1. A big presence up front is still required.
Torquay United manager Gary Owers said spoken of his desire to sign a big centre forward to aid the Gulls cause, and United are still crying out for one. Rookie striker Alex Fletcher, currently on loan from Plymouth Argyle, gave an admirable account of himself as a lone striker against Eastleigh, but he still looked as though he needed a strike partner with a greater physical presence to play alongside him to get the best out of him.
Pilgrims' boss Derek Adams has announced this week that former Gulls striker Nathan Blissett is set to leave Home Park. However, despite speculation linking Blissett moves to Macclesfield Town and Wrexham, the former Kidderminster and Bristol Rovers frontman is still at Home Park - a return to Plainmoor for Blissett remains possible.
2. Luke Young is showing the way and the rest of the midfield need to follow.
Luke Young's 34th minute equaliser was his fourth goal of the current campaign, which makes him United's joint-second top scorer with Ruairi Keating. However, if the Gulls are going to mount a 'great escape' bid for the third successive season, Young's fellow midfield colleague Jake Gosling, who set up Young for long range strike, nearly found the target himself twice. His first chance came in the opening minute - 51 seconds to be precise - when he headed a Michee Efete cross over the bar; the second came on 51 minutes after he was set up by Young, but missed the target as his shot sailed wide. If Gosling and loan signings Tommy O'Sullivan and George Dowling, who already has one goal to his name already this season, can find the target then the goals will soon flow.
3. Situation vacant for new penalty taker?
After Jamie Reid missed from the penalty spot in the 79th minute, Owers has to decide whether to stick with Reid as his designated penalty taker or maybe hold a competition in training to find a new one.
4. Michee Efete can do an excellent job at right-back.
Although he was first brought to Plainmoor by caretaker manager Robbie Herrera as a centre back from Norwich City, Michee Efete produced an outstanding display at right-back against Eastleigh. With Jazzi Barnum-Bobb having returned to Newport County following his loan spell, and Ryan Higgins currently on compassionate leave, the only option that Owers has for the right-back position other than Efete is Aaron Barnes, who recently joined on loan from Charlton Athletic, and no doubt Efete, who will remain at Plainmoor until the end of the season, will provide him with plenty of competition.
5. Time is of the essence.
With 17 games left to play, Torquay United now need in the region of a minimum of 30 points to retain their National League status - which equates to the equivalent of ten wins.
Owers stated afterwards that he felt that the Gulls deserved at least a point against Eastleigh but draws will only help their situation so far, as the three points awarded for a win are now fast becoming a necessity.
