YEOVIL Town manager Gary Johnson has challenged his side to take their crunch clash at Birmingham City by the scruff of the neck.

Johnson’s men head to St Andrew’s tomorrow (January 18) languishing in the bottom three, having failed to pick up a league win since December 3.

Their 2-1 home defeat to promotion-chasing Burnley last Saturday was the Glovers’ 15th this season – and having fallen behind yet again – Johnson wants his team to land the first blow in the Midlands.

He said: “Birmingham is an important game. They’re one of the teams in the lower half of the division and they’re the games you’ve got to try and affect and get a win.

“It takes us to get a punch on the nose before we start fighting and really we’ve got to hit the opposition on the nose before they hit us.

“I think it’s the level we’re at as well; we’re not as experienced as other teams. The teams that are at the top are up there for a reason.”

An unstoppable effort from Danny Ings and a second half tap in by Sam Vokes put Burnley 2-0 up at Huish Park.

Substitute Kieffer Moore pulled one back for the Glovers late on but ultimately it was too little too late.

Despite numerous chances from the hosts, including an effort that saw Joel Grant hit the bar when trailing 1-0, Yeovil lacked a cutting edge.

But Johnson was left to rue two mistakes on the day fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday thumped Leeds 6-0.

He said afterwards: “For me, the strikers weren’t the difference. We made two bad mistakes and the top teams don’t make those mistakes, so that gives strikers a goal.

“At the other end we had to work very hard to create our own opportunities and we certainly did create enough to come away with something.

“We’re not a million miles away but it’s not about the strikers, it’s about the whole team. The nitty gritty was the two mistakes cost us the game.”