Yeovil Town are back in the comforts of home, the Glovers welcome Aldershot Town to Huish Park on Saturday.
Form Guide…
One of these sides have only scored one goal since August turned to September, the other is on a four-game streak without scoring any…
That being said, Yeovil Town will be far happier with a battling point at Sutton United in midweek than the Shots will be with a home defeat to Barnet. Bees’ striker Nicke Kabamba (who else?) with the only goal of the game in Hampshire on Tuesday night.
Aldershot sit 17th in the table, 13 points on the board, 16 scored, 16 conceded.
Yeovil a couple of places above them, 14 points secures, 12 scored, 13 conceded.
It’s fair to say the form suggests there really isn’t much between them.
Update: Since the publication of this preview article, Yeovil have announced the signing of Port Vale midfielder James Plant on loan until January and the return of winger Dylan Morgan from his spell on loan at National League side South Weston-super-Mare.
Meanwhile, The Shots have signed Bristol Rovers’ teenage centre-back Dan Ellison, who impressed with Chippenham Town last season, on a one-month loan deal.
Key Players…
Aldershot Town – Joshua Barrett
The man with the finest surname in all the land is the scorer of the Shots’ only goal of September so far, he opened the scoring after 29 minutes against Boston United a couple of weeks ago.
He wasn’t involved against Barnet on Tuesday night, but with important players missing, Barrett might need to be a creative force, particularly down the visitors’ left hand side – against a Glovers right hand side, which might well be missing Michael Smith.
Yeovil Town – Jordan Young
The Glovers need goals. On Tuesday night, only two shots on target were recorded, one of those came from the boot of Jordan Young.
Young already has one goal to his name this season (away at Boston), but a second would do wonders for … well, everyone to be honest.
We know he has the quality to dip the shoulder, cut inside and shoot and equally he’ll be vital at creating chances for others too.
There will be changes to the Shots’ defence and it might be a moment of magic, or a guilt edged opportunity to produce some quality that gets Huish Park rocking, sounds like a job for Jordan Young.
That’s what he said…
Aldershot boss Tommy Widdrington said on Thursday: “We will be approaching the next game [vs Yeovil] in the same way we have the last two games, with a group of players that I think can win a football match.
“[Yeovil are] a big football club, a good manager who has been around the block and knows the division inside out, there isn’t an easy game in this division trust me, I don’t know where they are in the league, but ultimately, they’re a team I don’t expect to be at the wrong end of the table at the business end”
Mark Cooper on the other hand is expecting a tough contest against the side managed by the former Bristol Rovers’ caretaker manager.
Cooper said: “They were a whisker off the play-offs last year and if the National League put them up when Gateshead dropped out, they would have been in the play-offs. They have some good players, staff and manager who know what they are doing. Tommy’s team will be on the front foot and trying to get after us, they will be tactically sound and we are expecting a tough game. No-one is going to give you three points which we have done in every game except that Solihull game. If we keep playing with that attitude and enthusiasm we will be fine.“
You can read all the good stuff from Mark Cooper’s Pre Match Presser – HERE
We’ve met before…
The last meeting between these two teams was at the back end of the 2022/23 season (apologies to anyone who had removed that from their memories), a 1-1 draw at their place, goals from Tyler Cordner and Callum Harriott (again, apologies).
The last time we met at Huish Park however, wasn’t a draw – it was a 2-0 Aldershot win – Giles Phillips and Tommy Willard on the score sheet – thankfully none of those four players will be at Huish Park on Saturday.
August 2021 was the last time we beat Aldershot, Joe Quigley was at the double on that occasion in a 2-1 win.
Don’t I know You..?
Does the name Christian Maghoma mean anything to you Yeovil fans? The Congolese defender joined Yeovil in the 2015/16 season from Tottenham on loan and proceeded to play… *checks notes* ZERO minutes in Green and White.
No, really, he did join us – really…
Aldershot also have Cameron “son of” Hargreaves, who never did play for us, but you know.
Also, David Smalley their goalkeeper coach is listed on the Aldershot staff page as having played professionally for the Glovers, so now you know.
Who’s been naughty….
Aldershot have two players missing, Theo Wriddrington picked up his fifth yellow of the season on Tuesday so sits out and prevents us from from having the Father-Son-Derby of Wriddringtons v Coopers. Selfish.
He had played nearly every minute of every game until then and will be a big loss in midfield, as will defender Aaron Jones who saw a straight red card on Tuesday night – he’s got three games to think about how naughty he’s been.
For Yeovil, Charlie Cooper is on four yellow cards, he stands to miss a game if he picks up one more.
I want to get involved….
Great, you can.
Go to Huish Park – Mark Cooper has said he wants to get the home fans going again – that means YOU!
Tickets Available HERE
Can’t go? Listen
Our man Ian Perkins is front and centre for the game on BBC Somerset.
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