Monday 10 December 2012

SLADE AND JOHNSON TO BATTLE IT OUT ON ROAD TO WEMBLEY

Yeovil Town's next step along their road to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final will see the two most successful managers of the Glovers' Football League era go head to head.

As a reward for beating Wycombe Wanderers in the Southern Area Quarter Finals, Gary Johnson's side will now travel to Leyton Orient who, of course, are managed by Russell Slade, the architect behind Yeovil's last Wembley visit in 2007.

On that occasion, the Glovers faced Blackpool in the League One Play-Off final, where they were beaten 2-0 after disposing of Nottingham Forest in the Semis.

Yeovil's debut Wembley appearance as football league side came four years following their promotion from the Conference (2003) and two years after their League Two title triumph, (2005), both of which were achieved under the guidance of Johnson.

Fast forward to the present and Johnson will no doubt be aware that the Johnstone's Paint Trophy represents a genuine chance for the Glovers to secure a trip to Wembley and, possibly, to lift some silverware.

Should the Glovers defeat Orient, then next up, in the Southern Area final, will be a two-legged encounter with either Southend United or Oxford United, both of whom play in League Two.

So whoever comes out on top between Slade and Johnson will be geniunely feeling that they have a good chance of reaching Wembley should their respective side come out on top when they meet in January.