Yeovil Town recent poor form will be somewhat of a worry ahead of their trip to the in-form Braintree Town on Saturday.
With just the one win in the last five, the Glovers will not be relishing their trip to Essex to face the side in third in National League South table. What makes for even less appetising viewing is that in the last two visits to the county the Somerset side have picked up one point from a possible six.
Braintree on the other hand are very much the in-form team in the division, having not lost a game in their last 14. Making this the first time Mark Cooper’s men go into a game as the so-called “underdogs” this season.
Yeovil Town Team News
Cooper knows how difficult this game will be, having faced a tough challenge earlier in the season. He said: “They are one of the best teams we have played here and they are one of the only teams which have not changed how they play when they came here. Full credit to Angelo (Harrow, the Braintree manager) and his team for that.
” I am hopeful it is two teams that go and have a go at each other and it is a good spectacle rather than last week which was not a great spectacle.”
The Glovers’ boss also feels today’s opponents won’t be treating us as the underdogs “considering we’re 12 points in front of them”.
Cooper is hoping that some slight disruption in the Braintree team can help his side. He said: “I am hoping they are tired after that, I know they have had a bit of illness in the camp, but they have recruited some good players.”
Centre back Morgan Williams gave his views on the upcoming fixture. He said: “So every team is going to give it their all against us because we are top of the league and the best team in the league, so we just have take it game by game. We have to respect Braintree, they are doing really well, but we have just got to do our best on Saturday.“
Town will be without full-back Michael Smith, who is missing with a hamstring injury, and long-term injury victims strikers Rhys Murphy and Jake Hyde. Speaking on Thursday ahead of the game, Coopwr said left-back Alex Whittle had “a great chance” of making it on Saturday. He also revealed on-loan Bristol City striker Olly Thomas missed last weekend’s goalless draw on an artificial surface at Slough Town due to issues with his knees caused by ‘growing pains’.
Braintree Town Team News
The Irons manager, Angelo Harrop talked about how his team will prepare for the game. He said: “We will prepare like we always do. I knew this was always going to be tough.”
Harrop, also believes “it’s a tough, tough league” and that “anyone can beat anyone” so fancies his teams chances.
Speaking after his side’s goalless draw at home to W*ymouth on Tuesday night, the 35-year-old knows he has the backing of his fans for the game. He said: “The crowd will be fully behind us, they were unbelievable tonight [vs Wey*outh], so we’re going to need that support Saturday.”
Harrop said is side’s good form and league position puts pressure on his players team, which he encouraged his players to relish. He said: “There should be pressure on our team; we’re in a really good position and we’ve got to enjoy that pressure.
“There’s pressure on my shoulders, the players’ shoulders and we’ve got to embrace that.
“Going back to the Chelmsford home game (the Iron’s last defeat on home soil on Boxing Day) when this place was packed out, we need to learn from those experiences – it’s the time to turn it on and really embrace it.”
Braintree have some notable names in their squad with players including former West Ham United academy graduate, striker Freddie Sears, who has more than 450 EFL appearances to his name for clubs including Ipswich Town and Colchester United. The 34-year-old arrived at the Rare Meats Company Stadium having left National League Premier side Dagenham & Redbridge earlier this month.
Another familiar daces for the travelling Glovers to watch former Yeovil man, winger Charlie Wakefield, who arrived on loan from Woking last month.
We are pleased to announce the signing of Freddie Sears to the Iron. Freddie joins us after mutually terminating his contract with Dagenham and Redbridge pic.twitter.com/aCXARvSyL2
— Braintree Town FC (@braintreetownfc) March 11, 2024