Media View: Expert insight on Yeovil

Wins against Oldham, Crawley and Burnley saw the Cherries reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history last season, with Southampton knocking them out in the last eight.

Yeovil, relegated from the Football League in 2018/19, have already played four games in the competition this season having started out in the fourth qualifying round.

They won a penalty shootout to see off fierce rivals Weymouth following a replay before triumphing 5-0 against Southern Premier South outfit Yate Town in the first round.

Star man Charlie Wakefield bagged the only goal as the Glovers set up a date with the Cherries by winning 1-0 against League Two Stevenage Borough, Yeovil manager Darren Sarll’s former club.

Although Yeovil lost twice to Torquay over the festive period, they had enjoyed an 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions before going down to the Gulls in the National League.

The Glovers are one of the most successful non-league teams in the FA Cup having defeated Football League opposition on a number of occasions, most notably in 1949 when they knocked out Sunderland before going on to face Manchester United in front of a crowd of more than 81,000.

Goals from Ronnie Bolton, Chris Weller and Ron Smith earned the Cherries a 3-1 win over the Glovers when the teams first met, in the second round of the FA Cup, in November 1960.

However, in their next meeting ten years later, the Southern League Glovers stunned the Cherries by winning 1-0 at Dean Court before going out to Arsenal in the third round.

The teams last met in the Championship in 2013/14 when Matt Ritchie’s double and a Eunan O’Kane goal earned the Cherries a 3-0 win on Boxing Day before Kieffer Moore and Ryan Fraser were on target in a 1-1 draw at Huish Park in April 2014.

Ahead of the tie, afcb.co.uk caught up with Sheridan Robins who covers the fortunes of Yeovil in her capacity as matchday commentator for BBC Radio Somerset.

YEOVIL TOWN PROFILE

Ground: Huish Park

Nickname: The Glovers

Manager: Darren Sarll (appointed June 2019)

Club captain: Luke Wilkinson

Current league position: 11^th in National League

Leading goalscorer 2021/22: Adi Yussuf (seven in all competitions)

Last game: Yeovil Town 1-2 Torquay United (National League)

afcb.co.uk: Give us your assessment of the season so far?

SR: It’s been a season of two halves. It was a tough start and they had a run of games where it was a struggle to get three points on the board.

Then, they had an incredible run of 11 matches unbeaten. They took the lead in a lot of those matches and saw out games really well. They looked so strong defensively and conceded three goals in seven games at one point. It was a really positive run of form.

The past two matches have been disappointing but, overall, I would say they have exceeded expectations.

With the inexperience in the side, they looked like a mid-table team but they are pushing for the play-offs. It’s difficult to predict how it’s going to go going forward but so far, so good from a very young and energetic team.

afcb.co.uk: Where does the FA Cup rank on their list of priorities this season?

SR: It’s up there because it’s a competition they have so much history in. It’s why people who don’t follow the club, know the club. They are the original FA Cup giant-killers and particularly now being back in non-league.

They did well when they were in the Football League and had two good games against Manchester United in the FA Cup.

But when you are a non-league club, it’s got that extra bite and all the real success they have had in the competition has been when they are in non-league. Even to have reached the third round is a success this season.

Any cup run, financially and in terms of getting fans in the stadium, is really positive. Yeovil love the FA Cup and always have. The club would love to go further this season.

afcb.co.uk: How would you describe Darren Sarll’s tenure as manager?

SR: It’s been tough for him but he’s been excellent and he is a breath of fresh air. He came in when they were falling. They whimpered out of the Football League and he brought back belief.

In his first season, they finished fourth, which was unbelievable. You see so many teams drop into the National League and really struggle. You’ve seen it with Southend this season.

Darren stripped it all away, got in some experienced players, got players that wanted to play for the shirt and he’s been phenomenal in terms of getting back that winning mentality.

Last season behind closed doors was really tough and they lost club captain Lee Collins in tragic circumstances. To even get them playing after that was an achievement in itself. He’s exceeded expectations again this season.

He has hardly any budget compared with the Wrexhams and the Stockports. I could list so many clubs that have massive followings and massive budgets and he is pushing to get Yeovil back to the Football League and all the club’s supporters want him to be the one to lead them back there because he’s really turned the club around and got supporters back as well.

afcb.co.uk: Give us a word on ex-Cherries pair Joe Quigley and Matt Worthington?

SR: Joe is a striker who clearly hadn’t found a home. He’s had so many clubs and he’s still only young. When you heard he was signing, you looked at the reaction from fans of other clubs and wondered what you were going to get.

But since he’s joined Yeovil, he’s been phenomenal. He’s coming back from injury but he couldn’t stop scoring earlier this season.

He scored a perfect hat-trick against Solihull last season to put him in the fans’ good books and he has developed since then.

I just hope his career progresses because I think he has had a mis-match of clubs and hasn’t been able to settle anywhere. As a striker, you need a couple of seasons embedded in a first team and getting a start every week and he’s getting that with Yeovil.

Before the season started, a lot of supporters said this would be a key season to see where Matt Worthington came into the side.

He did very well for Yeovil when he was on loan from Bournemouth in the Football League but now he’s really making a name for himself in midfield.

He’s having to add attacking prowess to his game and has really come on this season. He’s one of the first names on the team-sheet and, now he’s getting a run, he’s really showing what he can do.

afcb.co.uk: Are any key players either suspended or injured against the Cherries?

SR: Luke Wilkinson could potentially be missing due to Covid. Goalkeeper Grant Smith is suspended and serves the second of a two-match ban after getting sent off after the final whistle against Torquay.

Right-back Dan Moss returns from suspension.They are looking pretty good in terms of availability.

afcb.co.uk: Who is Yeovil’s one to watch?

SR: Charlie Wakefield, who’s a tricky winger. He scored the winner against Stevenage in the last round and was also on target in the earlier rounds against Yate Town and Weymouth.

He’s another player who couldn’t find a home after coming through the academy at Chelsea and spent some time at Bromley last season.  

He’s so quick on the ball and really gives Yeovil that width that makes them go 1-0 up in matches. When they win, it tends to be after they have gone 1-0 up and it’s through his play and his partnership with Tom Knowles.

He’s only 23 and is a star in the making. He’s one to watch and has scored in every round of the FA Cup this season.  

afcb.co.uk: What’s your score prediction?

SR: It’s a tough one because we’re not sure what kind of side Bournemouth are going to put out.

I’m predicting a tight game and think Yeovil will bring their A-game. But the sheer talent that Bournemouth have should see them win 2-1.

You can follow Sheridan on Twitter – @SheridanRobins

Officials: Jeremy Simpson (referee), Rob Smith (assistant), Mark Russell (assistant), Lee Swabey (fourth official).