Jordan Stevens is missing with “a little bit of a niggle” picked up in training as Yeovil Town go in search of a place in the FA Cup third qualifying round at home to Didcot Town this afternoon (3pm kick-off).
The forward, who scored in last weekend’s 2-1 National League South win at Hampton & Richmond, is replaced by Jordan Maguire-Drew, who starts his first game since the defeat at Havant & Waterlooville on August Bank Holiday Monday.
Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Josh Perkins ahead of kick-off at Huish Park, manager Mark Cooper confirmed his starting formation with midfielder Matt Worthington and striker Jake Hyde were both missing after their red cards seven days ago.
He said: “We’ve had a couple of niggles in training, so we are not going to take too many chances. We are without Worthy, obviously Hyde and Jordan Stevens got a little bit of a niggle, so we have had to make a couple of changes.
“Josh Owers comes in for Alex Whittle, who came off with a niggle in his groin last week, so we can’t risk him. Josh has played at left-back numerous times for Bristol City and he did really well there last week.
“Josh Staunton comes in to midfield for Matt Worthington and Jordan Maguire-Drew comes in for Jordan Stevens.”
The boss also revealed the club did not find out if their appeal against Worthington’s red card for handling on the line in the dying seconds last weekend had been unsuccessful until late on Friday afternoon.
He said: “We appealed on Monday and were trying to prepare a team and we didn’t get an answer from the FA until 5pm last night, the night before the game, which is incredible.
“I was sat with Kirsty, the club secretary, yesterday who tried to explain it to me and I still don’t understand it. If you get a red card, you just miss the next game as long as it’s seven days after the dismissal, but a yellow card today (in the FA Cup) does not count for a league game.”
Honestly, Mark the entire fanbase is as baffled as you are!
Didcot play their third game in the world’s greatest cup competition having beaten Tadley Calleva and Bristol Manor Farm in the previous two round and come to Somerset looking to reverse their recent poor form which sees them sitting second-from-bottom of the Southern League Premier South.
Cooper said: “Their league form is totally irrelevant. I am sure they fancy their chances and will be coming here to quieten the crowd down and try and cause an upset and they should think like that, it’s a big day for them.
“We have to be professional and perform as we did in the last round (against AFC Stoneham).”