Manager Billy Rowley is expecting a different test for his Yeovil Town side as they travel to one of the division’s promotion favourites Southend United this weekend.
The Glovers came out of the August Bank Holiday weekend with six points after picking up a win at Barrow last Friday and then edging past Tamworth at home on Monday and held on to their unbeaten start to the National League season.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Thursday, Rowley said his side would not be getting carried away with their early season as they take on the Shrimpers, now managed by former Newcastle United winger Kieron Dyer.
He said: “I said to the lads after training this is one of the games which motivates you so much. I think Southend are a brilliant club, I think Kieron is going to be an incredible manager, stylistically they have some really good ideas. So it is going to be a really good test for us. We have started well, but the message to the lads today has been ‘let’s not get too comfortable’, we will keep doing what we are doing, training hard and go to Southend and do as best as we can.
“They are more possession-based, they play with wingers now and they are really exciting to watch, so this is going to be very different test to any we have had so far in an incredible stadium with a great set of fans. I am very much looking forward to this game, I don’t want to say it is going to be ‘a free hit’ because it is not, but we are going to a team that is expected to go up – but why not go there and have a go?”
Southend were held to a 1-1 draw at Woking on Monday having lost 3-1 at home to newly-promoted Kidderminster Harriers on Friday night, but Rowley said that he was reading nothing in to either result. The Shrimpers completed the signing of Bristol Rovers striker Promise Omochere on Wednesday and the 25-year-old will be available to face the Glovers.
Rowley said: “If you look at their early chances, the results were probably undeserved. They had moments and chances and it is just typical of football, if you don’t take those chances you end up ruing it. We have been there, we had some of those situations last season, so I will not look in to the scorelines of those last two games too much.
“We have a really good group which is willing to step in when called upon and deliver. I don’t think it was our best performance against Tamworth, but the fans got their money’s worth. I have learnt we have a great squad, some decent depth and a great set of lads, so from a selection perspective it is good.
“It is a relentless division, we have been on the end of a couple of moments of fortune and if those games both ended in draws it does not look as good. But, there are so many reasons fans love this division, anyone can beat anyone, every team has match-winners, so nothing surprises me. I know we have a good set of lads who are ready to attack any game.”
The boss also revealed that summer signing midfielder Joe Haigh is expected to be training with the ball at his feet in the near future. The former Dagenham & Redbridge man underwent surgery on an ankle injury in the summer and Rowley says it will take longer for him to get involved in full contact training.
He added: “Joe is seeing a specialist today, so we should have some news after that. In terms of being in training with the ball I would think he is close, but he is probably three or four weeks away from being out there and getting tackled. We have all been impressed by Joe, he is such a talent, and we have to make sure we get this right. We do not want to rush him back, we do not need to rush him back, and it is just about trying to introduce him when he is ready.“