Paddy Madden: Gary Johnson's promotion with Bristol City has inspired Yeovil Town

Hotshot Paddy Madden has revealed how watching highlights of Bristol City’s promotion from npower League One has inspired Yeovil Town towards similar.

The Glovers entertain Preston North End on Saturday just a point off the play-off spots, having triumphed 2-0 at Sheffield United on Saturday.

The Irish striker who made a loan deal from Carlisle United permanent on New Year’s Day netted both at Bramall Lane, ensuring Yeovil bounced back in fine fashion from a disappointing defeat in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy against Leyton Orient.

Despite scoring twice to blunt the Blades, Madden instead heaped praise on the team’s performance and made reference to a team meeting on the eve of the game. With manager Gary Johnson wanting his squad to hit form again, he showed them footage of how he took Bristol City to the Championship.

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If Yeovil are to sustain a challenge for the play-offs, Madden’s composure in front of goal will prove vital, having notched 11 in green and white hoops this season. The Irishman said: “I just take each game as it come and hopefully I will get on the scoresheet. The main thing is that we get the three points.

“The lads are buzzing at the moment so hopefully we can keep getting the points and keep getting closer to the play-off places. We are in the mix and it is up to us to stay there. We are looking forward to taking each game as it comes and hopefully the results keep coming.

“We were in the hotel on Friday and the gaffer (Johnson) showed us a DVD of his promotion from League One with Bristol City and that is helping us. The lads enjoyed the video and it just shows us what hard work and dedication can do to get us out of the league.

“All of the lads all want it badly, we want to get to those play-offs and who knows where it can lead to? The video with the gaffer urged us all on, we will take each game as it come and hopefully we can keep on going up there.”

Madden has been joined at Huish Park by childhood friend Kevin Dawson, the midfielder impressing on his full debut at Bramall Lane with a energetic and whole-hearted display. Johnson said his inclusion in the midfield alongside Middlesbrough loanee Matt Dolan was justified.

The boss said: “Paddy’s never-say-die running has got our two goals,” said Johnson. “His blood brother Daws never stopped running. I don’t know where they went to school or where they lived but they must have ran 50 miles every day to school and back. I love them to death and I’m glad that I was able to give them a chance today.

“Dolan had a really good League debut and looked assured until he got a whack. We are proud of them all and from where we were a few days ago (defeat at Leyton Orient) we have got them right. We showed them a few videos in the hotel, gave them a few home truths and picked them up for the game.”

Madden atoned for spurning a golden first half chance by keeping his cool to break the deadlock at United on 50 minutes, then pouncing on sloppy keeping for the second.

He said: “It was a great team performance from all the lads and thankfully we got the win we deserved. We were on top for all of the game, we deserved to come out with the three points.

“We had a chat at half time and said we needed to be more clinical which we should have been in the first half because we could have been 3-0 up. We made the most of the chances in the second half.

“It was a lovely ball from Byron Webster (for the first goal), he is capable of that. He put it in there and I have got the confidence to put it in the net.

“For the second, you have to chase down lost causes, you never know what will happen. I have scored two recently doing the sam and I will keep doing it and hopefully keep scoring goals.”