SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS SOUTHEND UNITED

1. 'Gary time' makes a comeback. 

In the 2020-21 season, Torquay United made a habit of scoring late goals in what became known as 'Gary time' by the Plainmoor faithful. The first United player to score a winning goal in 'Gary time' was Connor Lemonheigh-Evans in their opening game of the season at home to Stockport County, so it was quite apt that a goal from Lemonheigh-Evans secured the Gulls' first home win of the season against Southend United. 

2. Return of the Mac. 

United's win over Southend also marked Shaun MacDonald's second debut for the Gulls, after he returned to Plainmoor following an injury to Mark Halstead against Solihull Moors in midweek, which later turned out to be concussion. MacDonald, who was a free agent after leaving United in the summer, kept a clean sheet on his return and looks set to continue for the immediate future. 

3. Formation switch. 

After starting the season with 4-4-2, Gary Johnson switched United's formation to 3-5-2, which saw Ben Wynter, Joe Lewis and Dean Moxey form a central defensive trio with Chiori Johnson and Keelan O'Connell deployed as wing-backs. The changes paid off as it gave the Gulls a more solid structure and, perhaps more importantly, it helped them to complete their first clean sheet of the season.

4. Dean Moxey's cross. 

The quality of the delivery from Dean Moxey for the cross which led to Connor Lemonheigh-Evans netting United's winner undoutably showed the qualities that saw him appear in the Championship for the likes of Derby County, Crystal Palace and Bolton Wanderers earlier in his career. As one of the senior pros in the Gulls' squad, Moxey's experience will no doubt prove to be vital in helping to guide many of United's younger players in the coming months.

5. Managerial re-match of the 2008 Championship Play-off final. 

In the 2021 Championship Play-off final, Brentford defeated Swansea City to win promotion to the top-flight for the first time in 74 years, and whether Bees manager Thomas Frank ends up facing former Swans boss Steve Cooper in a National League fixture in 13 years time remained to be seen. However,  Gary Johnson and Phil Brown locked managerial horns in the 2008 Championship Play-off final as managers of Bristol City and Hull City respectively and crossed each others paths again with Torquay and Southend. A wonder strike from Dean Windass won the day for the Tigers that day, but in their two meetings since then Johnson's sides have come out on top on both occasions; in the 2013-14 Capital One Cup first round in 2013-14, which Yeovil won 1-0, and Saturday's encounter which saw the Gulls come out on top. 

6. Gabby Rogers' family connections with the Shrimpers. 

Young Gulls' midfielder Gabby Rogers was celebrating his first win as a Torquay United player against the club where his father, Andy Rogers, ended his career. Rogers senior, who famously scored the goal that secured Plymouth Argyle's place in the 1984 FA Cup semi-final against Derby County, spent the final two years of his career with Southend United between 1986 and 1988. 

A DIFFERENT PRIZE

The settings may not be as glamourous, but the will to win for those involved will be very much the same. 

In the 2007-08 season, the Championship Play-off final was contested by Bristol City and Hull City, who were managed by Gary Johnson and Phil Brown respectively. 

Fast forward 13 years and the two managers will be going head to head in the National League as Johnson's Torquay United prepare to face Brown's Southend United. 

A Dean Windass strike famously decided the contest, which is regarded as the 'most expensive gamein English football', as the Tigers reached the top-flight for their first time in their history. 

Brown then went on to consolidate Hull's place in the Premier League before leaving the club in the summer of 2010. He then went on to manage Preston North End before he took charge of Southend United in March 2013 and he led the Shrimpers to promotion from League Two in the 2014-15 campaign. A spell in charge of Swindon and a stint in India followed before he returned to Roots Hall in April 2021, but he was unable to stop them from being relegated from the Football League for the first time in their history. 

Johnson left his post as Bristol City in March 2010 and went on to manage Peterborough United and Northampton Town before returning to Yeovil Town in January 2012. He then guided the Glovers to the Championship against the odds in the 2012-13 season, following a Play-off final victory over Brentford. 

Yeovil's stay in the Championship proved to be a brief one and would leave Huish Park in February 2015, following his dismissal. 

In the following month Johnson returned to management with Cheltenham Town, then in League Two. He was unable to keep them in the Football League; however, he led them to an immediate return to the Football League in the 2015-16 season as the Robins clinched the title with a brand new squad built from scratch. 

Four games into the 2018-19 campaign, Johnson was dismissed by Cheltenham but was appointed as manager of Torquay side, who had recently been relegated to National League South, in September 2018. 

At the time of his appointment, the Gulls were 14th in the National League South - but he soon galvanised the club as they went on a club record 16-match unbeaten run in the league before clinching the club's first title in 91 years. 

Two years later, Johnson led United to the brink of promotion from the National League, as they narrowly missed out on the league title before losing in the Play-off final on penalties to Hartlepool United. 

Both managers will be looking for a reaction following their side's disappointing start to the campaign, United gained four points from their opening six league fixtures and the Shrimpers picked up five, but memories of that day in 2008 at Wembley won't be far away. 

Footnote: Saturday's clash will be the second time that Brown and Johnson have locked managerial horns since the 2008 Championship Play-off final. Brown's Southend lost 1-0 to Johnson's Yeovil in the first round of the Capital One Cup in August 2013.

GARY JOHNSON'S THREE YEARS IN CHARGE OF TORQUAY UNITED

Since he was appointed as Torquay United manager on September 13, 2018, Gary Johnson has taken the Gulls from 14^th in National League South to the brink of a return to the Football League.

In the 2018-19 season, he led United to the National League South title as they finished 14 points clear of second placed Woking. He followed this up with a 14th place finish in the 2019-20 National League campaign, which was curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic and the final places were decided using PPG (points per game). 

The subsequent 2020-21 campaign, which was played largely behind closed doors, proved to be another memorable one for both Johnson and the Gulls. After remaining in contention for the title, United finished the league campaign in second place before losing out to Hartlepool United in the National League Play-off final at Ashton Gate on penalties.                                                                               

Johnson is one of the longest serving United managers of recent times – only Paul Buckle (June 2007 to May 2011) and Leroy Rosenior (June 2002 to January 2006) have spent more time in the Plainmoor hot seat this century. Throughout the entirety of the club's post-war history, only Eric Webber's 14 years and five months between October 1951 to May 1965, Mike Green's four years and nine months between March 1977 and May 1981 and Frank O'Farrell's three years and seven months between May 1965 and October 1968 can better Johnson's present tenure.

In addition to this, he is the fifth longest serving manager in the National League, behind Alan Devonshire (Maidenhead United), Luke Garrard (Boreham Wood), Phil Parkinson (Altrincham) and Alan Dowson (Woking). Also, only 16 of the 92 managers in the Football League have been in their current roles longer than Johnson has been in charge at Plainmoor. 

During his reign, the Gulls have set the following club records:

• Most Points in a Season (3 points for a win): 88 in 42 matches (2018/19 National League South)
• Most consecutive league wins: 10 matches (13 November 2018-05 January 2019, National League South)
• Most consecutive league Games without defeat: 16 matches (15 September 2018-05 January 2019, National League South)
• Record FA Cup win: 7-0 v Lymington Town (22nd September 2018)
• Fewest league defeats in a Season: 8 in 42 matches (2018/19 National League South and 2020/21 National League)
• Fewest league goals conceded: 39 in 42 matches (2020/21 National League)
• Best start to a season (13 games): 31 points from a possible 36 points (2020/21 National League)
• Most away wins in a season: 12 in 42 matches (2018/19 National League South and 2020/21 National League)
• Highest win percentage of any Torquay United manager (since the club turned professional in 1921):– 54.48% win rate
• First league title since the 1926-27 season (National League South title in the 2018-19 campaign). 

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS GRIMSBY TOWN

1. Armani Little's third of the season. 

United midfielder Armani Little followed up his brace against Maidenhead United by giving the Gulls the lead in the 11th minute, with a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. However, unfortunately for both United and Little, they were unable to build on their early advantage as they were beaten 3-1 by Grimsby Town. Little now heads the Gulls' scoring charts with three goals and he is the only United player to have scored more than once this season. 

2. Dean Moxey's goal-line clearance. 

Had it not been for Dean Moxey's goal-line clearance to deny former Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle Ryan Taylor in the 36th minute, then the match would have been over as a contest much earlier than it was. Realistically there would have been no way back for the Gulls had they trailed 3-1 at the break, but at 2-1 they was always the possibility that they could have got it back to 2-2. 

3. Injuries. 

In the second half of United's clash with Grimsby, Dean Moxey, Armani Little and Dan Holman all went off through injury. Utility man Chiori Johnson also went down injured but managed to carry on. There is no word yet whether they will be fit to face Solihull Moors on Tuesday night.  With midfielder Tom Lapslie injured and Olaf Koszela, Scott Piper and Louis Slough all out on loan, United are almost down to their bare bones.

4. Lewis denied. 

With nine minutes to go, United centre back Joe Lewis got his head to a cross from Chiori Johnson and it looked for all the world as though it was heading in, but Mariners keeper James McKeown managed to get a hand to it to keep it out. Lewis threatened again moments later when he headed a corner from Connor Lemonheigh-Evans over the bar. Had McKeown not made his save would United have held on for a point? Any theories on whether they could or would have done were made to appear purely academic when the Mariners hit United on the counter attack, which led to Harry Clifton bagging their third of the game in injury time.

5. Third successive home defeat. 

For the first time since the 1961-62 season, Torquay United have failed to win all three of their opening home league fixtures. That sequence also included a defeat to Grimsby Town - however, on that occasion Eric Webber's side lost 2-1 as opposed to 3-1. Nevertheless, they ended that sequence in spectacular fashion in the fourth home game of the campaign with a 6-2 win over Barnsley. 

6. 14 conceded. 

Perhaps more worringly for United manager Gary Johnson, the Gulls have now conceded 14 goals in their opening five fixtures, which works out at over two per game. With two former central defenders in the Gulls' backroom staff in the form of Aaron Downes (assistant manager) and Chris Todd (youth coach), it is something that hopefully they have the know now to address. 

THE PILGRIMS VERSUS THE OWLS - 11 YEARS ON

Ahead of Plymouth Argyle's clash with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, which will be the first time that they have faced other in over a decade, we will take a look back at a memorable encounter between the two sides from September 2010.

It is nearly 11 years ago to this day that Plymouth Argyle faced Sheffield Wednesday in League One shortly after the two sides had just been relegated from the Championship.

In a highly entertaining game, the Pilgrims came out as 3-2 winners despite being reduced to ten men, following Bondz N'gala's dismissal late in the first half. It was arguably their finest performance under the ill-fated tenure of Peter Reid, which saw Argyle experience a second successive relegation as they were deducted ten points for going into Administration in February 2011. 

Argyle skipper Carl Fletcher marked his return from injury with the opening goal of the afternoon in the 19^th minute with a low, 25-yard effort.

James O’Connor then equalised for the Owls on 38 minutes before Argyle were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of right back Bondz N’gala on the stroke of half-time for a challenge on Neil Mellor.

However, they restored their advantage in the first minute of the second half through a strike from the recalled Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Wednesday then levelled on 75 minutes with a stunning strike from substitute Tommy Miller before Craig Noone grabbed the winner for Argyle for four minutes later. 

The first chance of the game fell to Argyle on four minutes when defender Krisztian Timar blasted a Craig Noone corner over the bar from 12-yards.

Wednesday had Nicky Weaver to thank for keeping the score level when he denied recalled Pilgrims striker Bradley Wright-Phillips twice in the space of two minutes.

Argyle’s early pressure paid off when they took the lead in the 19^th minute when Wright-Phillips teed up skipper Fletcher who drilled a fine, low 25-yard effort, which went in off the inside of the right hand post, past Weaver.

Wednesday drew level on 38 minutes when O’Connor nodded home a cross from Coke past Argyle keeper Romain Larrieu.

The Pilgrims were then reduced on ten men on the stroke of half-time when referee Andy Penn dismissed N’gala for a professional foul on Mellor.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Argyle made a dream start to the second half when Wright-Phillips took advantage of a lapse in concentration in the Wednesday back line to head home a Noone cross to restore the Pilgrims lead.

Wednesday equalised in stunning fashion on 75 minutes when substitute Miller curled a 30-yard effort past Larrieu.

However, Argyle soon regained their advantage in the 79^th minute when Noone leapt highest in the Argyle penalty area to connect with a cross from Jim Paterson and placed his header past Weaver as the Pilgrims clinched their first home win in front of their own fans since March 2010.

Plymouth:(4-4-2) Larrieu, N’gala, Johnson, Timar, Bhasera, Noone (Stephens 89), Fletcher, Arnason, Paterson, Wright-Phillips (MacLean 75), Patterson (Seip 46)

Subs not used: Mason, Peterlin, Chenoweth, Parrett

Sheff Wed: (4-4-2) Weaver, Buxton, Purse, Beevers, Spurr (Jones 83), Sedgwick (Miller 62), O’Connor, Potter (Morrison 62), Coke, Mellor, Tudgay

Subs not used: Heffernan, Teale, Jameson, Otsemobor

 

Attendance: 7,916 

GULLS SECURE FIRST WIN IN SEVEN-GOAL THRILLER

For many Torquay United who witnessed their first win of the 2021-22 season against Maidenhead United, there will be shades of their final day victory over Barnet in the 2000-01 campaign. 

On that occasion the Gulls raced into a three-goal lead, thanks to efforts from Jason Rees, Kevin Hill and David Graham, before clinging on to a 3-2 win in the end to retain their Football League status.

While the stakes may not have been as high against Maidenhead they were also playing on a sloping pitch. The Magpies' York Road home is one of the few grounds in the National League to possess a slope, just as Barnet's Underhill - the Bees have since moved to The Hive - was one of the few in the Third Division in the 2000-01 season with a lob-sided pitch. 

A brace from midfielder Armani Little set United on their way before skipper Asa Hall, who has now shed his ponytail, added a third in the 44th minute. Then in first half injury time, Welsh midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans gave the Gulls a four-goal cushion. 

However, those observers who thought a 4-0 deficit would be too big a mountain to climb for the Magpies had that belief put to the test when Maidenhead netted twice in the opening ten minutes after the restart. Remy Clerima lobbed Torquay keeper Mark Halstead in the 49th minute before Magpies skipper Alan Massey found the target on 54 minutes.

Then in the 66th minute, Emile Acquah brought Maidenhead within one goal of levelling matters, but the Gulls held on to win 4-3. Nevertheless, Torquay could have had a fifth shortly after Acquah's strike as striker Dan Holman hit the cross bar in what was a topsy turvy contest in the truest sense of the phrase. 

Footnote: It wasn't the first time that the Gulls had found themselves four goals ahead at half time against Maidenhead. On October 3, 2017, United raced into a four-goal lead at Plainmoor against Maidenhead in a game that was delayed because the Magpies' team coach was stuck in traffic. However, on that occasion, the Gulls successfully managed to see out the second half comfortably to win 4-0. 

CHANGE OF FORTUNE REQUIRED

Very often in life perspectives on a subject matter can differ from person to person. 

For example, in the eyes of former Ipswich Town chairman, the late John Cobbold, the idea of a crisis was the boardroom at Portman Road running out of claret! It wasn't necessarily an opinion shared by every chairman up and down the country, but it meant that Bobby Robson free to manage the Tractor Boys between 1968 and 1982, when he left to become England manager, with minimal interference. 

The same principles can be applied to the current situation Torquay United find themselves in under Gary Johnson. After last season's Play-off final defeat to Hartlepool United, hopes were high that Johnson's new look Gulls' side could challenge for promotion once again. However, two defeats in their opening three league fixtures have left some fans worrying about their prospects in 2021-22. 

A 3-1 defeat on the opening day of the campaign at home to Altrincham was followed by a hard earned 1-1 draw against Notts County, in which United took the lead through Danny Wright shortly after going down to ten men following central defender Ali Omar's dismissal on 25 minutes. 

Therefore, when the Gulls faced Woking at home, in what was remarkably the 17th meeting between the two sides since United were relegated from the Football League for a second time in 2014, hopes were high that they could secure their first win of the season. Sadly, the opposite proved to be the case as the Cards came away as 4-0 winners - and in truth it could have been more. 

However, despite the doom and gloom, it is worth remembering that in the season when United last won promotion from the fifth tier (Conference/Blue Square/National League) they did so by recovering from one of their worst starts to a season in living memory. 

In the 2008-09 season under Paul Buckle, the Gulls only won once in the opening seven league fixtures and only managed two draws in addition to that. Much like Johnson's class of 2021-22, Buckle had added several new faces to his squad. The turning point came on September 7 2008, when a 90th minute penalty from Tim Sills secured a 2-1 win over Northwich Victoria, which proved to be not just a turning point for Buckle, who was coming under increasing pressure at the time, but the entire club as well. 

United then went on to clinch a Play-off spot with a 2-1 over champions elect Burton Albion on the final day of the campaign before beating Histon in the Play-off semi-finals and then Cambridge United in the final. 

This was also achieved following a failed title challenge from the previous season, which saw United miss out to Aldershot Town in a similar manner to their near-miss with Sutton United in the 2020-21 season. And that's before you even discuss their nightmare Play-off campaign, which saw them lose out to Exeter City in the semis. 

United's fortunes can change, but it may need a 'Tim Sills penalty' moment to swing the balance back in their favour.