ON YOUR MARKS,
NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAY-OFF PREVIEWS
UPBEAT Darren Sarll is confident his Yeovil Town side can cope even if they are forced to begin the play-offs without top scorer Rhys Murphy.
The 29-year-old former Dagenham & Redbridge and Oldham forward had netted 20 goals in 32 games in all competitions before suffering an ankle injury in February.
It was a continuation of his superb goalscoring form at Chelmsford City last season and why pundit Adam Virgo marked him out as the Glovers’ key man in his play-off preview in The NLP a couple of weeks ago.
“Rhys Murphy is the best No.9 in the division, for me,” said Virgo.
After his injury setback, Murphy was sidelined for the 3-0 home win against Wrexham at the end of February and the 1-0 win, courtesy of a Marc Richards goal, at Dover in early March.
Murphy has since had a minor operation on a chipped ankle bone, while midfielder Lawson D’Ath is another doubt as he completes his rehab from a groin injury.
Former Stevenage boss Sarll told The NLP: “Rhys was out injured before Covid and is still recovering, as is Lawson. They are both doing functional football work. They’re not 100 per cent, but, with a bit of luck, they will be able to play.”
The loss of Murphy, in parknockout ticular, would be a blow for the Glovers as they seek to win the play-offs and secure an immediate return to the EFL.
But Sarll won’t panic if his ace marksman isn’t ready for the play-off eliminator against Darren Currie’s Barnet at Huish Park next Saturday. A semi-final trip to Notts County awaits the winners.
Options
“If Rhys is available, great, that will be a decision that has to be made,” explained the 37-year-old, who took charge last summer. “It would be nice to have him fit, but before we stopped we had to learn to play a different way without him and we had two terrific results against Wrexham and Dover.
“Marc Richards came in and was excellent. We are lucky in that department in that we have some great experience and options.”
After a bizarre few months in which there was so much uncertainty about how the season would be decided and whether play-offs would take place, Sarll can’t wait to take part.
His Glovers, who finished fourth, take on a Barnet side who rose from 11th to seventh on points per game to snatch the last play-off spot. However, they were only six points behind Yeovil with two games in hand.
By virtue of finishing higher, the Somerset club have home advantage, though that isn’t what it would normally be due to the match being played behind closed doors.
“I still see it as an advantage,” insisted Sarll, whose side hosted a friendly against National League South playoff contenders Weymouth on Friday night. “It’s pitch advantage and familiarity.
“Barnet 100 per cent deserve to be there. Points per game was the system used and over the season their total was strong enough to be in the playoffs. It will be a strong battle, a very competitive game.
“I don’t know how Darren (Currie) feels, but I’m looking forward to the unknown. There’s no form to go on and that little bit of no-one really knows what will happen is quite an exciting proposition.
“It’s winner-takes-all, a scenario. That certainly gives me excitement and hopefully gives our supporters some excitement, too.”
Dynamics
The Bees have lost a number of key players from their regular season squad, notably skipper Dan Sweeney, who has signed for Forest Green, fellow centre-back Callum Reynolds, right-back Cheye Alexander and attacking midfielder Dan
Sparkes. But Sarll isn’t reading too much into that.
“It might improve their team balance, the dynamics of the team,” he said. “It might change their shape. To be honest, I have no idea of their availability and I’m not really bothered. Because of the break and lack of football, our focus is on what’s in our building.
“We have been very luck with our players and their devotion to the club.”
Yeovil fans have raised more than £50,000 for the club through a Crowdfunding appeal and Sarll would love to reward that effort.
He added: “It never ceases to amaze me the power and passion in the fanbase – it’s incredible.
“The supporters have reconnected with the players and staff this season and, whatever happens in the play-offs, that’s an important foundation we have built to sustain success in the long-term.”