1. 'Gary' time.
When they were at their imperious best under Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United developed a habit of scoring late winners, which played a major role in establishing them as English football's dominant force. Under Gary Johnson in 2020, Torquay United appear to be developing a similar trait as they secured their third win from four National League encounters - all of which have included goals scored in injury time. United's winner against Chesterfield - scored by either Ben Wynter or Asa Hall depending on your point of view joined a list that includes Connor Lemonheigh-Evans late effort against Stockport County and Danny Wright's penalty in the dying minutes away at Bromley. How many more times could the Gulls win with late winners this season?
2. Whose goal was it anyway?
Debate has raged as to whether it was right-back Ben Wynter or skipper Asa Hall who got the last touch to turn Jake Andrews' late corner past Chesterfield keeper Kyle Letheren to seal a third late win for the Gulls. Without viewing the match highlights for a second look there is one extra bit of information that I would add and that is: if Hall's initial connection with Andrews' delivery was on target then it would be deemed to be his goal. If not then it's Wynter's goal.
3. Spreading goals around the team.
For the last two season's Jamie Reid has led the Gulls' goalscoring charts by a considerable distance. Reid, now of Mansfield Town, scored 32 times as United clinched the National League South title in 2018-19. He was the Gulls' leading scorer by some distance again in the curtailed 2019-20 campaign - finding the back of the net 21 times in all competitions, with Ben Whitfield being United's next highest scorer with seven. So far this season the Gulls have found the back of the net six times, with six different players finding the back of the net. Will this prove to be a familiar trend throughout the season, or will another Jamie Reid emerge from the pack?
4. United's best start to a season since the 2010-11 campaign.
By winning three games out of their first four, United have recorded their best start to a season since the 2010-11 campaign, when they won their opening four League Two fixtures under Paul Buckle - a feat that helped to earn Buckle the division's manager of the month award for August 2010. However, the monthly prizes in the National League in 2020 aren't being handed out just yet, and Gary Johnson will be more than happy about that. When Johnson led Cheltenham Town to the National League title in the 2015-16 season, the Robins made a steady, but unspectacular start, but county neighbours Forest Green Rovers flew out of the traps by winning their opening nine league fixtures. However, come the end of the season, Johnson's Robins won the league title by 11 points to secure an immediate return to the Football League while Forest Green were forced to settle for the play-offs.
5. Should Asa Hall start against Dover on Saturday?
As well as the debate as to whether it was he or Ben Wynter who scored United's winner, the other question surrounding Asa Hall is whether Gary Johnson should start against Dover Athletic on Saturday. Regardless it was his goal or not, it could be successfully argued that Hall made an impact when he came on for United with ten minutes to go, just as he did against Stockport County on the opening day of the campaign when he entered the fray in the 79th minute. Whilst he featured for 69 minutes in their 2-1 defeat away at Eastleigh, Johnson had previously stated that he would manage Hall's return to action after a calf injury forced him to miss a large part of the Gulls' pre-season preparations. Plymouth Argyle loanee Adam Randell continued to impress against the Spireites - as it was his precision pass that picked out Ben Whitfield, who then produced the cross that found Bristol City loanee Louis Britton to give the Gulls the lead. One thing is definitely certain - Johnson has a selection dilemma, albeit a pleasant one!
