If a good start is half the battle, what’s a bad start?
Perhaps we should ask Yeovil Town manager Darren Way because starts simply don’t come any worse than his side’s opening day capitulation at the hands of Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.
It seemed like everything was going swimmingly when Yeovil’s Otis Khan found the net after seven minutes with a superb free kick but everything promptly went tits-up when the hosts’ Olly Lee evened things up.
Luton forward James Collins scored a hat-trick on his debut, Isaac Vassell secured a quickfire brace and a wonderstrike from Alan McCormack made it 7-1 before Francois Zoko headed home a meaningless goal for the visitors.
🎥 | The Gaffer's thoughts after #YTFC suffered an opening day defeat at @LutonTown.
Watch in full for free ➡️ https://t.co/gEWxRBBxOJ pic.twitter.com/RhdMI5NMb1
— Yeovil Town F.C. (@YTFC) August 5, 2017
Luton had the final word, however, when Elliot Lee finished off a delivery from his brother to wrap up the game, which finished 8-2.
It was an embarrassing affair for all involved with Yeovil Town and those behind the scenes of the League Two outfit have decided to do the right thing by refunding the travelling supporters their money.
“Saturday was never going to be easy but the manner of the defeat was totally unacceptable and I apologise to the supporters and take full responsibility for that,” manager Way told the club’s website.
📰 | #YTFC's players and first-team staff will refund the 258 supporters who made the trip to Luton Town. ⬇️ https://t.co/t6za8G2DVi
— Yeovil Town F.C. (@YTFC) August 6, 2017
“Paying supporters their money back is a collective decision, we’re not happy with just apologising but at the same time know our best apology will come on the pitch in the coming weeks.”
Midfielder James Bailey, who wore the captain’s armband on Saturday, has also issued an apology to the 258 Glovers fans who made the trip to Bedfordshire.
“We know we let ourselves and the fans down,” Bailey said.
⚽️ | FT: @LutonTown 8-2 #YTFC
Collins (x3), Vassell (x2), O. Lee, E. Lee and McCormack see off Town, with @OtisKhan63 on target for Town. pic.twitter.com/KINUzdXHOP
— Yeovil Town F.C. (@YTFC) August 5, 2017
“We felt the same as everyone else connected with the club and know the performance was unacceptable.
“The support we had at Luton was fantastic and we didn’t repay them how we wanted. Most were still there at the end of the game when our performance didn’t merit that.
“As a group, we want to apologise and give fans their money back.”
