1. The National League is a cruel league.
Yesterday's encounter between Torquay United and Stockport County saw the seventh best supported side in the National League face its third best. However, this wasn't reflected in the score line as the Hatters came away as 5-1 winners - a reverse of the winning margin when United beat them 4-0 at Edgeley Park last September. It was also the Gulls' fifth defeat in a row in all competitions, which further underlines why teams who succeed in the National League are the ones who are consistently good week in, week out.
2. The return of Asa Hall, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Jamie Reid.
After seeing the Gulls' disrupted by injuries in recent weeks, it must have been a big relief for Torquay United manager Gary Johnson to see skipper Asa Hall, leading scorer Jamie Reid and midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans back in action. The trio weren't fit enough to appear for the full 90 minutes as Hall and Reid were substituted on 54 minutes and 60 minutes respectively, and Lemonheigh Evans entered the fray as Hall's replacement. With a busy festive period just around the corner, if those three are also fit and firing on all cylinders and Jean Yves Koue Niate and Jake Andrews set to return from one-match suspensions then Johnson will soon have a near full strength squad to choose from.
3. Shaun MacDonald's goalkeeping display.
Had it not been for two first saves from Shaun MacDonald to deny Stockport's Tom Walker in the 28th and 33rd minutes respectively, then Stockport would have won by a bigger margin. Despite the injury problems that Gulls manager Gary Johnson has faced in other positions, particularly in midfield and upfront, but the goalkeeper position is one where he has plenty of options with MacDonald and summer signing Lucas Covolan keeping each other on their toes.
4. Ben Whitfield's fourth goal of the season.
Ben Whitfield's goal on 75 minutes was of little consolation to the Gulls by full minute, but it did ensure that he is now United's third top scorer of the season behind Jake Andrews with six and leading scorer Jamie Reid with 15.
5. Why strong home form is vital in any upturn in the Gulls' fortunes.
United's defeat to Stockport County was their fifth of the season, and if the Gulls want to be involved in the play-offs at the end of the season then they can't afford to lose to lose too many more times at Plainmoor. Out of the teams who finished in the top seven in the National League last season - only Harrogate Town and Eastleigh, who lost six and seven games at home respectively in the 2018-19 National League campaign, experienced more defeats at home than the Gulls have currently suffered. The challenge now for Johnson and his coaching team is to make Plainmoor into a fortress.
