stumbling when he looked to have got behind the Yeovil backline, then Anderson missing a low cross from the left.

At the other end, Morgan headed over but from an offside position, however, overall the home side were looking short on ideas, sending in too many high balls which the Town defence headed away.

On 82 Murphy broke through the middle before feeding Anderson to his right but the winger screwed his shot well wide. Green replaced Anderson for the final five minutes.

Cresswell shot just wide, then Skuse took the ball to the edge of the box before hitting a low curling effort which Stech did well to push past his right post.

From Cresswell’s corner, Mings headed to the Yeovil keeper. As the game moved into four minutes of added time another Cresswell strike deflected wide.

Yeovil thought they’d equalised a minute later when sub Moore shot on the turn from the edge of the area but saw his shot hit the inside of the post and almost impossibly fly across the face of goal to safety.

Play quickly moved to the other end, Murphy bringing the ball to the edge of the box before hitting a low strike which Stech did well to push wide.

Despite the late scare, Town claimed their first away win of 2014, their most recent prior to that came on Boxing Day at Doncaster.

It was another typically attritional Championship game. Town came through Yeovil’s early spell on top, then took a chance once they were in control.

The Blues had the better of the game in the second half — Williams adding some quality when he was introduced - with Yeovil only really threatening once before Moore’s late strike against the post and in the end probably deserved the points, although Glovers fans will go home feeling somewhat unfortunate not to have grabbed a late draw.

With Reading and Brighton also both winning, the Blues remain in ninth, four points from the play-offs.

Yeovil: Stech, Ayling, Webster, Duffy, McAllister (c), Lawrence, Edwards, Palazuelos, Holmes (Morgan 730, Miller (Moore 46)), Hayter (Hoskins 46). Unused: Dunn, Twumasi, Lanzoni, Dawson.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Cresswell, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Hyam, Anderson (Green 85), Hunt (Williams 62), Ebanks-Blake (MIngs 65), Murphy. Unused: Loach, Tabb, Richardson, Taylor. Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire). Att: 5,920 (Town: 1,091)

Photo: Action Images

Town4me added 01:24 - Mar 12 Raymondovicblue- anderson was your mom?? Were u watching the game? Yes he did alot of running and put a sift in but appeared 2 hav no composure on the ball at all in the last 3rd. Love skuse. Propper player with black boots! :-D
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fatbanners23 added 01:37 - Mar 12 Tractamat i disagree, we are set up to attack on the counter, yes away from home we know first and foremost mm wants a point but arent we quite high up for goals scored this season?
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warktheline added 06:58 - Mar 12 It's only Doncaster,Yeovil or whoever.They are all championship clubs,that's the idea isn't it,a pool of clubs on the level trying to improve themselves. Well said oddball,he really is a plonker.Some people have sad life's,then become very twisted,he matches the criteria.I have proved you wrong all season boo boys with predictions and more importantly Mick has.No funds with idiot supporters like you lot.Answer this question..... Who's the better manager,please consider all circumstances, McCarthy, Davies, or Redknapp? Base all answers over the last 18 months.Answers on a postcard please.....he he he

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jonnysuave added 07:15 - Mar 12 It is almost as uninspiring as the John Duncan days, maybe worse - Graham Harbey, Deehan and Gleghorn. I know I was spoilt (having been old enough to watch us through Robson and Burley) but following Ipswich so boring the team are playing the Charles Hughes school of football which was outmoded in the early 1990's. I know I am going to be flamed, so let it begin....

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theobald1985 added 07:21 - Mar 12 jonnysuave you are 100% correct
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Elizabeth added 07:31 - Mar 12 Not sure what to post as my last comments disappeared off the face of the earth. I didn't say anything worse than others , only the truth but it obviously hit too many nerves. A win is always good and now we must face the mighty Wigan who were amazing last weekend ! Would like to think that we could get a result against them but we'll have to play exceptionally well. Give it your all boys !!

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essexboy added 07:52 - Mar 12 Well done lads,a win is a win in this league whoever it is.The next 4games will decide this season.I'm sure we can still get in the play-offs.There is always a team that makes a late rush to that last position,so why can't it be us.COYB.
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blueherts added 08:11 - Mar 12 Great turn out and a result - Play offs ? realistically lets look in 4 games time - that is going to be the measure of us I do like the Mings Creswell combination Def want to see Williams start Ohh , and I suppose Nouble and Tabb are due to come back !!?..hmmmm BIG BIG GAME SATURDAY !
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RaymondovicBlue added 08:35 - Mar 12 my comments about the mings substitution were NOT anti Mick (nor pro Norwich) but from where I was sitting in the stand it was definitely NOT the attacking substitution some are commenting on. initially he played Tyrone AHEAD of aaron and it only really became attaching when Williams came on. prior to that Murphy Was totally isolated and any headers he won had nowhere to go.i DO agree that it would be good to see Cressy start in left mid, as long as someone gets closer to Murphy also from where I sat, Smith deserves great credit add I saw him win most headers and tackles against their so called goal threat ... who was HUGE and powerful by the way it was workmanlike and a good 3 points, but the only player who seemed to have something to break open the stubborn defence is only with us on a one month loan. but this is better than Saturday by a mile. thanks guys

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RaymondovicBlue added 08:43 - Mar 12 all I meant was that Anderson was nowhere near as bad as I had been led to believe from this message board. I thought he was as effective as anyone, certainly better than Hunt on the night. he was up and down like a yoyo .... I think to be fair my "MOM" comment had a lot TO do with the low expectations being well beaten. he was also up against a very tricky little player most of the night and I think he shut him out really well ..... a shame he shot so weakly towards the end but Taylor fresh legs could have been on in his place by then

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bluey123 added 09:12 - Mar 12 Went to Yeovil awful display lucky win 800 supporters should be given something McCarthy rates with Keane and Jewell for different reasons but the same problem they have no feeling for the club just the money. McCarthy must be being paid for points or there is no reason for his boring tactics.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 09:33 - Mar 12 I dont understand all the negativity. Yeovil were always goi ng to make it difficult to play agaiant them, they are figting fior their lives. As far as i'm concerned we beat a team unbeaten in 5 (including away to Reading) that was going to be physical and scrap for every ball, everey foul, thow and header to try and stay up. Thats a good evenings work. Stat wise we seemed to dominate everything except posession, even that was pretty even and we were the away team. If someone told you when MM took over we would be 4 points off the play offs and 9th in the table at this point we would all have snapped their hand off. The reveloution continues, team is stableised. Team is in with a shout of play offs, MM shows faith with many young players (given Keane and particularly Jewell were hammered for not doing so it seems Town managers are damned if they do and damned if they dont), all reasons to be cherfull if you ask me. Do I want to see bettert football? Yes, having said that if long ball gets us up fine. For the 1st time since Magilton we are competative, hard to beat and a sense of camaradarie finally seems to be back in the dressing room Not bad for 14 months work is it?

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Lightningboy added 10:30 - Mar 12 Many have been suggesting we move Chambers back into the middle next to Tommy but where would we be without Berra's goals to be fair. Last night just carries on highlighting how poor our midfield's contribution is in front of goal..that's 11 goals from our back four now..the entire midfield squad has 6 between them - shocking!
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thebeat added 10:41 - Mar 12 Woke up with a smile on my face this morning for a change after an away game buy Saturdays team sheet will truly show Micks hand. If he brings Tabb and Green back in it would be a backward negative step. We have to play wingers again, i wouldnt even mind cressy infront of Mings as long as we play with width. And we need to keep 2 upfront, cant see SEB starting 2 games in 4 days so put Taylor back in. But i wouldnt be at all surprised if we're all unhappy at 2 oclock saturday afternoon. Come on Mick believe in the players you have to do a job on Wigan, dont go backwards and play the dogs of war

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blueherts added 10:54 - Mar 12 Lightningboy - Spot on - pretty woeful that stat really Though without DMc our 'strikers' are not exactly prolific Everytime I look at Vardy - what a buy he was from lower leagues - looks a good player But some good reason and sense from last two posts - progress etc has been good ( in league position) Top 10 this year and we will be well set for a push for p offs next season With all the games in hand around us and the next four games it is a big ask - be great of course if we get a semi final p off and a PACKED PR for first time since , errrr Scummers probably Re NEXT 4 GAMES - Chambers - needs protection from RM if at RB , all in goodish form and they have players to expose it and sure they will ( the right hand side against better teams is where we come unstuck ) esp when Tabb is in there Really hope MM gives Williams a free licence to play as he has ability and if SEB and DM/PT can make the runs he will pick em out . If FN is not fit for Saturday not a prob Cresswell and Mings on the left hand side - seen it a couple of times and always thought AC could be a decent LM - I like Mings as well - Mick like big Players at the back!! But Please keep the width Mick ..... Cant wait for next 4 games which are really the key to rest of our season COYB !!!

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essextractorboy93 added 11:25 - Mar 12 Great result and solid performance, Mick has done a great job! Before with Jewell we were playing more attractive attacking football and not getting results, now with McCarthy we are playing less attractive football but picking up much better results and he saved us from relegation last season. Every team he has managed has played this type of football so what did everyone expect? Luckily most of our fans understand how football works but there's just that small minority at each club. Mick's here for the long term. Saturday will be a tough game but Wigan are playing tonight and they have to travel all the way down, plus everyone knows that anyone can beat anyone in this league! Great support by us tonight, also close to selling out at Brighton I've heard. COYB!

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Lightningboy added 11:27 - Mar 12 The Mings/ Cresswell combination is the way forward on the left..nobody else seems capable of holding down a place on the left so give them a shot. I'd give Williams a run on the right with Skuse/ Hyam in the middle. Taylor/ Murphy up front..SEB off the bench.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 11:47 - Mar 12 Agree with those for this Mings Cressie left hand side partnership. Get hunt tied up til the end of next season as cover and for someone that Cressie can learn froma nd give them a shot. He's great at delivering a cross and a good runner.
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unknown100 added 12:23 - Mar 12 Well i know it sounds stupid but if we win the next 4 games (Brighton, Wigan, derby, Forrest) we will make the playoffs, I know it is very very unrealistic but quite the incentive if the players are up to the challenge and want it enough! I know I would run myself to the ground to win all 4 but will McCarthy get them as fired up as I know I would try
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StowTractorBoy added 12:41 - Mar 12 Before the game the Yeovil faithful were in very good spirits and expected to win this game so fair play to our boys for knocking the confidence out of the Yeovil players. This was not a great game or indeed performance from us but we beat what was put before us and were very efficient at the back and for me Berra was again outstanding. Gerken had little to do but commanded is area well. Skuse worked tirelessly in midfield and Ebanks-Blake looked lively. Great to see some pace and flare in Williams and hope he can start on Saturday. Anderson worked hard and his presence makes Chambers look a lot more comfortable. A long trip but well worth it and loved the Yeovil Town song before the match.

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biddyboy added 13:35 - Mar 12 Good god alive the parking was horrendous!!!! Great night though all round our supporters were great, fantastic turn out...........not hugely convincing on the pitch but we did enough, would love to have seen the ball to feet more
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BillBlue added 13:48 - Mar 12 Raymondovic. Left click on the number between the up/down arrows and it will give you a list of people voting for/against your post. It does help!
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TimmyH added 16:50 - Mar 12 First things first I'm happy we've broken our 2014 without an away win record and 3 points is very welcome and I think correctly Mick picked 2 natural wide men for this one although Anderson is more at home on the left but nice to see it made an impact on the game. Before the game I felt we would 'sneak' a win and my premonition came true, why? well as mentioned Yeovil won on Saturday (and this was all important) and rarely do you see struggling teams pick up 6 points within a few days particularly at home and it was well overdue an away win so if not Yeovil who else could we beat away this year? Well done lads but far bigger tests in the next few games or so which will really prove where we're at currently.

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warktheline added 17:09 - Mar 12 Good old Timmy.....yer but no but.....
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blueboy1981 added 17:53 - Mar 12 warktheline .............. take the abusive words away from your vocabulary, and what's left ?? - NOWT. No doubt you're proud of that.
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