1. Street shows glimpses of quality.
After his much anticipated loan signing from Crystal Palace, United fans watching via the club's livestream finally got to see Rob Street in action for the first time. The Eagles starlet entered the fray as a half-time substitute for Josh Umerah and he showed glimpses of quality. Firstly he had a looping header that cleared the crossbar in the 51st minute and then he held the ball up to enable Ben Whitfield and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans to have shots from distance, which both forced saves from Sutton Dean Bouzanis. He also found himself ploughed a lone furrow up front following Moxey's dismissal, as United manager Gary Johnson switched to a 4-4-1 system that saw Armani Little drop back from playing as a number 10 into a midfield two with Lemonheigh-Evans, before Little was replaced by Jake Andrews.
2. Swan Lewis migrates to Plainmoor.
United's clash with Sutton also marked the second 'debut' of versatile defender Joe Lewis. The Wales Under-21 international completed a permanent move from Championship side Swansea City to sign for the Gulls on a permanent basis. Lewis, who made 28 appearances for the Gulls in the 2020-21 in a variety of positions, started out at right-back but would later find himself finishing the game at left-back following the dismissal of Dean Moxey for two yellow cards, and Plymouth Argyle loanee Adam Randell switched from centre midfield to right-back. With Moxey set to be suspended on Saturday against Barnet, could Lewis get the nod at left-back?3. Three successive clean sheets.
For the third time in a row, goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald kept a clean sheet, which follows United's 4-0 win away at Boreham Wood in the FA Trophy and their goalless draw against Notts County. It is often said that defence wins championships at the highest level of the game, and that could yet prove to be the case in the National League.
4. Mind the gap.
By drawing 0-0 with Sutton, United maintained the nine-point gap that they currently have over the U's. However, Sutton United could still draw level with the Gulls if they were to win the three games in hand over them. Nevertheless, games in hand don't necessarily equate to points in hand and with trips to fellow promotion chasers Hartlepool United and Stockport County coming up in their next two fixtures, it would be a big ask for them not to drop points in those fixtures.
5. United yet to lose with ten men in 2020-21.
In their previous two fixtures where they have been reduced to ten men - at home to Boreham Wood and away to King's Lynn Town - United managed to avoid defeat on both occasions. They drew 1-1 with Boreham Wood after Adam Randell received two yellow cards and held on to draw 0-0 at King's Lynn when the same fate befell skipper Asa Hall. They managed to complete the hat-trick following Moxey's dismissal - again for two yellows - against Sutton.
6. Playing without fans.
When Torquay United last played a home fixture, it was on New Year's Day against Yeovil Town when they won 6-1 in front of a crowd of over a thousand in a socially distanced atmosphere. Since then, Devon has returned to Tier 3 of Covid-19 restrictions, so it was a case of returning to where they were at the start of the season without fans.
