It’s the Ian Botham Derby this weekend as Yeovil Town take on Scunthorpe United at Huish Park on Saturday afternoon.
FORM…
YEOVIL TOWN
With the Glovers in the midst of small run of bad form, with one win in five, a victory was needed against Tamworth last time out. And a 2-0 win is just what the Huish Park faithful got. Yeovil grew into the game through the first half with a goal looking likely for the home side. They were then rewarded for their good work when Ryan Jones‘ bagged the opener after a mazy solo run through what seemed the entire Tamworth team, on the 40th minute.
The Glovers then doubled their lead 10 minutes in to the second period when on loan centre-back, Declan Skura, became the scorer. Not only did Billy Rowley‘s men secure all there points, it was potentially the most complete performance this season from the team. Hopefully this was a little glimpse into what the future could look like under the 43-year-old.
SCUNTHORPE UNITED
The Iron haven’t been in the most scintillating form over their last five games with three losses and two draws in that time. However, they do sit sixth in the table, so will no doubt be a dangerous opposition.
The Lincolnshire side didn’t had a game of two halves last time out as they drew 3-3 with Solihull Moors. The first half was one to forget as Conor Wilkinson put The Moors 0-2 up at halftime. The Iron came out all guns blazing and pulled one back through Danny Whitehall on the 48th minute. The action kept coming when Solihull’s Tyler French was sent off just five minutes later. This gave Scunthorpe hope and they equalised with 10 minutes as Whitehall got his second, before completing his hat-trick on the 85th minute. Then just when the home side looked like they secured all three points, Isaac Moore popped up to spoil the party.
With the shipping of those three goals, that was the third time in as many games that The Iron have conceded three goals.
KEY PLAYERS…
YEOVIL TOWN – RYAN JONES
It feels good to be going a couple of games not saying the same two names for once this season. Although Jed Ward and Luke McCormick have been by far our best players this term, it feels like we are becoming less reliant on them two for our wins, other players are starting to step up. Jones is one of those name and although he hasn’t been able to get the run of games he’d have hoped due to being cup tied, he really showed up on Tuesday night.
You have to start with that wonderful solo effort. The 23-year-old drifted past the Tamworth players like they were not there before striking it past Jasbir Singh from a tight-ish angle on the corner of the six-yard box. Outside of that goal, Jones created plenty and played like a player who wanted to be here (unlike some). As with many this season, let’s hope it’s not just a one off.
SCUNTHORPE UNITED – DANNY WHITEHALL
Whitehall is one of two players I could have picked for this, with Callum Roberts, being the other. And although, Roberts has more goal involvements this season, I have to pick the man who has been plugging away and scoring goals whilst his side have been far from impressive over the last five games.
As mentioned in the form, last time out for the striker was a memorable day. Not only did he help his team get back into a game and pick up a point, he claimed the match ball in doing so. That hat-trick has put him level with Roberts this season on 13 goals this season, with the two fighting it out to be the Iron’s top scorer.
Will Wannell withstand Whitehall?
THE GAFFER…
Andy Butler will be heading to Huish Park on Saturday to take on Billy Rowley. The 42-year-old has been in charge of the Iron since 2024, when he replaced Jimmy Dean.
It was as the Doncaster Belles, in woman’s football, where Butler cut his teeth as a manager, before he took over as caretaker boss of the mens side, where he had played 245 times.
As a player Butler started his career at Scunthorpe before going on to play for eight other teams. He would play 675 times during his career.
Butler has only faced the Glovers once as a manager, earlier this season, when he won 1-0.
LAST TIME WE MET…
It was an even more drab affair when the last played at Huish Park in 2022, with the game finishing 0-0, here’s hoping for a more lively encounter this time around.
DON’T I KNOW YOU…
There will be no ex-Glovers coming to Huish Park on Saturday.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE…
Callum Walchester will be the man with the whistle on Saturday afternoon. For more on him and his team read Ben’s article here.