Yeovil Town travel to Essex on Saturday lunchtime for a National League meeting with Southend United, with the Glovers attempting to preserve an unbeaten start that has quickly raised expectations around Huish Park.
Yeovil have won three and drawn two of their opening five matches. That gives them one point more than Southend, who have lost once during the same period. Southend were among the division’s pre-season promotion favourites, making the fixture an early test of Yeovil’s ability to compete against one of the teams expected to challenge near the top of the table.
The start is already the club’s best since the 1990-91 season in the GM Vauxhall Conference. Yeovil went seven matches unbeaten in that campaign, giving the current run a notable historical comparison even though the Glovers have played only five league games so far.
Glovers arrive after entertaining Tamworth win
Yeovil’s most recent match brought a 3-2 home victory over Tamworth on Bank Holiday Monday. The result included four goals in the second half and required the home side to withstand a late challenge after Tamworth reduced the deficit.
Luke McCormick opened the scoring for Yeovil before Jacob Hutchinson brought Tamworth level. The Glovers then raised their tempo after the interval, with winger Mason Obeng restoring their lead. Ryan Jones added Yeovil’s third in the 66th minute, but Kieren Donnelly replied two minutes later to make the closing stages more testing.
Yeovil held on for another three points, extending a run that has combined attacking threat with the resilience needed to protect narrow advantages. The performance also underlined the contribution of McCormick, who has been one of the central figures in the team’s strong opening.
The 27-year-old midfielder is Yeovil’s captain and is described in the preview as a player who leads by example, controls matches and contributes goals. His role is not limited to creating attacks: he directs teammates, takes on defensive work and is expected to impose himself when matches become difficult.
That responsibility could bring McCormick into a significant midfield contest with Southend captain Oli Coker. The battle between the two players, particularly around Yeovil’s left side and Southend’s right-centre midfield channel, is identified as an area that could influence the outcome.
Southend seeking response after difficult weekend
Southend began the campaign with three victories. The Shrimpers won away at Altrincham and Solihull Moors before beating Scunthorpe United 1-0 at Roots Hall.
Their momentum was checked over the recent August Bank Holiday weekend. Southend lost 3-1 at home to Kidderminster on the Friday night, then drew 1-1 with Woking in their most recent fixture. The results left the club with one defeat after five matches and one point fewer than Yeovil.
Manager Kieron Dyer will therefore be looking for Southend to return to winning form when the Glovers arrive. It will be Dyer’s first match in charge against Yeovil.
Dyer replaced Kevin Maher, who was dismissed 48 hours after guiding Southend to the FA Trophy in May. The preview says Maher’s side had not secured promotion back to the league despite that cup success.
The new manager arrived with coaching experience from work under Paul Cook at League Two Chesterfield and at Ipswich Town. Dyer is also familiar to supporters from his playing career, which began at Ipswich before Newcastle United signed him for £6 million in 1999. He spent eight years in the North East and represented England.
Coker provides Southend threat
Coker has made an influential start for the hosts, scoring twice and supplying one assist in the opening five matches. The 23-year-old generally operates on the right side of Southend’s midfield, helping to control possession and switch play.
The supplied preview records that he has completed 52% of the long passes he has attempted so far. While he does not enter the opposition penalty area as frequently as McCormick, his early goal return means Yeovil will still need to track his movement and distribution carefully.
Southend also have a familiar face in their squad in Lewys Twamley. The Welsh winger joined Yeovil from Merthyr Town midway through the 2024-25 season, but was released by the Glovers six months later and returned to Merthyr.
Twamley subsequently joined Southend after scoring 16 goals in 46 appearances in the National League North last season. He made his first start under Dyer in the 1-1 draw at Woking, having previously made three substitute appearances.
Southend won previous meeting
The clubs last met at Roots Hall in March after the fixture was rescheduled. Southend won 2-1, taking the lead through Gus Scott-Morriss in the fourth minute.
Former Yeovil captain Jake Wannell equalised shortly after the hour with a long-range strike, but the home side regained the advantage when Keenan Appiah-Forson scored with six minutes remaining.
Scott-Morriss has since left Southend to join Oldham Athletic. Yeovil will now attempt to produce a different result while extending a start that has already become the club’s strongest for more than three decades.
Tolu Sangowawa is due to referee the match. It will be his first game involving Yeovil Town.