After a frustrating outing against Torquay United last weekend, Yeovil Town will be desperate for revenge when Gary Johnson’s side visit Huish Park on Sunday afternoon.
Looking to start the new year on the right-foot, the game draws parallels to the start of last year where the Glovers bounced back from a disappointing loss at Plainmoor with a dramatic victory over the Gulls in South Somerset.
However, the game doesn’t come without its selection headaches, with Darren Sarll without a number of key men due to injury and suspension.
Darren Sarll’s thoughts
Speaking ahead of the fixture on Friday afternoon, Sarll said, “It’s been as good as it always is (training), they’re a fantastic training group. When I look at their work Monday to Friday, I don’t think there’s been a week whether good form or bad form where I’ve looked ahead to a game and thought, ‘that’s a poor week’s training.’
“I think on our first day back in, there was a bit of disappointment around the place from the result, that spiked it so we actually had to calm them down. I think that’s a good sign, you want people to react aggressively and assertively when they face defeat, and it was certainly like that first day back.“
Team news
In terms of injuries, Yeovil are in good shape after a difficult start to the season on that front. Both Joe Quigley and Mark Little have been back in training, with Little in contention for a place in the squad for the first time this season.
Jack Robinson was also involved with the travelling squad last weekend after a period of recovery at Middlesbrough, he’ll be hoping for an opportunity to impress this weekend.
Despite his red card, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton will be available for Town after a successful appeal, but Sarll will be without Dan Moss (one-match ban) & Grant Smith (two-match ban).
A foot in the opposition camp
Yeovil aren’t the only team with suspension headaches, with Torquay possessing some of their own, top scorer Amarni Little will be unavailable for Sunday’s trip to Huish Park.
However, the Gulls have been boosted by the return of Sinclair Armstrong and Joe Felix who were self isolating for the Boxing Day clash.
As Yeovil sat out on the 28th due to a number of COVID cases in the Weymouth camp, Torquay travelled to Eastleigh and slipped to a 2-1 defeat.
Have we met before
You don’t need to look long into the history book’s for our last meeting with the Gulls, as Town were defeated 3-0 on Boxing Day at Plainmoor.
Since dropping into the National League, clashes with Torquay have produced some memorable affairs.
In Sarll’s first season in charge, the Glovers completed a double over the Gulls, with a 6-2 win at Huish Park followed up by a 2-0 victory at Plainmoor.
Last season’s trip to Plainmoor was less successful for the Glovers, where Town were on the wrong end of a 6-1 thrashing, however just a matter of days later, Yeovil were able to upset the then league leaders with a 2-1 win at Huish Park.
Thatchers
Yeovil Town club partners Thatchers Cider will be providing 500 free pints of cider for Yeovil Town supporters who attend Sunday’s game.
Offering some New Year’s cheer for Yeovil Town fans, the first 500 people to show their ‘Adult’ ticket in the Alec Stock Lounge or the Thatchers Stand bar will receive a free pint.
This offer will be limited to one per person and only available to 18+.
The club would like to thank Thatchers, a long standing partner of the club for their generous offer and continued support for the football club.
Tickets
Tickets must be bought online by midnight on New Year’s Day. There will be no ticket sales made on the day of the game.
