Well, what a week it has been in football. From Capital One Cup shocks to the long awaited FA Cup draw – the beautiful game is continuing to be just that.
But first of all, I must discuss Saturday as we endured another disappointment at Huish Park. What was most frustrating was that we played very well in the second half and the lads show they have some quality.
Going 3-0 down at home inside 35 minutes is too huge a mountain to climb, even though we did probably deserve to equalise.
Our slow starts are costing us and that is something that needs to be addressed. However, I thought Connor Roberts had an outstanding afternoon and the passion he showed for a loan player was just what we need.
Ryan Bird was on target again – I just hope soon that his goals become winners and help us on our way up the table.
As for the FA Cup draw, we travel to National League South side Maidstone United a week on Sunday.
Football on a Sunday is not ideal but the revenue the club will get from being featured as part of Final Score feature on the BBC is certainly welcome.
It should be a great atmosphere heading to a non-league club and hopefully we can avoid a potential banana skin – we all know what the Cup can do!
Didcot Town, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, will face off against Exeter City in the stand out tie.
They play in the Evo-Stik League Southern Division One South and West and will get a lot of much needed exposure and financial rewards for the tie being broadcast on TV.
This is what the Cup is all about and Exeter will know better than anyone that it is not going to be easy to get through to the next round.
Who remembers this?
Brilliant! Those players will never forget the day they beat a Football League side.
Premier League clubs also found it difficult during their Capital One Cup ties over the last few days. Every football league side left has progressed to the quarter finals which is an unbelievable achievement.
Sheffield Wednesday saw off Arsenal 3-0 and although it was a slightly weakened team, I did read an interesting article yesterday about the match. It said that, with the resources and money that the Gunners have, they should easily have beaten a Championship team and credit should be given to Wednesday for their performance.
Middlesbrough saw off Manchester United at Old Trafford thanks to a penalty shoot-out following a 0-0 draw.
A lot was made about how three Englishman missed from the spot for United but shoot-outs really are just one of those things.
United were under pressure to win that whereas Boro would have been praised either way. The Championship side are having a great season and playing some great football so I was not surprised to see them keep a clean sheet against Louis Van Gaal’s men.
Hull were also triumphant thanks to spot kicks and beating in-form Leicester City is no mean feat. They may have kept Premier League top scorer Jamie Vardy on the bench but he was introduced late on and the Foxes are certainly not a one man team!
As for Yeovil, we face one of the longest trips of the season up at Carlisle on Saturday. Thank goodness it is a weekend match but it still a long way for fans to travel so well done to all of you making the mammoth journey!
We must go and believe that we can pick up three points and get our season on track. That is the only way our fortunes will turn. But from every supporter of YTFC I have a little request or advice for the lads – come out of the dressing room straight away and we will easily win a game of football!
Until next week…
