Stones continue their preparations for a pivotal away fixture against Yeovil Town this Saturday, with manager Neil Gibson emphasising the importance of the match and the team’s growing confidence after a full week of training.
Following a congested schedule that allowed for minimal tactical work, Gibson and his coaching staff have finally had the opportunity to spend extended time with the squad, focusing on key improvements.
“The preparation has been really positive,” Gibson said. “For the first 10 days, we had very limited time on the training pitch due to back-to-back fixtures. Now, we’ve had a full week to work with the players, review video analysis and reinforce both our strengths and the areas we need to improve.”
Despite the setback against Gateshead last weekend, Gibson believes that many of the goals conceded have been due to isolated mistakes rather than structural issues. “The mistakes we made were uncharacteristic,” he noted. “It’s about ensuring our concentration levels are high, keeping the back door shut and eliminating simple errors.”
Wealdstone face a Yeovil side that, despite a tough campaign, remain a strong and experienced outfit. Gibson acknowledged their pedigree and the challenge ahead but remained optimistic.
“Yeovil is a club with Football League history and they will have set their sights on promotion at the start of the season. They’ll be looking to reignite their campaign, but we’ve done our due diligence. We’ve analysed their games and I’ve watched them live a couple of times. We have a game plan and now it’s about execution.”
Gibson stressed the importance of belief and momentum, especially with a crucial 10-day stretch featuring four key fixtures.
“We’re under no illusions. We’re in a fight and we need to get out of the relegation zone. The players are fully committed to ensuring that happens. This upcoming period will have a huge bearing on the rest of the season.”
Squad availability remains a concern, with Sam Ashford and Jaydn Mundle-Smith both dealing with injuries. Gibson confirmed that Ashford will miss the trip to Yeovil, while Mundle-Smith remains a doubt as the medical team continues to assess his condition.
“Unfortunately, we’ve been hit with injuries throughout the season. Munds [Mundle-Smith] has been managing an ongoing issue, playing through it at times, but three games in a week proved too much. We’ll monitor him closely.”
Meanwhile, Jack Cook will be unavailable due to suspension but Max Kretzschmar returns to the squad, balancing the numbers slightly.
“We’re working on bringing a couple of reinforcements in, but the players we have available have trained exceptionally well. They’re ready to go on Saturday, and that’s what matters.”
With belief still strong in the camp, Gibson is confident that a positive result at Yeovil could spark a much-needed upturn in form.
“The mood in training has been excellent. Tuesday’s session was the best we’ve had since coming in. We know that confidence builds with results and there’s no better place to start than a tough away game at Yeovil.”