Exeter City host local-rivals Yeovil Town under the lights on Tuesday night (March 13) in a 7:45pm kick-off.
The match is one of the Grecians games in hand over teams around them, and they will be looking to make this count against the Glovers.
Short history of Yeovil:
Yeovil founded in 1895 and for a number of years shared their playing pitch with the local rugby club.
In the 2002/03 season, Yeovil won the Conference to reach the Football League for the first time in their 108 year history.
Yeovil would not have to wait long to secure promotion to League One however, the side winning League Two the following season (2004/05).
Having left to manage Bristol City in 2005, Gary Johnson returned to manage Yeovil in 2012 and his impact was soon noticeable with the side making their best ever start to a League One season in 2012/13. Yeovil would go on to finish 4th that season to make the play-offs and after beating Sheffield United in the semi-finals, met and beat Brentford 2-1 at Wembley to make it to the Championship.
Yeovil struggled with life in the Championship however, finishing bottom of the table in their first season and things got even more difficult for the Glovers as they suffered back-to-back relegations to League Two, where they remain today, after failing to readjust to life back in League One.
Season so far:
Early on this season, it looked as though Yeovil were going to be able to make a winning start to their campaign, opening the scoring against Luton in the seventh minutes. This was short lived however as the Glovers fell to the attacking strength of Luton and eventually lost the game 8-2.
The Glovers went to pick up good wins against Accrington Stanley, and Coventry City in August to steady the ship.
Yeovil went on two good cup runs, beating Southend United, Port Vale, and Bradford City in the FA Cup, before falling to Manchester United in the fourth-round in-front of the TV Cameras. The Glovers went even futher in the Checkatrade Trophy, getting all the way to the semi-final where a close 1-0 defeat to Shrewsbury Town denied them a place at Wembley.
Currently, the Glovers sit in 17th place, with an eight point buffer over the relegation places, still in need of points to avoid slipping down the table. Yeovil come into the match having lost their last three, scoring only once, so will have a point to prove.
Ones to Watch:
Despite their league position, Yeovil are a side who like to score goals. Having notched 46 goals so far this season.
Francois Zoko
Yeovil's top scorer with eleven in all competitions, Zoko has plenty of experience in the lower leagues of English football. After coming through the youth system at Nancy in France, Zoko first arrived on the English scene in 2010, earning a professional contract with Carlisle after impressing on trial.
Known as a hard worker amongst fans, Zoko has played for a number of sides in the Football League, spending time at Notts County, Stevenage, Blackpool and Bradford before joining Yeovil in 2015. Last season, Zoko finished as Yeovil’s top scorer and looks in fine form so far this season too.
Otis Khan
Subject to a lot of interest, and speculation over his future in January, the midfielder has chipped in with nine goals and five assistsso far this season.
At just 22, Khan started his career by coming through the ranks at Manchester United before moving the Sheffield United in 2012. Since then, Khan has had a number of loan moves before finding his feet at Yeovil, arriving on a short term deal in 2016. He soon impressed however and has since made over 50 appearances for the Glovers.
Last Time Out:
Exeter have already faced the Glovers at Huish Park, falling to a 3-1 defeat on December 23, 2017. Goals either side of half-time left the Grecians with a mountain to climb, Stockley pulled one back on 85' but Sam Surridge's penalty on 88' settled the match.
Perhaps more memorable was the game between the two sides at St James Park last season, in March last year. Going in at 0-0 after the first half, Yeovil scored three goals in a 16 minute spell midway through the second half to seemingly steal all three points from the Grecians.
The game however was not yet over in what would be remembered as one of Exeter’s finest moments and a legendary game in a season where the Grecians would go to Wembley as play-off finalists.
With 88 minutes on the clock, David Wheeler struck a volley in off the post to grab what seemed at the time a consolation goal. However when five minutes of added time were awarded, the tension inside the stadium grew and Troy Brown managed to convert a header from a corner in the 91st minute to give City a fighting chance of taking something away from the game.
With Yeovil on the ropes, City threw everything at the Glovers and when Wheeler found Reuben Reid in front of goal, the striker had no problem finding the back of the net to jubilant scenes inside SJP.
Tickets:
There are just a handful of seats still available in the IP Office Main Stand as of Sunday, March 11. The stand has sold out for all of City's home league matches so we advise booking as soon as you can.
To purchase tickets online, please click here. You can also call the club during the normal office hours on 01392 411 243 (option 3) or visit the club shop and reception in person between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
Standing tickets in the Thatchers' Big Bank, the largest standing terrace in the football league, for the match should still be available to purchase on the day, but again the club is advising that supporters buy tickets in advance to avoid disappointment, and to take advantage of advanced discounts.
Thank you for your support.