It’s a third away game in a row for Yeovil Town, as the travel to Essex to face Southend United on Tuesday night.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
The clocks may have gone forward but unfortunately the Glovers momentum stalled as they succumbed to 2-1 loss at the hands of Gateshead. After a slight pick up in form in recent games for the Green and White’s, Saturday saw a very tired side made to look like they had travelled the 350 miles they just completed.
Now it’s not an excuse for an average performance but it is very valid context. In the last month alone the Glovers have played eight times, twice a week or 180 minutes every seven days, with at most three days recovery. It’s not sustainable for players at this level to keep the good performances going week in, week out, so I sympathise with squad. What is less acceptable is seeing your centre back lunge into a challenge in the 93rd minute and get himself suspended for the next three games (I’m looking at you Fin Cousin-Dawson).
SOUTHEND
The Shrimpers have played well over their last five games with three wins, a draw and a loss to their name. That run of form has seen them cement their challenge for the playoffs, where they currently lie seventh in the league.
United will be riding the crest of a wave as well going into Tuesday, after they booked their place at Wembley, beating Southport 1-3 in the FA Trophy. The Shrimpers had their backs against the wall early on as they went 1-0 after Chris Sze opened the scoring. A halftime talking to was just what the Seasiders needed, as they proved their quality in the second 45 minutes. A Charlie Kendall brace bookended the scoring with for Southend with Jack Bridge also finding the back of the net.
KEY PLAYERS…
YEOVIL TOWN – JOSH SIMS
I thought I would change it up this week from the James Daly show and pick his partner in crime. Sims, started the season well and will be remembered for picking up the sack of spuds for scoring the Glovers first goal of the season. But with the change in managers and dips in out of form that brings, the 29-year-old was no different to his team mates. Even in Billy Rowley’s first few months there seemed a spark missing form the winger.
However, over the past month and a half, the ex-Southampton has shown why he has 20 Premier League appearances to his name. Although maybe not scoring or providing the goals that Daly does, Sims has been influential in bringing the best out of Daly and vice versa. The two of them always look like they are on the same wave length, and have been the ignition for Yeovil’s pick up in form.
It was notable on Saturday with no Sims in the squad, that Yeovil looked like they missed something.
SOUTHEND – GUS SCOTT-MORRISS
I like a goal scorer in this section, as they provide a threat, it gives Yeovil fans something to look out for. But there is something unusual about Scott-Morris that makes him stand out from every other goalscorer in the league and that is he is a centre back. It’s not often you see a defender near the top of the charts for goals but the 28-year-old is currently second for the Shrimpers, behind Andrew Dallas, with 10 goals.
Goals aren’t the only thing that Scott-Morriss has in his arsenal, he also a very good defender, providing stability to the Southend backline. The Glovers will need to watch out at both ends of the pitch for the all rounded defender.
THE GAFFER…
Kevin Maher will host the Glovers in midweek when they travel to Essex with the 49-year-old in his fourth year as manager at Roots Hall. The Londoner has been through it all during his time as boss, relegations, administration and playoff final losses to name some of his biggest challenges. Maher, is however looking to get back to the football league with his adopted club, as they currently push for the playoffs.
A former midfielder, the Ilford man, joined Southend in 1998 after being let go by Tottenham Hotspur. He would go on to make over 380 appearance for the Shrimpers over the next 10 years, before leaving for Oldham. Short stints at several other clubs followed before he retired in 2015.
During his time as a manager, Maher has faced Yeovil seven times, winning four, drawing one and losing two.
LAST TIME WE MET…
The two teams last met in November at Huish Park, when the visitors secured a 0-1 over an under pressure Richard Dryden. The only goal that day came from Slavi Spasov in added time.
It was much happier times when the Glovers last traveled to Roots Hall however, back in November of 2024, when they took all three points thanks to a James Plant goal.
DON’T I KNOW YOU…
THE WOMAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Abigail Byrne will be the woman with the whistle on Tuesday evening For more on him and his team read Ben’s article here.