Whilst Rafa Benitez has proved to be an unpopular presence at Stamford Bridge as an interim manager, Alan Knill is a having a positive impact at Plainmoor.
Former Bury and Scunthorpe boss, who is standing in for Martin Ling as interim manager, has guided the Gulls to back-to-back victories over Chesterfield and York City in successive league outings, moving Torquay closer to safety in the process.
Knill's tactical switch to 4-4-2 is beginning to pay dividends for the Gulls as Elliot Benyon, who is currently forming a partnership with leading scorer Rene Howe, scored his first goal since his return to Plainmoor on loan from Southend on Saturday against York.
In the same match, Ryan Jarvis, now deployed on the right wing, scored an unstoppable 25-yard strike to increase his tally to eight for the season.
Knill believes that his side can only improve as they head into the final six matches of the season as they remain a win and a draw away from possibly securing outright safety.
"If we are committed and if we are aggressive and if we are passionate, then we can compete with anyone in the league," said Knill.
"We have six games left and if we can show that for the next six games, we will be ok.
"If we step off it thought-and start thinking that we are better than we are-then that could make things difficult.
"I've not seen the signs that we are getting a little complacent, I've seen signs that we want to get better."
The next challenge for Torquay, over the Easter weekend, is a trip to promotion-chasing Northampton Town at the Sixfields Stadium before they return home to face Capital One cup finalists Bradford City at Plainmoor.
Their next four fixtures see the Gulls travel to title chasers Gillingham, host Edgar Davids' Barnet, head north to Morecambe before testing themselves against Bristol Rovers on the final day at home.
Whether or not Knill remains at Plainmoor for next season, should he lead Torquay to the necessary points they to avoid the trap door which leads to the Blue Square Premier, he will have done enough to ensure that he is held in the same regard as the other architects of the Gulls' great escapes in living memory.
A list that currently features Neil Warnock, Colin Lee and Ian Atkins.
