A new era starts on Saturday for Yeovil, as new boss Danny Webb is set to take charge of his first match against Tamworth – and the National League Premier Division’s only artificial pitch.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
A last gasp winner from midfielder Luke McCormick deep in to second half stoppage time earned the Glovers their third win of the season last time out. The three points at home to Woking last weekend moved us up to 15th in the National League Premier Division table after nine matches.
This Saturday however will see a new name in the Yeovil dug-out with new boss Danny Webb taking charge of his first game. Webb will be looking to use last weekend’s victory at Huish Park as a spring board to push up the table in the Midlands.
Tamworth
Tamworth’s form has spiked in recent weeks with three victories in their last four games, a record on blotted by a defeat at big-spending York City. They picked a 3-2 win away at Sutton United last weekend, a result which spelt the end of Steve Morison’s time in charge at Sutton.
The Lambs operate on a part-time model with players days jobs ranging from a bricklayer to a plumber, and have some dangerous players notably striker Manny Duku who has three goals in his last four games and midfielder Tom Tonks, who became a national star for his long throw-ins during Tamworth’s FA Cup run last season.
Manager Andy Peaks rested a number of his first-team players for their 2-1 win over Everton Under-21s in the National League Trophy, making three substitutions in the first four minutes to underline the ridiculousness of that competition.
KEY PLAYERS…
Yeovil Town – Kyle Ferguson
Having sat out much of the start the season, summer signing centre half Kyle Ferguson has turned in some commanding performances in recent weeks, none more so than in the Glovers’ two most recent wins at Solihull Moors and at home to Woking.
Against a Tamworth side who are guaranteed to be physical on an artificial surface, the strength and heading ability of the Scotsman will be key to Yeovil’s chances of taking anything home from The Lamb Ground.
Tamworth – Manny Duku
With four goals from his first nine appearances this season, it is hard to look beyond the 6’2″ frame of striker Duku as Tamworth’s danger man.
The Dutchman was released by Solihull Moors at the end of last season and ended up swapping places with fellow beanpole Dan Creaney, who moved to Solihull in the summer having scored 19 times for Tamworth last season.
In keeping with the team ethic on this Lambs’ side, Duku’s recent goal-scoring form is complimented by an ability to bring the side’s wide players in to the game.
THE GAFFER…
Tamworth manager Andy Peaks may not be a household name but he has proven himself to be a canny operator at National League level.
Having guided the Lambs to the National League North title in the 2023-24 season he led them to a tenth place finish in the Premier Division last season and added a run to the third round of the FA Cup where they faced Premier League Tottenham Hotspur.
Ahead of that tie, which followed League scalps in the form of Huddersfield Town and Burton Albion, Peaks was handed a full-time contract and quit his job as a college support worker to do so.
It was a fitting reward for a remarkable performance since taking over in February 2022.
He saved the club from the drop in his first season in charge after leading the relegation-threatened Lambs to a 13-game unbeaten run, and then guided them to back-to-back promotions – first from the Southern League Premier Division – and then as the surprise winners of the National League North and last season’s impressive tenth place finish.
LAST TIME WE MET…
Yeovil remain unbeaten in all their matches against Tamworth, but before you get too carried away there have only been two games between the sides!
We last met in February when goals from Charlie Cooper and Frank Nouble earned a valuable 2-1 home win over the Lambs, fighting back from a first half goal from the visitors’ Rohan Maher to earn the three points.
The Glovers were held to a goalless draw on a miserable midweek at The Lamb Ground last October. Defender Morgan Williams picked up a red card and we lost midfielder Matt Worthington to an injury picked up before kick-off. Plastic pitches, we need say no more!
DON’T I KNOW YOU…
There are no former Glovers in the Tamworth squad we will face this weekend.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Dale Baines, who officiated the home fixture we played against Tamworth last season, will be the man in the middle on Saturday. Read more about him – here.