It’s back on the road for Yeovil on Tuesday night as they face the tough task of going to top of table Barnet in the league.
Form Guide…
The Bees have been superb over their last five fixtures with four wins and a draw. In fact, the London side haven’t been beaten in the league in 20 matches, their last loss coming to York on the 22nd October.
If a 20-game unbeaten streak in the doesn’t suggest a tough challenge for the travelling Yeovil side, then Barnet’s last match should. The Bees won comfortably away at Oldham Athletic, beating the former Premier League side 3-0 at the weekend.
The Glovers have picked up their form over the last five games with, two wins, two draws and a loss. The last three games in particular have been where the Somerset side have really changed the fortunes around, after two month period without a win. Those three games have seen wins against Tamworth, Maidenhead and an unlucky draw at home to Southend United.
The game against the Shrimpers was the most recent for Yeovil, and after going behind early they quickly responded to go level, and then take the lead. The three points looked secured before a 94th minute equaliser from Southend scuppered thoughts of three wins on the trot.
Key Players…
Barnet – Callum Stead
With a team top of the league, every player they have will cause danger, but none more so than Callum Stead for Barnet. Stead has been a prolific frontman for the Bees, in the 32 games he has played this season he has bagged 11 goals and assisted on six occasions.
Having signed on free transfer from Brackley Town in the summer of 2023, he has been a bit of a find for London team. In his time at Barnet he has made 69 appearances scoring 26 goals. Whoever is at the back for Yeovil, Stead will be tough to handle.
Yeovil – Alex Whittle
When Alex Whittle has played this season his quality has been on show. The Scouser isn’t your Andy Robertson type of left-back with 10 assists a season, but he defends extremely well. What has let the 31-year old down is his ability to stay fit this season, but since coming back from his last set back in January, Whittle has played every game.
Since joining from York nearly two years ago, the Scouser has been a key asset to Mark Cooper and will hopefully be key in the run for the Glovers.
That’s what he said…
Barnet boss Dean Brennan gave his thoughts ahead of the game to club media. He said: ” It’s going to be a difficult game, Mark Cooper is a top manager and they’re well organised. We will focus on what we have got to do and we think we can halt them, it will be a tricky game.”
Yeovil manager Mark Cooper spoke to press after Saturdays draw, where he gave his thoughts on the midweek fixture. He said: ” It will be tough, but the boys that have put their hand up today to march forward, were incredible and they’ll have to do it again on Tuesday.”
We’ve met before…
Yeovil and Barnet have met each other many a time over the years. The first game between the two clubs was in 1967 when the side drew 1-1. Since that first encounter the Glovers and Bees have battled it out a further 63 times, with Yeovil winning 26 times and Barnet winning 25 times, with another 12 draws.
Last time the two sides came together was November last year when Barnet took home all three points in a 1-2 win at Huish Park. Yeovil’s goal came through James Plant and the Bees two coming from Yeovil-born Ryan Glover and Danny Collinge.
Don’t I know you?…
Billy Clifford is the first of a couple of former Yeovil players in the Barnet squad. Clifford graced Huish Park back in the 13/14 season, playing a total of one game whilst on loan from Chelsea.
Another ex-player of ours is Rhys Browne, the Antiguan and Barbudan international spent two year in Somerset from 2017 to 2019. During his time in Yeovil, Browne played 71 times, his most appearances for a single club.
Somebody who has isn’t an ex-Glover but is still a Glover, if name only, is Ryan Glover. Besides the sharing of names the 24-year-old has another connection to Yeovil, the fact he was born here. Lets hope he doesn’t play to well in front of his hometown team – again!
Who’s been naughty then?…
Another game with no one suspended.
Nicke Kabamba plays for Bromley