Chris Weale puts emotion to one side for Yeovil visit

But that will not stop the in-form Shrewsbury Town shot-stopper trying to grab three points from his boyhood club at the Greenhous Meadow tonight.

Weale's childhood memories of Yeovil are endless. Not only was the 30-year-old born in the Somerset town, he also took his first tentative steps on the path to a goalkeeping career which now boasts 321 senior appearances with his home club.

Current Glovers boss Gary Johnson was the man to spot Weale's talents, handing him a senior debut in 2000 and retaining his services throughout the club's eye-catching progress from permanent non-league fixtures to League One in three seasons.

"I was born there and had a good time at Yeovil," he said. "I had six years with the club and really enjoyed my time.

"I was in the school of excellence, academy and I started at 16 in the youth team for two years.

"I was 18 when I signed as a professional and started in the first team a year later.

"To be fair to Gary Johnson, I've got the highest regard for him because to play a 19-year-old in the first team was quite a thing to do.

"I was from Yeovil and there are not many teams in Somerset so they were the team. I grew up watching them in the Conference and I remember watching Tony Pennock in goal.

"He was my hero and I ended up being second choice to him, which was great.

"Going from the Conference to League Two to League One, there was some real momentum at the club at the time and it was a good experience."

For Weale, however, the sole purpose of tonight is to play his part in helping Shrewsbury to what would prove a vital three points.

While the goalkeeper was in inspirational form in last week's 1-0 defeat of Walsall, Town couldn't maintain their winning ways as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth on Saturday.

That saw Town drop into the bottom five of League One and heaped extra significance on the home double-header which sees tonight's clash followed up by Saturday's visit of Colchester.

But Weale, who went from Yeovil to have spells with Bristol City and Leicester, believes Shrewsbury should take heart from their display at Fratton Park where they remained on the brink of snatching a point even after the sending off of Marvin Morgan until Izale McLeod grabbed his second goal of the afternoon in injury time.

"We were by far the better side in the first half and we played some very good football," he added.

"In professional football, they are going to have their spell and they took their chances well.

"We took the game to them with 10 men and the performance was fantastic. Their keeper made some decent saves and we were creating chances.

"Fratton Park's a great place to go and play football and I would say for 80 minutes we were by far the better side.

"We will keep battling, being positive and upbeat. We've got two home games coming up so Saturday was something to build on and hopefully turn the performances into results."

Yeovil, meanwhile, are set to name an unchanged team to the one which defeated Bury 2-1 on Saturday.

There are fitness concerns over captain Jamie McAllister, midfield duo Ed Upson and Korey Smith.

But Johnson is hopeful none of the problems will be serious enough for his already threadbare squad to be stretched further.

He said: "With Jamie we don't know yet, we will have to let the doctor and the physio see him."