After only picking up one point from their opening three fixtures against Tranmere Rovers, Aldershot Town and Gateshead, Torquay United go into their next two matches against Boreham Wood and Guiseley desperately needing points to get their season up and running.
Own goals from Ryan Higgins and Myles Anderson either side of Richard Peniket's strike for Gateshead saw the Gulls come away from the North East with nothing to show for their efforts.
As well as having only picked up one point, the Gulls have also only scored two goals - both of which came against Aldershot through Luke Young and Jon-Paul Pittman, another statistic that manager Kevin Nicholson will need to improve upon.
Nicholson also has a number of absentees through injury and illness to contend with as Liam Davis, Josh Gowling and Jordan Lee, on loan from Bournemouth all missing out. Lee's absence is a extra serious concern as he experienced chest pains, which he has underdone tests for.
On Saturday they were also joined by Jamie Reid, who was substituted with a suspected broken wrist in the first half against Gateshead.
Reinforcements have been made in the form of ex Barrow and Macclesfield winger Andy Haworth, who has joined on non-contract terms, but other signings in other areas may need to be made.
Last season both Boreham Wood and Guiseley completed the double over the Gulls and those two games will provide an acid test of how much United have improved over the close season and the beginning of the current campaign.
