1. An experienced centre back should be high on Gary Johnson's agenda.
If Torquay United manager Gary Johnson is compiling a wish list of prospective signings over the festive period, it would not be a great surprise if an experienced centre back wasn't near the top of his list. The Gulls are currently on a run of six straight league defeats in which they've conceded 16 goals. However, it's worth remembering that diagnosing the symptoms is often easier than prescribing the cure. Many fans may point to the signing of Guy Branston midway through the 2009-10 season as an example of the calibre of player required by Johnson, but part of the reason that Paul Buckle was able to sign Branston was due to the fact that he had been discarded by Burton Albion after receiving three red cards after arriving in the summer of 2009 - which took his career tally to 18! Therefore any prospective signing could arrive with similar baggage. For the record, Branston, who initially joined United on loan before making the move permanent, was voted as the club's player of the year for the 2010-11 season and was named in the PFA League Two team of the year for 2010-11 as well - and was never shown a red once by any referee throughout his 18 months at Plainmoor.
2. The effect of the injuries on United's form still shouldn't be underestimated.
United's defeat to Chesterfield saw the absence of Jamie Reid, Jake Andrews, Liam Davis and Armani Little. To put it another way, it would be like Leroy Rosenior's automatic promotion winning side of 2003-04 going into a game with David Graham, Kevin Hill, Brian McGlinchey and Jason Fowler all unavailable. To be without four important players is nearly always likely to have a detrimental effect on a team's pattern of play and the end result was there for all to see yesterday.
3. Saikou Janneh's red card was a turning point.
Saikou Janneh's dismissal for a red card following an alleged off-the-ball incident that saw Chesterfield's Laurence Maguire - brother of Manchester United and England defender Harry - require treatment proved to be a turning point in the game. Whether United would have managed to turn things around with eleven men on the pitch we will never know. However, Gary Johnson has said that he will receive the video evidence of the incident before taking the matter further.
4. Chesterfield become the second team to complete the double over the Gulls.
By coming away from Plainmoor with a 3-0 victory, Chesterfield join Eastleigh in becoming the second team so far this season to complete the double over the Gulls.
5. Is the 'Shezzarection mark 2' on for Chesterfield?
After experiencing Torquay United's two 'great escapes' under Kevin Nicholson many of the Plainmoor faithful will be able to relate to the struggles of Chesterfield as the Spireites find themselves battling relegation for the second season in a row. However, assistant manager Marc Crossley identified in the post-match interview that if Chesterfield can repeat their run of nine clean sheets from their final 20 league games, which they achieved last season, then they stand a chance of emulating their achievement of last season by staying in the National League.
It will also go a long way to maintaining manager John Sheridan's reputation as a managerial 'red adair' as he has also led Plymouth Argyle, Newport County, Oldham Athletic and Fleetwood Town to safety during his career in management.
Sunday, 22 December 2019
Sunday, 15 December 2019
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS ALDERSHOT TOWN IN THE FA TROPHY
1. Saikou Janneh is back on form.
Saturday's FA Trophy tie saw Saikou Janneh display the kind of form in front of goal that he displayed in his first loan spell at Plainmoor in the 2018-19 season. Janneh netted his first goals of his second loan stint from Bristol City and also provided the assist for Jamie Reid's second of the afternoon on 70th minute, which helped to earn him the sponsor's man of the match award. It was also the first time that Janneh and Reid had scored for United since their memorable 3-3 draw away to Woking last season.
2. The new signings are settling in well.
The Plainmoor faithful also got to see the first glimpse of Gary Johnson's two latest recruits in the form of central midfielder Lloyd James and winger Aaron Nemane. Both made significant contributions as James, a former Wales Under-21 international who joins on loan from Forest Green Rovers, started the move that led to Janneh's opener and provided the assist for Ruairi Keating's fourth goal. Former Manchester City Nemane, who has also appeared for Glasgow Rangers and Go Eagles in Holland amongst others, went on a mazy run before providing the pass to Saikou Janneh helped to enable Jamie Reid to score United's third.
James' loan spell at Plainmoor and Nemane initial deal with the Gulls are both for one-month, but there is every chance that their respective stays with United could last beyond that period.
3. Joe Lewis filled in well at left-back.
In the absence of Liam Davis through injury, Swansea City loanee Joe Lewis filled in at left-back. Despite being played out of position, Wales Under-21 international Lewis, who is primarily a centre back - and a right-sided one too, was one of United's leading performers on the day and as well as being defensively strong, he also offered an outlet going forward with a number of overlapping runs.
4. Could Ruairi Keating become Torquay United's answer to David Fairclough?
In the mid-to-late 1970's and early 1980's, David Fairclough carved out a niche for himself in Liverpool's all-conquering European Cup and league title winning sides as a 'super sub'. The question now is in the 2019-20 season, could Ruairi Keating perform a similar role for the Gulls? Keating found the back of the net in the 73rd minutes, just two minutes after coming off the bench with what was only his second touch of the ball. Could his cameo display have given Gary Johnson food for thought?
5. The losing streak is over, but have United's affiliations with the Trophy just begun?
Victory on Saturday ended Torquay United's run of six straight defeats in all competitions, but could United's interest in the FA Trophy have only just begun? Manager Gary Johnson has won the National League twice with Yeovil Town in the 2002-03 season and Cheltenham Town in the 2015-16 campaign - is their potential this season to add another FA Trophy to his CV next to the one that he won with the Glovers in 2002? Johnson sets his teams up to attack, which is a method that favours cup football, so watch this space.
Saturday's FA Trophy tie saw Saikou Janneh display the kind of form in front of goal that he displayed in his first loan spell at Plainmoor in the 2018-19 season. Janneh netted his first goals of his second loan stint from Bristol City and also provided the assist for Jamie Reid's second of the afternoon on 70th minute, which helped to earn him the sponsor's man of the match award. It was also the first time that Janneh and Reid had scored for United since their memorable 3-3 draw away to Woking last season.
2. The new signings are settling in well.
The Plainmoor faithful also got to see the first glimpse of Gary Johnson's two latest recruits in the form of central midfielder Lloyd James and winger Aaron Nemane. Both made significant contributions as James, a former Wales Under-21 international who joins on loan from Forest Green Rovers, started the move that led to Janneh's opener and provided the assist for Ruairi Keating's fourth goal. Former Manchester City Nemane, who has also appeared for Glasgow Rangers and Go Eagles in Holland amongst others, went on a mazy run before providing the pass to Saikou Janneh helped to enable Jamie Reid to score United's third.
James' loan spell at Plainmoor and Nemane initial deal with the Gulls are both for one-month, but there is every chance that their respective stays with United could last beyond that period.
3. Joe Lewis filled in well at left-back.
In the absence of Liam Davis through injury, Swansea City loanee Joe Lewis filled in at left-back. Despite being played out of position, Wales Under-21 international Lewis, who is primarily a centre back - and a right-sided one too, was one of United's leading performers on the day and as well as being defensively strong, he also offered an outlet going forward with a number of overlapping runs.
4. Could Ruairi Keating become Torquay United's answer to David Fairclough?
In the mid-to-late 1970's and early 1980's, David Fairclough carved out a niche for himself in Liverpool's all-conquering European Cup and league title winning sides as a 'super sub'. The question now is in the 2019-20 season, could Ruairi Keating perform a similar role for the Gulls? Keating found the back of the net in the 73rd minutes, just two minutes after coming off the bench with what was only his second touch of the ball. Could his cameo display have given Gary Johnson food for thought?
5. The losing streak is over, but have United's affiliations with the Trophy just begun?
Victory on Saturday ended Torquay United's run of six straight defeats in all competitions, but could United's interest in the FA Trophy have only just begun? Manager Gary Johnson has won the National League twice with Yeovil Town in the 2002-03 season and Cheltenham Town in the 2015-16 campaign - is their potential this season to add another FA Trophy to his CV next to the one that he won with the Glovers in 2002? Johnson sets his teams up to attack, which is a method that favours cup football, so watch this space.
Friday, 13 December 2019
ADAMS RETURNS TO HOME PARK FOR FIRST TIME SINCE PILGRIMS' DEPARTURE
Plymouth Argyle's first competitive league fixture in front of their newly redeveloped Mayflower stand will see the man currently hoping to lead the Pilgrims to their next promotion against the man who won their last.
Present Argyle boss Ryan Lowe will be going head to head with his predecessor Derek Adams when the Pilgrims host Morecambe, and Lowe will be also be hoping to emulate Adams' achievement of the 2016-17 season by leading Argyle to promotion from League Two.
Adams, however, is facing a very different task in his current role with the Shrimps, who are currently bottom of the division on goal difference, after succeeding the AFC Fylde-bound Jim Bentley, who had spent the last eight years in charge at the Globe Arena, last month.
It will be the first time that Adams has returned to Home Park since his dismissal last April which brought his four-year spell in charge of the Pilgrims to an end.
Whereas promotion was Adams' main brief when he first took over of Argyle, the Pilgrims also lost in the 2016 League Two play-off final to AFC Wimbledon in his first season in charge before they finished as runners-up in the 2016-17 campaign, his main challenge with Morecambe is to keep them in League Two.
The Shrimps are currently the longest serving club in the fourth tier of English football after winning promotion from the Conference National in the 2006-07 season when they beat the Pilgrims' arch-rivals Exeter City in the play-off final.
Whilst the size of the two clubs and the challenge of both jobs might be different, both managers will be eager to secure the three points on offer, which they both need for differing reasons.
Present Argyle boss Ryan Lowe will be going head to head with his predecessor Derek Adams when the Pilgrims host Morecambe, and Lowe will be also be hoping to emulate Adams' achievement of the 2016-17 season by leading Argyle to promotion from League Two.
Adams, however, is facing a very different task in his current role with the Shrimps, who are currently bottom of the division on goal difference, after succeeding the AFC Fylde-bound Jim Bentley, who had spent the last eight years in charge at the Globe Arena, last month.
It will be the first time that Adams has returned to Home Park since his dismissal last April which brought his four-year spell in charge of the Pilgrims to an end.
Whereas promotion was Adams' main brief when he first took over of Argyle, the Pilgrims also lost in the 2016 League Two play-off final to AFC Wimbledon in his first season in charge before they finished as runners-up in the 2016-17 campaign, his main challenge with Morecambe is to keep them in League Two.
The Shrimps are currently the longest serving club in the fourth tier of English football after winning promotion from the Conference National in the 2006-07 season when they beat the Pilgrims' arch-rivals Exeter City in the play-off final.
Whilst the size of the two clubs and the challenge of both jobs might be different, both managers will be eager to secure the three points on offer, which they both need for differing reasons.
Thursday, 12 December 2019
THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY BEGINS FOR THE GULLS AND THE GLOVERS
For Torquay United and Yeovil Town all roads will point to Wembley this weekend as the Gulls and the Glovers both enter the FA Trophy fray.
Torquay host fellow National League outfit Aldershot Town, who they beat 2-0 in front of the BT Sport cameras in August, and Yeovil face National League South side Welling United at Huish Park.
Both sides have pedigree in the competition during this century as current United manager Gary Johnson led Yeovil to Trophy glory in 2002 with a 2-0 win over Stevenage at Villa Park; the Gulls marked their first season following relegation from the Football League by reaching the 2008 final where they lost to Ebbsfleet United.
However, with the National League play-offs now widened to include the division's top seven, has success in the Trophy become a lesser priority for a number of National League clubs?
Last season's competition proved to be an exception to this trend as the 2019 final was contested by the 2018-19 National League beaten play-off finalists AFC Fylde and champions Leyton Orient - which Fylde won 3-0. This was in direct contrast to the previous season as 2017-18 champions Macclesfield Town and play-off winners Tranmere Rovers both went out in the first round.
The prize money that clubs receive for competing in the Trophy isn't as lucrative as the money that they receive for making progress in the FA Cup, and with the competition operating on a national format from the second round onwards the cost can begin to add up.
Also there is the effect that it has on the fixture list - if either United or the Glovers progress beyond the second round and then all the way to the final they would need to re-arrange four league fixtures to accommodate their quarter final and two-legged semi-final.
One way of increasing interest in the Trophy could be to involve National League sides in the earlier rounds. It would give the clubs playing in the lower reaches of the non-league game an extra chance to earn a plum draw against a former league side.
Another idea could be to regionalise the competition all the way through in a similar way that the leasing.com Trophy, in its current guise, was before the introduction of Premier League Under-21 sides. This would reduce the cost of travelling for the teams remaining in the Trophy. It would the eliminate the possibility of the Gulls travelling away to Blyth Spartans in early January, which would have been the prize if they had overcome Boreham Wood in the first round of last season's Trophy.
Torquay host fellow National League outfit Aldershot Town, who they beat 2-0 in front of the BT Sport cameras in August, and Yeovil face National League South side Welling United at Huish Park.
Both sides have pedigree in the competition during this century as current United manager Gary Johnson led Yeovil to Trophy glory in 2002 with a 2-0 win over Stevenage at Villa Park; the Gulls marked their first season following relegation from the Football League by reaching the 2008 final where they lost to Ebbsfleet United.
However, with the National League play-offs now widened to include the division's top seven, has success in the Trophy become a lesser priority for a number of National League clubs?
Last season's competition proved to be an exception to this trend as the 2019 final was contested by the 2018-19 National League beaten play-off finalists AFC Fylde and champions Leyton Orient - which Fylde won 3-0. This was in direct contrast to the previous season as 2017-18 champions Macclesfield Town and play-off winners Tranmere Rovers both went out in the first round.
The prize money that clubs receive for competing in the Trophy isn't as lucrative as the money that they receive for making progress in the FA Cup, and with the competition operating on a national format from the second round onwards the cost can begin to add up.
Also there is the effect that it has on the fixture list - if either United or the Glovers progress beyond the second round and then all the way to the final they would need to re-arrange four league fixtures to accommodate their quarter final and two-legged semi-final.
One way of increasing interest in the Trophy could be to involve National League sides in the earlier rounds. It would give the clubs playing in the lower reaches of the non-league game an extra chance to earn a plum draw against a former league side.
Another idea could be to regionalise the competition all the way through in a similar way that the leasing.com Trophy, in its current guise, was before the introduction of Premier League Under-21 sides. This would reduce the cost of travelling for the teams remaining in the Trophy. It would the eliminate the possibility of the Gulls travelling away to Blyth Spartans in early January, which would have been the prize if they had overcome Boreham Wood in the first round of last season's Trophy.
Monday, 9 December 2019
LIKE ROME, TORQUAY UNITED PROMOTION WINNING TEAMS WEREN'T BUILT IN A DAY
Like the city of Rome most Torquay United promotion winning sides were not built in a day.
To give you the first of two examples three years passed between the Gulls' final day relegation against Barnet in 2001 to their first automatic promotion in 38 years which was secured with a 2-1 win over Southend United in the last fixture of the 2003-04 season. During this time Roy McFarland in the 2001-02 campaign and then Leroy Rosenior in the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons cultivated a side that played a brand of football widely considered to be the most exciting seen at Plainmoor in many a year.
It also took Paul Buckle two years to transform a club that had just been relegated from the Football League for the first time in its history into one that made a swift return by beating Cambridge United 2-0 in the 2009 Conference play-off final. Buckle then needed another two years to turn his Blue Square Premier play-offs into League Two play-off contenders, as United were beaten by Stevenage at Old Trafford in the 2010-11 play-off final at Old Trafford in what proved to be Buckle's final game in charge.
Which is why Gary Johnson needs to be given time as he attempts to turn the 2019-20 Torquay United from National League South champions into would be National League promotion winners.
Johnson performed the footballing equivalent of alchemy when he took a side that was 14th in the National League South at the time of the departure of his predecessor Gary Owers from the Plainmoor hot seat to the league title with three games to spare.
Now after a promising start that saw the Gulls mount a challenge for a second successive promotion, United have now run into one of the icebergs that Johnson has often referred to during his time in charge as they have now lost six straight games in all competitions.
In isolation, the last of those losses to date, which was a 2-1 defeat away to Harrogate Town, is no disaster but after a five-match losing run it feels slightly more painful.
However, there are mitigating circumstances in the form of an injury crisis that has led to Johnson increasing the number of loan players currently at the club to eight: Robbie Cundy, Opi Edwards, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Saikou Janneh (all Bristol City), Frank Vincent (AFC Bournemouth), Joe Lewis (Swansea City), Ramarni Medford-Smith (Reading) and most recently Amrit Balsan-McNulty (Queens Park Rangers).
Such are the problems facing Johnson that many of the loan players that he has brought in are currently, along with senior pros skipper Asa Hall and left-back Liam Davis.
With a busy festive period approaching, Johnson is now faced with the task of building a bridge over increasingly troubled waters. Nevertheless he has already starting shuffling his pack as Dutch striker Manny Duku has already departed for pastures as he searches for that winning combination that will improve United's fortunes.
To give you the first of two examples three years passed between the Gulls' final day relegation against Barnet in 2001 to their first automatic promotion in 38 years which was secured with a 2-1 win over Southend United in the last fixture of the 2003-04 season. During this time Roy McFarland in the 2001-02 campaign and then Leroy Rosenior in the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons cultivated a side that played a brand of football widely considered to be the most exciting seen at Plainmoor in many a year.
It also took Paul Buckle two years to transform a club that had just been relegated from the Football League for the first time in its history into one that made a swift return by beating Cambridge United 2-0 in the 2009 Conference play-off final. Buckle then needed another two years to turn his Blue Square Premier play-offs into League Two play-off contenders, as United were beaten by Stevenage at Old Trafford in the 2010-11 play-off final at Old Trafford in what proved to be Buckle's final game in charge.
Which is why Gary Johnson needs to be given time as he attempts to turn the 2019-20 Torquay United from National League South champions into would be National League promotion winners.
Johnson performed the footballing equivalent of alchemy when he took a side that was 14th in the National League South at the time of the departure of his predecessor Gary Owers from the Plainmoor hot seat to the league title with three games to spare.
Now after a promising start that saw the Gulls mount a challenge for a second successive promotion, United have now run into one of the icebergs that Johnson has often referred to during his time in charge as they have now lost six straight games in all competitions.
In isolation, the last of those losses to date, which was a 2-1 defeat away to Harrogate Town, is no disaster but after a five-match losing run it feels slightly more painful.
However, there are mitigating circumstances in the form of an injury crisis that has led to Johnson increasing the number of loan players currently at the club to eight: Robbie Cundy, Opi Edwards, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Saikou Janneh (all Bristol City), Frank Vincent (AFC Bournemouth), Joe Lewis (Swansea City), Ramarni Medford-Smith (Reading) and most recently Amrit Balsan-McNulty (Queens Park Rangers).
Such are the problems facing Johnson that many of the loan players that he has brought in are currently, along with senior pros skipper Asa Hall and left-back Liam Davis.
With a busy festive period approaching, Johnson is now faced with the task of building a bridge over increasingly troubled waters. Nevertheless he has already starting shuffling his pack as Dutch striker Manny Duku has already departed for pastures as he searches for that winning combination that will improve United's fortunes.
Thursday, 5 December 2019
KIEFFER HOPING TO FIRE DRAGONS TO EURO GLORY
For Jamie Ward with Northern Ireland in Euro 2016, you could potentially read Kieffer Moore with Wales in Euro 2020.
If selected by Welsh boss Ryan Giggs for the European wide tournament next summer, former Torquay United loanee Moore, 27, will join the list of former Gulls player to have featured in major tournaments.
Torbay-born Moore, who currently plays his club football for Wigan Athletic in the Championship, can look back at his brief, but prolific loan spell with his hometown club midway through the 2016-17 season as the point that helped to propel him to his current level.
Moore spent four games on loan at Plainmoor from Forest Green Rovers, which included a goal on his debut against Wrexham that secured a 1-1 draw. This was soon followed by a hat-trick in a 3-0 home win against Solihull Moors and a further headed effort was instrumental in sealing a 1-0 win away at Dagenham & Redbridge.
His loan spell came to an end following 2-1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers - in which Moore was handed the captain's by then United manager Kevin Nicholson. After his return to the New Lawn, a permanent return to South Devon appeared to be on the cards but little did we know that former United player-assistant manager Steve McCall who, after seeing Moore in action at Dagenham, had alerted Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy to his talents, and the Tractor Boys paid Forest Green £15,000 to take him to Portman Road.
Earlier in his career Moore had spent the 2013-14 season with Yeovil Town in the Championship under current United manager Gary Johnson and was keen to prove himself at that level again.
Since then Moore has changed hands for fees of over £3million, having joined Barnsley for £750,000 and his present club Wigan for £2.4 million and being eligible to play for Wales through his grandfather, and he has now been capped five times for the principality and scored twice. Both his goals came against Slovakia and Azerbaijan in Wales' Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, so he can claim to have made a meaningful contribution to helping the Welsh reach their second successive Euro finals.
In the finals Wales will be facing Switzerland and Turkey in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, before facing Italy in their final group game in Rome's Stadio Olympico Stadium. If Moore is involved in either of those three games, it will be another exciting chapter in a career that began with Paignton Saints in the South Devon League and has taken in a spell in Norway with Viking FK as well as stints in the South West with Truro City and Dorchester Town.
Former Torquay United players who have previously represented their country at major finals:
Euro 92: Keith Curle (England)
1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Rodney Jack (St Vincent and the Grenadines)
1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Paul Hall (Jamaica)
1998 World Cup: Paul Hall (Jamaica), Matt Elliott (Scotland)*
1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Paul Hall (Jamaica)
Euro 2016: Jamie Ward (Northern Ireland)
* Matt Elliott was named in the Scotland squad for the 1998 World Cup in France, but didn't feature in any of their three matches against Brazil, Norway or Morroco.
If selected by Welsh boss Ryan Giggs for the European wide tournament next summer, former Torquay United loanee Moore, 27, will join the list of former Gulls player to have featured in major tournaments.
Torbay-born Moore, who currently plays his club football for Wigan Athletic in the Championship, can look back at his brief, but prolific loan spell with his hometown club midway through the 2016-17 season as the point that helped to propel him to his current level.
Moore spent four games on loan at Plainmoor from Forest Green Rovers, which included a goal on his debut against Wrexham that secured a 1-1 draw. This was soon followed by a hat-trick in a 3-0 home win against Solihull Moors and a further headed effort was instrumental in sealing a 1-0 win away at Dagenham & Redbridge.
His loan spell came to an end following 2-1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers - in which Moore was handed the captain's by then United manager Kevin Nicholson. After his return to the New Lawn, a permanent return to South Devon appeared to be on the cards but little did we know that former United player-assistant manager Steve McCall who, after seeing Moore in action at Dagenham, had alerted Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy to his talents, and the Tractor Boys paid Forest Green £15,000 to take him to Portman Road.
Earlier in his career Moore had spent the 2013-14 season with Yeovil Town in the Championship under current United manager Gary Johnson and was keen to prove himself at that level again.
Since then Moore has changed hands for fees of over £3million, having joined Barnsley for £750,000 and his present club Wigan for £2.4 million and being eligible to play for Wales through his grandfather, and he has now been capped five times for the principality and scored twice. Both his goals came against Slovakia and Azerbaijan in Wales' Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, so he can claim to have made a meaningful contribution to helping the Welsh reach their second successive Euro finals.
In the finals Wales will be facing Switzerland and Turkey in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, before facing Italy in their final group game in Rome's Stadio Olympico Stadium. If Moore is involved in either of those three games, it will be another exciting chapter in a career that began with Paignton Saints in the South Devon League and has taken in a spell in Norway with Viking FK as well as stints in the South West with Truro City and Dorchester Town.
Former Torquay United players who have previously represented their country at major finals:
Euro 92: Keith Curle (England)
1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Rodney Jack (St Vincent and the Grenadines)
1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Paul Hall (Jamaica)
1998 World Cup: Paul Hall (Jamaica), Matt Elliott (Scotland)*
1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Paul Hall (Jamaica)
Euro 2016: Jamie Ward (Northern Ireland)
* Matt Elliott was named in the Scotland squad for the 1998 World Cup in France, but didn't feature in any of their three matches against Brazil, Norway or Morroco.
Sunday, 1 December 2019
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS STOCKPORT COUNTY
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.
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.
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