YEOVIL TOWN boss Russell Slade has revealed he has beaten Cheltenham Town to the signature of Crystal Palace left-winger James Dayton.

The 19-year-old has signed on loan for a month and made his debut in last night's 5-1 Carling Cup defeat at Middlesbrough.

"I know Cheltenham and Colchester were showing some interest and to be fair to Neil Warnock he has done us a big favour," said Slade.

"It was tough enough anyway but to play without knowing anyone is particularly tough. Hopefully it is a learning curve for him. He wants to play as high as he can as we all do.

"He is highly-rated at Palace. He had a nasty injury last pre-season when he was on the verge of the first-team but he did well this pre-season, scoring more goals than any other player. We are not in a position to bring anyone in on a long-term loan or a long-term contract unless we get someone else out. We have to abide by the financial situation."

Slade was also impressed by the first start for on-loan Crewe midfielder Gary Roberts on a tough night for the League One side at the Riverside.

"It was a very tough evening against a very good side who remember were unlucky not to win at Liverpool on Saturday and beat Spurs on opening day," added Slade.

"Also we were missing our whole left side through injury. But we kept going and we learned that if you don't close down you get punished.

"But if we could have played them week in and week out in pre-season we would be a much better side because we would be learning all the time. I thought Roberts did really well when I pushed him into the centre of the midfield. And a little word for Andre McCollin. He came on and had one good shot just wide and he did some good work for us."

Slade is hoping to have Danny Schofield (shin) and Nathan Smith (hamstring) back for Saturday's trip to Carlisle United.