The absences of key players for Torquay United this season have been discussed at length, but there is another issue that might have potentially turned the season on its head for Gary Johnson's Gulls.
While United's goalless draw with Boreham Wood kept the Gulls in third place and - perhaps most importantly - five points behind current leaders Sutton United, it also took the points that they've gained on their travels to 27 - which gives Johnson's men the best away record in the 2020-21 National League.
However, in addition to this, the Gulls are one of select band of clubs in the division who have earned more points from their away fixtures than they have from playing at home. At the time of writing, United's away record stands at won eight, drawn three and lost two - which is in direct contrast to their home form which reads won six, drawn three and lost four.
United are one of six teams in the National League who are currently experiencing this phenomenom. The same is also true for Stockport County (h 20,a 23), FC Halifax Town (h 18, a 22), Boreham Wood (h14, a 24), Altrincham (h 15, a 22) and Maidenhead United (h 17, a 19 - prior to United's trip to York Road tomorrow night) - as playing behind closed doors during the coronavirus pandemic has flipped the normal status quo of picking points on your home turf on its head.
And it's not just in the National League where this is the case. In the Premier League, Everton and Manchester United have both picked up more points away from Goodison Park and Old Trafford respectively. Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti has been on record as saying that the lack of fans inside the stadium has been hitting his side the most in the second half of matches - as they have failed to score in their second half for 11 home league games in a row.
For the Gulls - apart from Billy Waters' last gasp equaliser against Wealdstone, which secured a 1-1 draw against the Stones, the only other goal that they have scored in the second half since their 6-1 win over Yeovil Town on Boxing Day - where four of United's goals came in the first half and two in the second - was an Asa Hall penalty against FC Halifax on February 20. It is also worth mentioning that a limited number fans were allowed into Plainmoor to witness their Boxing Day massacre of the Glovers - some 1,323.
Perhaps the answer lies in a change of system specifically for home games - or perhaps a win inspired by a rousing second half display over Kings' Lynn Town this Saturday, when the Norfolk side make their first ever visit to Plainmoor, might be the solution.
