Yeovil Town manager Billy Rowley has expressed motivation to enhance his team’s performance following their 3-2 defeat at Southend last weekend, which marked the Glovers’ first loss of the National League season.
Yeovil let slip a two-goal advantage in that match, dropping from the top positions but remaining seventh in the National League, level on 11 points with sixth-placed AFC Fylde. Fylde, who drew 2-2 with Worthing in their latest fixture, are unbeaten in their previous three matches since earning promotion last season.
The upcoming fixture at Huish Park, where Yeovil secured a narrow 1-0 victory with a last-minute goal against the Lancashire side in 2025, promises to be a tightly contested encounter.
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Reflecting on the defeat at Southend, Rowley said, “When you lose a game, as soon as you step foot on the coach home, you’re looking at the game back and figuring out how you can improve. It speeds up the process of trying to improve.”
He has noted the strengths of their upcoming opponents, highlighting their aggressive style of play and the similarities they share with Yeovil’s approach. “They press really high, they’ve got a high defensive line and they really get after the ball. We’re going to need to be a really good version of us,” Rowley observed.
Rowley praised Fylde’s talented individuals and coaching, stating, “They’re trying to play football the right way. They get it down and have some really good ideas in build-up, very much like us.”
With only a single point between the two clubs and Fylde’s recent unbeaten run, Rowley anticipates a competitive clash at Huish Park. “I think it’ll be a slugfest and a good toe-to-toe battle,” he predicted.
This match is the first of three games in six days for Yeovil, who will also travel to Aldershot Town and then host Solihull Moors.
Rowley recognises the importance of squad rotation during this busy period, especially with several players returning to training after illness and injury. “Over the next 10 days or two weeks, there will be a chance for everybody to be used,” he said. “In training today, everybody looked hungry to play, which is exactly what you want to see.”
Yeovil Town will be aiming to bounce back from their recent disappointment as they welcome AFC Fylde to Huish Park this Saturday.