Yeovil Town winger James Daly has said the club’s impressive start to the new season is down to its business in the transfer market over the summer.
The Glovers lost their first game of the new National League season with a 3-2 defeat at Southend United last weekend, but had been unbeaten in their opening five fixtures despite facing heavyweights including Carlisle United, Scunthorpe United and Barrow.
They take on newly-promoted AFC Fylde at Huish Park on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways ahead of a run of three games in six days. They travel to Aldershot Town on Tuesday night followed by a home game with Solihull Moors next Friday.
Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Jack Killah on Thursday, Daly said he believes the squad is capable of handling the rigours of a hectic schedule: “From the first couple of weeks of pre-season, I think the boys who have been here understood that the group we have this season is full of great characters, with a lot of work ethic, and boys who are really hungry to succeed. It’s been a breath of fresh air coming in this season and seeing the way the lads have taken to it. How well we’ve come together in the first few weeks has been really good to see.
“I think we have proven we have options all over the pitch. Our ability to bring players on to affect games now is a lot greater, and that comes down to the investment in the squad. Now, when we’re in games, we almost have a Plan B. We’ve got boys who can come on and affect the game even more, which is a massive relief, and it really brings the boys together as well.
“The boys who have come in have taken to it like a duck to water because (manager Billy Rowley and his staff have) profiled the positions so well. Everyone probably thought it would take longer to click, and I know it’s only early, but it’s clicked for a reason. They’ve profiled the right players for the right team and that’s why we’re winning. There’s a lot more to do, but we’re in a good spot.”
Fylde will arrive in Somerset this weekend looking to maintain a good run of form of their own having returned to the Premier Division after a season away last year. They won the National League North title with 100 points under new boss Craig Mahon and have lost just once all season, matching Yeovil’s record of winning three, drawing two and losing one in their opening six matches.
Daly said: “They look a very high-energy, high-pressing team, so it’s another challenge for us. We’ve done our review pretty well and we’re working on a plan to beat them and hopefully use our strengths to our advantage. They’re high pressing and we’re composed on the ball, so it’ll be a good match down at Huish. It’ll be a clash of styles, but we’ve just got to take confidence and know that our style is good enough.
“We’ve started really well (at home). The boys have come out and the fans have been our 12th man. It really gives us players that added emphasis to do well there and create some special memories, which is what we’re trying to do.“