Captain Jake Wannell has been “not deemed fit enough to play” in Yeovil Town’s Good Friday home match against promotion-chasing Forest Green Rovers according to manager Mark Cooper.
The central defender has been replaced by Morgan Williams today, one of two changes to the starting XI from the side which began the 2-1 home win over Oldham Athletic last weekend.
Michael Smith drops to the substitutes’ bench with former Forest Green player Dom Bernard moving from the midfield role he played against Oldham to right back with striker Harvey Greenslade coming in as part of a front three.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah ahead of kick-off, the manager said: “Jake Wannell is not fit, he felt something earlier in the week and is not deemed fit enough to play. So we switch to a back four, 4-3-3 with Harvey Greenslade coming in to play as one of three forwards.
“It was a good performance from all of them (against Oldham), it was a tremendous team performance, very committed, very front foot and we certainly need to be at that level again to get anything today.”
📸 Gary Brown
The match with third-placed Forest Green is the first of two games in the Easter period with the Glovers travelling to Eastleigh on Easter Monday.
Cooper said: “We need to make sure we have another spirited, front foot performance and make it really difficult for Forest Green, that is what the aim is today.
“Bearing in mind we have two games in four days. My biggest job today will be managing minutes with Monday in mind. We have to think about Morgan Williams and people like him who have just come back in to the team, we have got to make sure we have got enough bodies available for today and for Monday as well.”
Today’s game pits Cooper against one of his former clubs, one he led to promotion to the Football League in 2017, but the manager was not fazed about facing one of his old employers.
The visitors are certain of a place in the National League Premier Division’s play-offs this season and are seeking finishing in the top three which will give them an easier route to the final at Wembley. However, their recent form has been shaky with three defeats in their last five matches.
Cooper said: “Today is just business for me, it is just three points. We can do what we do after the game but for me it is purely about three points.
“Sometimes when you know you are not going to win the league and you are in the play-offs, there is a period where you are just getting through until the end of the season and getting ready for the play-offs.
“I am sure they will be looking at the last four games to get a bit of momentum that will be the best way for them to win the play-offs.“