Yeovil Town are back in SkyBet League One action this coming Tuesday with a long away trip to face relegation rivals Colchester United.
There are nine games left in the Glovers’ season and despite being routed to the bottom of the league, seven points from safety, the team and management have not given up hope of staying in the division.
A win over Colchester, just one place above them could see Yeovil come off the bottom of the table and come within just one point of Crawley, and just four from staying above the dotted line.
Saturday’s defeat at Leyton Orient was disappointing, but with chance to make amends so quickly, Terry Skiverton will have his troops fired up and ready for another ‘six pointer’.
One of the positives to come from the weekend’s defeat is the return of club captain Joe Edwards and defender Stephen Kingsley from injury.
That leaves only Kevin Dawson and Simon Gillet as the long term injury concerns after the likes of Chris Weale and Nathan Ralph having returned to training recently.
Colchester had their own relegation dog fight on Saturday facing Crawley Town.
Like Yeovil they conceded three and came out on the wrong side of the result, losing 3-2 in an enthralling match.
The game was settled when Izale McCloud scored a late penalty.
The U’s had taken the lead through Sammie Szmodics and then fought back from 2-1 down when Davis Fox struck early in the second half.
That result means Colchester have lost five out of their last six fixtures only winning a five goal thriller over top of the table Bristol City.
In the last month, Colchester have lost Jabo Ibhere on loan to Barnsley and gained defender Karleigh Osbourne, also on a temporary deal, from Bristol City.
Meanwhile, there is a strange quirk surrounding the last time the two sides met.
Back in December, at Huish Park, Colchester won 1-0 and the two stars from that side have now left the Weston Homes Stadium.
Freddie Sears has moved onto Championship side Ipswich while goal scorer Craig Eastmond was released during the January transfer window.
Eastmond, is now on the book at Huish Park having been signed by Terry Skiverton a few days after he took over at the helm.
Eastmond has so far been an unused substitute during his short stay in Somerset, it would be quite some story if he were to make his debut against the club he left earlier this season for the club he scored against.
The last time the two sides crossed paths was during the 2012/13 season, where Colchester inflicted Yeovil’s first defeat in two months during the last meeting at Colchester’s ground.
Another former Glover, Billy Clifford scored that day – along with Freddie Sears.
The two teams actually met three times that season, twice at Huish Park.
In the League, it was Colchester who this time ended the Glovers’ losing streak by being on the end of a Paddy Madden debut to remember.
It was a 3-1 win at Huish Park, a victory which backed up a Capital One Cup round on win earlier in the season.
Richard Hinds scored twice on the opening day of the season to sail into Round Two.
Overall, the head to head stats are favourable to Yeovil, with four wins in the last seven encounters, but all those wins have been at ho,e
Digging out the last away win takes you right back into the early 1990’s.
Also, games involving these sides have, over recent years, always seen goals – and plenty of them.
A 4-2 win for Yeovil in 2011, a 2-2 draw later that season, a 3-2 Glovers win all preceded the 3-1 and 3-0 wins we’ve already mentioned.
After this Tuesday, Yeovil have an 11 day break before the next fixture – away at Rochdale, so for those making the journey to East Anglia, sing loud and proud before we turn to the home stretch of the season.
Tickets are available on the day for anyone making a late decision to travel. If not, and you’re unable to make the game, be sure to tune into Glovers Player for full commentary and log onto You Tube for the post match reaction.
The next game at Huish Park falls on Good Friday, the 3rd of April against Chesterfield. Tickets for that game are on sale now – buy in advance by clicking HERE for the online purchase system.
Famous Fans
BBC Radio DJ Steve Lamacq and Poet Ray Hollingsworth,
A Foot in both camps
Billy Clifford, Len Bond, Ryan Dickson, Ben Gordon, Curtis Haynes Brown, Ritchie Jones, Gavin Massey, Efe Sodje, Adam Virgo, Sam Williams and possibly, Craig Eastmond.
Did you know?
On April 22nd, 1884, Colchester was hit by a 20 second earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Ritcher Scale, killing one person.