It’s more FA Cup action this weekend as Yeovil head off to Derbyshire to face Chesterfield in the first round of the cup on Saturday afternoon.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
Since the back-to-back 6-0 wins for the Glovers, form has dipped slightly, with just two wins across the next five games. That superb purple patch was never going to last forever, but the dip has been significant. Having to go to a replay against Leatherhead, which is credit to them, shouldn’t be happening in an ideal world. Following that up with a home loss to Altrincham was a tough pill to swallow for the home fans. Another tough three points away to Hornchurch stemmed the worrying run of performances, but against Halifax, it felt as though Yeovil had reverted to type, losing 2-0.
The worrying factor across those five games has been discipline. Two red cards in those losses certainly didn’t help matters. But you have to take the rough with the smooth in football, and after enjoying some seriously good smooth, the rough has soon followed.
CHESTERFIELD
Chesterfield’s form has been similar to that of the Glovers, albeit in League Two. Over the last five games, it’s been two wins, two losses and a draw for the Spireites. The Derbyshire side currently sit 10th in the league and are coming off the back of a heavy defeat to Newport at the weekend.
A 4-1 loss to the Welsh side will have been a sore one, especially after Chesterfield themselves won 5-1 the week before. Back at home and in the Cup, they’ll be wanting to prove a point against Yeovil.
KEY PLAYERS…
YEOVIL TOWN – SLAVI SPASOV
Now, he might not be the conventional pick for key player, especially with the likes of Brett McGavin, Johl Powell and Ryan Jones in the squad. But I’ve singled out the forward because this feels like a game he could have a real impact on.
We’ve seen Spasov’s strengths this season. Find him in and around the penalty area and he’ll find the net. Pair that with coming up against a giant of a side that will want to dominate possession, and having a presence and threat in the box is just what Yeovil will need to nick a goal that could win it.
Yes, he could probably add more to his game to get on the scoresheet more often, but why not play to his strengths? A last-minute winner this weekend would be all he needs to endear himself to the travelling faithful.
CHESTERFIELD – LIAM MANDEVILLE
It hasn’t been a vintage season for the 29-year-old, now in his seventh year with the Spireites. However, over the last two games, he has very much been a driving force for Chesterfield.
It was in the 5-1 win against Crewe that the midfielder showed his quality, scoring a goal and providing two assists. That confidence carried over into Mandeville’s most recent game, even if his side were beaten 4-1 by Newport. The former Doncaster man again tried to drive his team forward, contributing the only goal for the Derbyshire side. Unfortunately, it came a little too late, with Newport already 4-0 up.
As the man in form for Paul Cook’s side, Mandeville will be the one for travelling fans to look out for on Saturday.
THE GAFFER…
A face recognisable to most Football League fans is that of Paul Cook. The Scouser is in his second spell at the SMH Group Stadium, having returned in 2022 to take charge of the club.
The 59-year-old made over 600 appearances as a player, with significant spells at Wolves and Coventry, to name but a few.
After retiring at Accrington Stanley in 2006, Cook went straight into management, taking over at Southport for a season. He then headed over to Ireland, where he managed Sligo Rovers for five years, before returning to Accrington Stanley for a short stint.
Then came Cook’s first spell in Derbyshire, taking over at Chesterfield in 2012 before leaving for pastures new in 2015, with Portsmouth being his next destination. Spells at Wigan and Ipswich followed before he returned to Chesterfield in 2022.
Cook’s record against Yeovil is mixed, with three wins, six losses and a draw in 10 games against them.
WE’VE MET BEFORE…
It was 2023 when the two sides last came face to face with each other. In what was a league fixture at Chesterfield, the pair played out a fairly dull 1-1. That day Paul McCallum fired the home side ahead from the spot in the 35th minute. The Glovers quickly pegged them back though through Ryan Law, when the winger equalised eight minutes later.
This will be the 19th meeting between the clubs with Yeovil winning just five of those games, the last of which came back in 2019.
DON’T I KNOW YOU?
Alfie Pond – The 22-year-old may not be a familiar name to many, but the defender had a spell at Huish Park in the 22/23 season. Arriving on loan from Exeter, Pond would play twice for the Glovers.
Remeao Hutton – A recent addition at Chesterfield the right back will be fondly remembered for his time in Somerset. Hutton joined on loan from Birmingham City in our first season back in the National League in 19/20 and made 29 appearances under then manager Darren Sarll.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
Danny Webb – not a player, but the assistant manager. The 43-year-old will go into the history books at Yeovil, for the shortest time as manager at Huish Park. Webb took over on the 12th September after the sacking of Mark Cooper, 10 days and one game later Webb left his role due to personal and family reasons.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Scott Oldham is taking charge of this FA Cup tie. Read our Ben’s write-up – here.