In 12 encounters against Torquay, during his spells in charge of Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon Town and Southend, which includes meetings with several different managers, including Wes Saunders, Colin Lee, Roy McFarland, Leroy Rosenior, Ian Atkins, Keith Curle, Paul Buckle and Martin Ling, the former Dundee United and Scotland is yet to lose to the Gulls.
Ex Gulls loanee, and former Yeovil Town striker, Gavin Tomlin set the Shrimpers on their way with an effort on goal on 10 minutes before Britt Assombalonga bagged a brace late in the first half to give Southend three goal lead going into the half-time break.
After the interval, the Shrimpers then extended their lead to four when Tomlin burst through to complete his double within 60 seconds of the re-start.
Torquay did manage to reduce their arrears in the 52 minute when half-time substitutes Niall Thompson and Ryan Jarvis combined to pull a goal back as Thompson's cross was turned home by Jarvis.
However, any prospect of a fight back was snuffed out three minutes later when Gulls skipper Lee Mansell was dismissed with a straight red card for a challenge on Assomlalonga, leaving Torquay searching for their first win against a side managed by Sturrock in a dozen attempts.
The Gulls versus Paul Sturrock: A complete record
04/11/00 vs Plymouth Argyle (H) D 1-1 Eifion Williams
21/04/01 vs Plymouth Argyle (A) L 1-3 Richard Kell (pen)
08/09/01 vs Plymouth Argyle (H) L 0-1
26/12/01 vs Plymouth Argyle (A) D 2-2 Brian McGlinchey (og), Richard Logan
26/03/05 vs Sheffield Wednesday (A) D 2-2 Adebayo Akinfenwa, Steve Woods
18/11/06 vs Swindon Town (H) L 0-1
09/04/07 vs Swindon Town (A) L 1-2 Lee Thorpe (pen)
04/09/10 vs Southend United (A) L 1-2 Chris Zebroski
19/02/11 vs Southend United (H) D 1-1 Billy Kee
22/10/11 vs Southend United (A) L 1-4 Lee Mansell
14/04/12 vs Southend United (H) D 0-0
17/11/12 vs Southend United (H) L 1-4 Ryan Jarvis
Footnote: Torquay's 2-1 victory over Southend on the final day of the 2003-04 season, which secured automatic promotion remains their last ever win over the Shrimpers.
