SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS GATESHEAD

 1. Aaron Jarvis on target. 

After missing the start of the season with a double 'dead leg' - Aaron Jarvis has certainly made up for lost time, as he scored his sixth goal of the campaign against Gateshead. 

Jarvis was playing against the Heed as a lone striker with Dillon De Silva and Stephen Wearne playing either side of him as attacking wide players. De Silva also found the back of the net himself - but it was ruled out for offside. 

2. The return of Kieron Evans. 

Saturday's match also marked the return to action of Cardiff City loanee Kieron Evans after he sustained three broken ribs against Maidenhead United in September. 

Evans showed a few promising glimpses of his talent; his sixth minute cross picked out Mark Ellis, whose header was palmed over the bar by Gateshead keeper James Montgomery. In the second half, it was his cross who found Aaron Jarvis to head home the Gulls' opener. 

With the Gulls crying out for more pace and creativity from midfield, Evans' return could prove to be a timely one.

3. Brett McGavin shines in the centre of midfield.  

Despite a promising pre-season, Brett McGavin's 2022-23 campaign has been something of a stop-start one, but he produced arguably his best display of the season against Gateshead. 

Former Ipswich Town starlet McGavin always looked to get on the ball and make something happen and one of the most pleasing things was that once he played a pass, he would be looking to make himself available to receive the ball. 

He also came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, he had a free-kick turned around the post by James Montgomery on 41 minutes and fired over in the 81st minute.

4. Would a second striker have helped the Gulls cause? 

With Stoke City loanee Will Goodwin and Corie Andrews being missing from United's squad, Aaron Jarvis was United's only recognised striker available to Gary Johnson on Saturday. 

Had Johnson been in a position to send on either of those two as a substitute and switch from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, could the result have been different? 

From the point of view of Gateshead, one of their defenders would have been man-marking Aaron Jarvis and other would have been acting as a sweeper. However, by switching to two up top the central defender who would have been sweeper would then have had someone to mark, which he may not have been comfortable with. 

5. The wait for a clean sheet goes on. 

United's wait for a clean sheet since their 1-0 win over FC Halifax Town in their second match of the season continues. 

The Gulls came close to doing so against Gateshead. However, it did appear that goalkeeper Mark Halstead may have been fouled in the build up to Owen Bailey's scrambled effort on 75 minutes, which secured a point for the Heed. 

Nevertheless, if United are to avoid a return to National League South then clean sheets will need to become a big priority. 

6. Six points from safety - how worried should we be? 

Saturday's result leaves United rooted to the foot of the National League table and six points adrift from safety. Had they had beaten Gateshead they would have been third from bottom and four points away from exiting the drop zone. 

The last time that the National League was completed with a full compliment of 24 teams in the 2018-19 season Boreham Wood finished fifth from bottom with 52 points. 

For the Gulls to reach a similar figure they now require 37 points from their remaining 25 league fixtures - starting with their visit to Dagenham and Redbridge next week. 

United have been in this positions in the past, but with seven loan players currently at Plainmoor these need to be extended and deals with certain players need to be made into permanent moves in order for all players to be within the match-day limit of five in a squad.

GULLS TO FOCUS ON THE LEAGUE AFTER REPLAY DEFEAT

Sometimes the scoreline doesn't tell the full story, and Torquay United's FA Cup first round replay defeat to Derby County at Pride Park arguably followed this narrative. 

United didn't get off to the best of starts as centre back Mark Ellis inadvertantly turned a cross from Rams left-back Haydon Roberts into his own net after seven minutes. 

Eight minutes later, Derby doubled their lead as former Republic of Ireland striker David McGoldrick squared a pass to Will Osula, who netted twice in the first game at Plainmoor, who slotted home. 

In the 32nd minute, the Gulls came close to reducing their arrears as Rams keeper Joe Wildsmith parried away a cross from QPR loanee Dillon De Silva, which was aimed at Will Goodwin. The rebound then fell to United striker Aaron Jarvis, but Wildsmith recovered in time to deny him. 

Moments later, Charlton Athletic loanee Lucas Ness connected with a corner from Stephen Wearne, but his header was tipped over the bar by Wildsmith. 

However, they found themselves trailing by three goals after 38 minutes when Osula turned provider as he picked out Liam Thompson on the right hand side, who then cut inside onto his left foot to drill the ball past United keeper Mark Halstead. 

On the stroke of half-time, United had the chance to reduce their deficit when Wildsmith hit a clearance straight at Jarvis, but he could only muster a tame shot while his striker partner Goodwin was unmarked and in space. 

On 62 minutes, the Rams won a corner which was headed clear by Jarvis, but only as far as Everton loanee Lewis Dobbin who volleyed home from the edge of the penalty area for 4-0. 

With 11 minutes to go, McGoldrick finally found the target himself with a shot on the turn - by now the game was well and truly over as a contest. 

Nevertheless, there was still time for Torquay to go close to scoring a consolation as Jarvis raced towards goal, but his eventual shot was turned behind by Wildsmith. 

Next up for the Gulls is a return to the bread and butter of the National League with a trip to Barnet, followed by a home 'six-pointer' against Gateshead, which will see 23rd face 24th in the table.

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS CHESTERFIELD

 1. A complete contrast from their last meeting. 

When Torquay United last faced Chesterfield in their final home game of the 2021-22 season they won 2-0 with the goals coming courtesy of a sublime individual effort from QPR loanee Stephen Duke-McKenna and an Armani Little penalty.

However, yesterday's meeting was a complete contrast as a second half blitz from the Spireites saw them blow the Gulls away to win 5-1 in emphatic fashion. Chesterfield now join Notts County, Wrexham and Solihull Moors in scoring four or more goals against United in 2022-23. 

2. Is the Gulls' schedule taking too much out of them. 

United manager Gary Johnson admitted that his side looked tired after they completed their fourth game in 12 days (Aldershot Tuesday 1 November, Derby Sunday 6 November, Dorking Wanderers 9 November and Chesterfield 12 November). Also Chesterfield had seen their midweek fixture with Wealdstone was postponed due to Wealdstone's Grosvenor Vale pitch being waterlogged. 

However, ahead of their replay on Tuesday night, Derby also had an equalling punishing itinerary as they face an EFL Cup tie against Liverpool on the same night that United faced Dorking, which went to extra time and penalties, and have played the same number of games over the same period of time.

3. Dillon De Silva following the path of Sinclair Armstrong and Stephen Duke-McKenna. 

Last season, Sinclair Armstrong and Stephen Duke-McKenna both excelled for the Gulls whilst on loan from Queens Park Rangers. In the current campaign, Sri Lankan international winger Dillon De Silva followed in their footsteps by making the move from Loftus Road to Plainmoor - and after adding to the brace he scored against Dorking Wanderers with another strike against Chesterfield, United once again have their former winger Paul Hall, who is also the R's Under-23's coach, to thank for lining up another superb loan signing. 

4. Seven into five doesn't go. 

United went into Saturday's game against Chesterfield with five loan players in their starting line-up:  Lucas Ness (Charlton Athletic), Mark Ellis (Barrow), Dillon De Silva (QPR), Stephen Wearne (Grimsby Town) and Will Goodwin (Stoke City). Because only five loanees are allowed in a matchday squad, central midfielder Scott Smith, who is currently on loan from Wigan Athletic, missed out entirely. Also, Kieron Evans, who joined on a season-long loan deal from Cardiff City has resumed light training again after sustaining broken ribs against Maidenhead United in September. 

Hopefully Gary Johnson will be allowed to turn one or two of these loan signings into permanent ones with some of the revenue that the Gulls have generated from their FA Cup fixtures against Derby County, or he and Aaron Downes will have some difficult decisions to make. 

5. Corie Andrews is back. 

Striker Corie Andrews made a long awaited return following a knee injury as he came off the bench to replace skipper Asa Hall in the 78th minute. In his absence, strike duo Aaron Jarvis and Will Goodwin have taken their goalscoring figures for the season to ten, having found the back of the net five times each, and Andrews will be keen to get off the mark himself - as he is yet to find the back of the net for the Gulls. 

6. A series of 'six-pointers' coming up. 

Whilst United won't be competing with the likes of Notts County, Wrexham and Chesterfield this season, they do have a number of 'six-pointers' coming up against Gateshead, Yeovil Town, FC Halifax Town and Maidstone United over the next few months. How they perform against them could go a long way to determining their fate at the end of the season.

SCHUMACHER CLINCHES BACK TO BACK MANAGER OF THE MONTH PRIZES AS ARGYLE REMAIN IN POLE POSITION

Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher has become the first manager to win back to back League One manager of the month awards after following up winning the award for October 2022. 

During the course of the month, the Pilgrims won six of their seven league encounters. It was a run that included a 1-0 win away to Wycombe Wanderers, a 2-1 home win over fellow promotion contenders Sheffield Wednesday and their 4-2 Devon derby victory over Exeter City which saw televised on Sky Sports. It was enough to earn him the prize for the second time on the trot and it saw Argyle open up a four-point gap at the top of the table. 

The last League One manager to win back to back manager of the month awards was Paul Cook in March and April 2018 when he led Wigan Athletic to the League One title in the 2017-18 season. 

If Schumacher can emulate that achievement with the Pilgrims, then he will find himself in the same company as Bob Jack, Jimmy Rae, Jack Rowley, Tony Waiters, Dave Smith and Paul Sturrock, who have all led Argyle into the second tier of English football. 

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS DERBY COUNTY

1.Will Goodwin writes his name into Torquay folklore. 

In years to come Will Goodwin's late equaliser for the Gulls against Derby County will be talked about in the same breath as one of the most iconic FA Cup goals scored by a Torquay United. It's a list that includes Dave Caldwell's goal against Bristol City in 1987, Paul Hirons effort against West Ham United in 1990, Mick O'Brien's free-kick against QPR in 1999 and Matt Green's strike against Blackpool in 2009. 

Goodwin also had a hand in United's opener as it was Eiran Cashin's tug on his shirt that resulted in the Irishman being dismissed for denying him as he raced through on goal, which the subsequent penalty was awarded and then converted by Gulls' skipper Asa Hall. 

His goal also moves the young Stoke City loanee level with Aaron Jarvis at the top of United's goal scoring charts for the 2022-23 campaign. 

2. Mark Ellis continues to have a big influence on the Gulls' defence. 

The difference that the return to Mark Ellis to Plainmoor on loan from Barrow continues to be apparent, as he produced another assured display in the centre of the Gulls' defence. Ellis, 34, read the game superbly and was seldom beaten in the air. For United's younger defenders, they will be able to learn from the former Crewe, Shrewsbury and Tranmere man in the same way that he was able to learn from the likes of Steve Woods, Chris Todd and Guy Branston earlier in his career. 

3. Lucas Ness looked assured at the back alongside Ellis. 

One of those young centre backs learning from Mark Ellis is Charlton Athletic loanee Lucas Ness, who produced an incredibly assured display alongside the Barrow loanee. There were a few shades of Joe Lewis, who departed Plainmoor for Stockport County in the summer, about Ness' performance - as showed great composure on the ball for a centre back, in addition to all the qualities that central defenders require. 

In the 1988-89 season, another young centre back came to the Gulls on loan and went onto have a great career who went by the name of Matt Elliott. If Ness can get close to the heights that Elliott reached with Leicester City and Scotland, he would have had a very good career indeed. 

4. Aaron Jarvis made his present felt up front. 

After netting his first career hat-trick in the Gulls' 6-1 win over Aldershot Town, Aaron Jarvis was once again one of United's leading lights against Derby. The former Scunthorpe man held the ball up well and it was his persistence that played an important in helping Will Goodwin score United's all-important equaliser. 

5. Shaun Donnellan excels as a stand-in right-back

Midfielder Shaun Donnellan once again found himself filling in at right-back, and it was a role that he excelled in. The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international made a number of important tackles and he even had a shot from distance that fizzed agonisingly wide in the second half. 

6. Gary Johnson was able to name an unchanged side. 

For the first time this season, Torquay manager Gary Johnson had the luxury of being able to name an unchanged side. Such has been United's problems with injuries and the constant need to bring in new faces, however the benefit of having a settled line-up - as well as being able to call on the experience of Asa Hall and Tom Lapslie in midfield - was there for all to see.

 

FA CUP FIRST ROUND PREVIEW: 2022-23

Grimsby Town vs Plymouth Argyle

After their thrilling 4-2 Devon derby win over Exeter City on Monday night, Plymouth Argyle head north to fac Grimsby Town in the FA Cup first round. 

Manager Steven Schumacher has been given permission to field his loan quartet of Sam Cosgrove, Nigel Lonwijk, Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker have been given permission to play by their parent clubs. However, Fin Azaaz misses out with a broken ankle. 

Argyle reached the fourth round last season, where they enjoyed a memorable tie with Premier League side Chelsea - taking the Blues to extra time at Stamford Bridge - so they will be looking to enjoy a similar run again this time.

Milton Keynes Dons vs Taunton Town 

Taunton Town's reward for defeating Somerset neighbours Yeovil Town is a trip to League One outfit Milton Keynes Dons. 

The Peacocks currently occupy 16th place in National League South whilst the Dons are 21st in League One - and find themselves in the relegation zone - but, as in the previous round, they are not overawed by bigger reputations.

Should Taunton pull off a shock it will be the first time ever that they have reached the second round of the competition.

Port Vale vs Exeter City

For a third time in the current calendar year, Exeter City will face Port Vale. The Grecians lost 1-0 to the Valiants on the final day of the 2021-22 campaign, which saw them miss out on the League Two title to Forest Green Rovers. 

Nevertheless, City then gained revenge on Vale with a 4-0 win at St James Park earlier in the season. 

Manager Gary Caldwell will no doubt be keen to enjoy a good run in the FA Cup, after having won the competition with Wigan Athletic in 2013 and he also won the Scottish Cup with Celtic earlier in his playing career.

Weymouth vs AFC Wimbledon

Weymouth's first appearance in the first round proper draw for 15 years sees them face AFC Wimbledon of League Two and looking pull off an upset. 

Bobby Wilkinson's side have already made £18,375 so far from the competition and another £41,000 is available if they shock the Dons at the Bob Lucas Stadium. 

The Terras will be without Ben Gerring who is cup-tied, but Exeter City have given young defender Ed James permission to play. 

Torquay United vs Derby County

The first ever competitive meeting between Torquay United and Derby County will be televised live on ITV with the Gulls aiming to cause what would be a major shock. 

Their League One opponents, winners of the competition in 1947, will be competing in the first round stage for the first time in 37 years and are aiming to avoid what would be a proverbial 'banana skin' in the form of United. 

All of the Gulls' available loan players - Mark Ellis (Barrow), Lucas Ness (Charlton Athletic), Stephen Wearne (Grimsby Town), Dillon De Silva (QPR), Scott Smith (Wigan Athletic) and Will Goodwin (Stoke City) - have been granted permission to play by their parent clubs. 

However, they won't be the only players who will be eagerly anticipating the tie: Gulls' left back Dean Moxey spent two years at Pride Park between 2009 and 2011 - after joining the Rams from Exeter City for £200,000 in 2009. Moxey was also part of the Grecians' side who memorably took Manchester United to a replay in 2004-05, and any wisdom that he is able to impart will certainly prove useful to his younger teammates. 

TORQUAY UNITED AND DERBY COUNTY PLAYING CONNECTIONS

Torquay United's first round FA Cup tie with Derby County will be the first time that the two have faced other in a competitive fixture. 

However, over the years, a number of players have appeared for both clubs, including some extremely well known figures.

John Turner: 

Now found working behind the bar in the Gulls’ Nest on match days, John Turner was one of the most popular goalkeepers ever to appear for Torquay United. He arrived at Plainmoor in the summer of 1978 with a fine pedigree – he'd started out as an apprentice at Derby County under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. Whilst with his former club Reading, Turner became one of the few keepers to displace the legendary Royals’ keeper Steve Death – albeit temporarily. 

After winning the Gulls’ player of the year award in the 1979-80 season and being named in the PFA Division Four team of the season, Turner secured a £80,000 move to Chesterfield. However, Turner would later return to Plainmoor ahead of the 1983-84 season, but became one of the first victims of Dave Webb’s cost-cutting measures. He later found his way to Peterborough United, who he joined as a replacement for a certain David Seaman. 

Bruce Rioch: 

After making his way in the game with Luton Town and Aston Villa, Bruce Rioch first joined Derby County in February 1974 when the Rams paid Villa £200,000 for his signature as manager Dave Mackay looked to put his own stamp on the side that he had inherited from Brian Clough. In the subsequent 1974-75 season, he helped Derby to win their second league title - three years after their first triumph under Clough. 

In December 1976, he left the Baseball Ground to join Everton for £180,000, but he would return to the Rams in November 1977 for a fee of £150,000. Rioch would go on to captain Scotland in their ill-fated 1978 World Cup campaign, and appeared against Peru and Holland, before heading stateside to sign for the Seattle Sounders. 

He returned briefly to England to join Torquay under Mike Green in the 1980-81 season, and would return to Plainmoor as player-coach under Frank O'Farrell following Green's departure. In the 1982-83 campaign, he was named as Gulls manager in a move that saw O'Farrell move upstairs to become general manager. Rioch remained in charge of United until January 1984 following an altercation with Colin Anderson; highlights of his reign included a run to the fourth round of the FA Cup in 1982-83 where the Gulls were beaten 3-2 by Sheffield Wednesday at Plainmoor. He would later manage Middlesbrough, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal, Norwich City, Wigan Athletic and Danish side Aalborg.

John Sims: 

Another player who served the Rams under the Clough/Taylor partnership, John Sims made a handful of appearances for Derby County, including a European Cup semi-final against Juventus in the 1972-73 season. He found himself loaned out to Luton Town, Oxford United and Colchester United before he joined Notts County in 1975. Three years later he headed for the Westcountry to sign for Exeter City under Bobby Saxton and would later follow Saxton to Home Park a year later when he became Plymouth Argyle manager. In the 1983-84 campaign, he became part of the select band of players to have played for all three Devon clubs when Bruce Rioch signed him for Torquay United. Sims would later rejoin the Grecians, as he became another victim of Dave Webb's cutbacks, but he would rejoin the Gulls and briefly became player-manager in 1985 for 33 days. 

Don O'Riordan:

Don O'Riordan started his career with Derby County after being spotted in his native Dublin and joined the Rams as an apprentice in 1972 under Brian Clough. He would later make his debut under Clough's successor Dave Mackay and was later released by Tommy Docherty. 

Spells with Tulsa Rougnecks in America, Preston North End, Carlisle United, Middlesbrough and Grimsby Town followed before he signed for Notts County where he enjoyed something of an Indian Summer under Neil Warnock. O'Riordan helped the Magpies win back to back promotions between the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons between the 'old' Third Division and the 'old' First Division - and he also scored in the FA Cup quarter finals against Tottenham Hotspur in 1990-91. 

He linked up with Warnock at Plainmoor towards the end of the 1992-93 season, and his experience proved vital in helping the Gulls to pull off a 'great escape'. During the summer of 1993, O'Riordan succeeded Warnock as manager - and guided United to the Division Three play-offs in the 1993-94 campaign.

O'Riordan remained in charge of the Gulls until October 1995, when he was dismissed following an 8-1 defeat to Scunthorpe United. He then went onto enjoy a varied career as a coach which has seen him coach in a number of countries, including China, the USA and South Africa.

Darren Moore: 

A product of the Gulls' youth set-up, Darren Moore broke into the Torquay United side as a teenager and won the club's player of the year award for the 1992-93 season. He was also part of the United squad that reached the play-offs in the subsequent 1993-94 campaign. 

Moore left Plainmoor a year later to join Doncaster Rovers and later appeared for Bradford City, Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion. He would appear for the latter in the Premier League before joining Derby County in 2006. 

Whilst with the Rams, Moore won another promotion to the Premier League in the 2006-07 season after beating West Brom in the Championship play-off final. However, they would make a swift return to the second tier, as they finished the 2007-08 campaign with a record low Premier League points tally of 11. 

Spells with Barnsley and Burton Albion followed before Moore retired as a player. He then embarked on a coaching career with West Brom and succeeded Alan Pardew as manager in 2018. 

After leaving West Brom during the 2018-19 season, Moore was appointed as manager of Doncaster Rovers before taking charge of Sheffield Wednesday, who he is presently manager of. 

Paul Trollope:  

The son of Swindon Town record appearance holder, John Trollope, Paul Trollope initially joined the Gulls on loan from the Robins in the 1991-92 season before making the move permanent. 

He became a regular in United's midfield under Don O'Riordan, as the Gulls made the play-offs in the 1993-94 season. 

Midway through the 1994-95 campaign, he joined Derby County under future United manager Roy McFarland and helped the Rams to win promotion to the Premier League under Jim Smith in the 1996-97 season. 

Stints with Fulham, Coventry City, Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers followed for Trollope, who was also capped nine times by Wales. In the 2005-06 season, he became first team coach of the Pirates with Lennie Lawrence as director of football. 

He remained in charge at the Memorial Stadium until 2010, during which time he led them to promotion from League Two in 2006-07 via the play-offs. Coaching spells with Birmingham City, Norwich City, Cardiff City and the Welsh national side followed before he became manager of Cardiff in 2016.

Dean Moxey:  

One of the first prospects to emerge from Exeter City's now famed youth academy, Dean Moxey was part of the Grecians side that famously drew 0-0 with Manchester United in the 2004-05 campaign. He would later help City win back-to-back promotions between the Blue Square Premier League and League One between 2007-08 and 2008-09.

His form prompted Derby County to pay £300,000 for his signature in 2009; he remained at Pride Park until 2011 when he joined Crystal Palace, who he appeared for in the Premier League in 2013-14 before joining Bolton Wanderers in 2014. 

After helping the Trotters win promotion from League One in the 2016-17 season, Moxey returned to St James Park in the summer of 2017. He remained with the Grecians for three years until he joined the Gulls in 2020, and he is currently United's third longest serving player.