Yeovil Town make the almost 700-mile round trip to Carlisle United as they face the third-placed Cumbrians on Saturday afternoon.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
The Glovers didn’t have the best of games last time out as they were beaten 2-1 by Aldershot Town. Although it wasn’t the strongest of performances by the home side, The Shots have been in good form themselves, currently sitting second in the form tables since their new manager, John Coleman arrived.
Yeovil boss Billy Rowley admitted after the game his side were not ready for the battle with the Hampshire side. Which was clear to see through the efforts of Yeovil’s strikers when they didn’t mop up Jake Wannell’s headers into the six yard box. Talking of Wannell he will miss the Carlisle game through suspension after picking up his 10th yellow of the season.
CARLISLE UNITED
The Cumbrians currently occupy third place in the league and their last five games have shown why. Out of those five games, United have won three against good opposition, such as Forest Green. However, the two teams they lost to, are the two teams that sit above them in the league, York City and Rochdale.
It was in their last fixture against the aforementioned Forest Green that they showed why they deserve to be third. Away from home, most teams would try to feel their way into the match. Carlisle, didn’t need time to settle netting the opener in the 11th minute, through Stephen Wearne. A second followed 11 minutes later as Morgan Feeney doubled the Cumbrians lead, before David Ajiboye effectively ended the match in the 29th minute when he bagged his teams third. Rovers scored a consolation in the 52nd minute through Jay Mingi.
Fun Fact: Since the beginning of the year, Carlisle have scored two more goals in every game they have picked up points in.
KEY PLAYERS…
YEOVIL TOWN – JED WARD
By now I think I may just keep this section for Ward. The shot stopper is exactly that, a shot stopper, which was on full display on Tuesday night. The young keeper pulled off a string of saves that kept Yeovil in a game that should have probably got away from them. To put it bluntly, if it wasn’t for Ward we would be staring down the barrel of the National League South.
The game against Aldershot wasn’t even a good game by the 22-year-olds standards. He had a couple of handling errors, some stray distribution and what will hurt most two goals conceded. But as I said above, if he wasn’t in goal we have been beaten by more.
CARLISLE UNITED – DAVID AJIBOYE
Ajiboye has been in fine form since New Year’s Eve. In the last month and a half, the 27-year-old has bagged four goals, with three being in the last two games. He has pitched in with two assists in that time as well. The forwards uptick in form coincides with the fact striker Regan Linney has been out the side with and injury. Now, I’m not saying when Linney plays the directive has been to give him the ball, but more players like Ajiboye have come a light in that time.
Positionally, AJiboye has been often deployed on the right hand side of the front line. His heat map shows he sits just off the right side of the 18-yard box with not much tracking back. The former Peterborough man will be one to watch on Saturday.
THE GAFFER…
It’s none other than Mr Wales himself, Mark Hughes, in the opposition dugout this weekend. A superstar in his playing days, Hughes turned out for Manchester United, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich and famously played for both Wales and Bayern on the same day in 1987.
Now 61, Hughes has managed at the highest level with Wales, Manchester City, and Stoke. After a tough spell at Southampton in 2018, he returned to management with Bradford City in 2022, earning Manager of the Month before being dismissed a year later.
Following another short break, he took charge at Brunton Park, staying on despite Carlisle’s relegation to the National League. Hughes, has guided Carlisle to third in the league and will be looking for instant promotion this season. He is also an idol of Yeovil boss Billy Rowley.
Hughes has faced the Glovers once in his managerial career drawing that game.
LAST TIME WE MET…
Pic C/O Gary Brown
DON’T I KNOW YOU…
Just the one recognisable face for the travelling Glovers on Saturday with centre-back Bevis Mugabi now plying his trade in Cumbria. Mugabi made 102 appearances for Yeovil during his two-year spell at the club.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Greg Rollason is the man in charge for this fixture. For more information on him and his team for Tuesday night check out Ben’s article – here.