Yeovil Town will welcome the long-travelling Carlisle United to Huish Park on Saturday in the National League.

FORM…

YEOVIL TOWN

t has certainly been an up-and-down month for the Glovers, who, over their last five league games, have won three and lost two. Those two defeats, however, have come in their most recent fixtures, albeit against two of the best teams in the league. Including cup competitions, it’s just one win in five, following a Tuesday night defeat to Odd Down, although it was mainly a young side that featured.

Last time out in the Enterprise National League, however, it was a humbling 3–0 loss at the hands of Rochdale that compounded the pressure on interim manager Richard Dryden. In a game dominated by the Mancunians, Yeovil didn’t have a sniff, failing to register a single shot on target across the 90 minutes.

If anyone thought things were about to get easier, they’d be mistaken, with third-placed Carlisle coming to town.

Carlisle United

The Cumbrians have identical league form to their counterparts, with three wins and two losses apiece. However, where they differ is that the Blues have won three on the bounce in the league. They also came out on top in their FA Cup tie against Boston, further improving their recent form.

Last time out in the league, Carlisle were excellent as they swept aside Robbie Savage’s Forest Green 4–2.

KEY PLAYERS…

YEOVIL TOWN – GEORGE NURSE

The one-month loan of George Nurse could prove to be a shrewd bit of business for the Glovers, with Football League clubs rarely allowing a player of Nurse’s calibre to leave. The left-back arrives as cover for James Plant on the left-hand side as he continues his return from injury.

The 25-year-old has made 177 senior appearances to date, the majority of which have come in League One, showcasing his natural ability. Opportunities to sign a player like Nurse don’t come around very often. With his blend of athleticism and experience, he should bring some much-needed calmness to Yeovil’s leaky defence. In the attacking third, he can also thrive, helping to create opportunities for what has been a somewhat lacklustre strike force.

Carlisle United – REGAN LINNEY

There was only one man who could be chosen for the Cumbrians, and that’s centre-forward Regan Linney. With 11 goals and three assists to his name, he’s been the driving force behind Carlisle’s rise to third place.

In his first season at Brunton Park, the 28-year-old has quickly become a fan favourite. Linney has worked his way up through the leagues, proving there’s real quality to be found outside the Football League if you look hard enough. Having started his career at Bamber Bridge, he went on to play for FC United of Manchester and then Altrincham before joining the Cumbrians in the summer.

As well as his goalscoring ability, the forward’s durability has also been impressive, he’s featured in 94% of the available minutes this season, starting all 15 games.

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. This weekend marks his first visit to Huish Park.

LAST TIME WE MET…

he clubs last met six years ago at Huish Park, playing out a goalless draw. The return fixture that season saw Yeovil win 1–0, thanks to a 96th-minute strike from Tom James.

DON’T I KNOW YOU…

Bevis Mugabi – The centre-back will be well known to Glovers fans, having made 102 appearances for Yeovil during his two-year spell at the club.

Josh Grant – The defensive midfielder spent four months on loan at Huish Park in 2018/19 from Chelsea. The 27-year-old made eight appearances during his time in Somerset.

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…

William Davis is the referee taking charge. Read Ben’s preview of the man in black – here.