SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS WREXHAM

1. Asa Hall excels at the back. 

Instead of playing in his usual holding midfield role, United skipper Asa Hall was deployed by Gulls manager Gary Johnson as a centre back and Hall took his role like a duck to water. 

The former Oxford United, Shrewsbury and Cheltenham midfielder was deployed in the middle of a back three which consisted of the returning Joe Lewis and Dean Moxey. He was a threat in both boxes, as he won practically everything in the air that Wrexham's attack could throw at him and scored what proved to be the winner when he headed home Armani Little's free-kick at the back post in the eighth minute. 

Hall appeared as a centre back on occasions at his previous club Barrow and this could be his new role going forward for the Gulls. 

2. Joe Lewis and Dean Moxey help keep a clean sheet on their return. 

After missing United's previous two fixtures due to testing positive for Covid-19, Joe Lewis and Dean Moxey both helped the Gulls to keep a clean sheet on their return to the starting line-up. 

In the 20th minute, Lewis made a couple of important blocks to keep James Jones and Ollie Palmer at bay. The duo, along with Hall, brought a level of authority and calmness to United's back line - and they will be key figures for United for the remainder of the campaign. 

3. Starting without a recognised striker. 

While Wrexham named Ollie Palmer in their forward line, who they paid League One side AFC Wimbledon for his services, Torquay started the match without a recognised striker in their starting line-up. You could have been forgiven for thinking that Gary Johnson had named Connor Lemonheigh-Evans as a 'false nine' - but the United midfielder was indeed playing a a central striker with Sunderland loanee Stephen Wearne playing as a 'number 10' behind him. In an era where Pep Guardiola regularly names Phil Foden or Jack Grealish as a central striker for Manchester City - Johnson has shown such tactical flexibility isn't confined to the upper echoleons of club football. 

4. Tom Lapslie was a midfield dynamo. 

With Asa Hall being moved into defence, the defensive midfield responsibilities rested on the shoulder of Tom Lapslie, who was also marking his return to the Gulls' starting line-up. Playing as a screening midfielder in front of the United defence. the former Colchester United man made a number of important of interceptions and blocks, and with the energy levels he showed Wrexham must have felt as though they were facing two of him. 

5. The return of Luke Young. 

On this third return to Plainmoor since he left the Gulls to sign for Wrexham in the summer of 2018, Luke Young captained the Red Dragons after recently agreeing to extend his stay at the Racecourse Ground for another year. Young tested United keeper Shaun MacDonald with a shot on the edge of the area in the 47th minute, which was one of Wrexham's better chances in the match. 

6. The Gulls are now nine points from the play-off zone. 

Yesterday's win now leaves the Gulls nine points off seventh place, the league's final play-off spot, which is occupied by Wrexham. With winnable games to come for United in their next two fixtures against Dover away and at home to Barnet, the Gulls now have the chance to close that gap further before they face Boreham Wood on February 22.

SCHUEY VERSUS TUCHEL

Steven Schumacher

Full name: Steven Thomas Schumacher

Date of Birth: 30th April 1984

Age: 37

Place of Birth: Liverpool

Playing position: central midfielder

Previous clubs: (player) Everton, Carlisle United (loan), Oldham Athletic (loan), Bradford City, Crewe Alexandra, Bury, Fleetwood Town, Stevenage, Southport (manager) Southport (caretaker) Plymouth Argyle

Honours: None

        Thomas Tuchel 

Full name: Thomas Tuchel

Date of Birth: 29th August 1973

Age: 48

Place of Birth: Krumbach, West Germany

Previous clubs: (player) TSV Krumbach, FC Augsburg

(manager) FC Augsburg II, FC Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund, Paris St Germain, Chelsea

Honours: DFB-Pokal 2015-16 (Borussia Dortmund), Ligue 1 2018-19, 2019-20, Coupe de France 2019-20 Coupe de la Ligue 2019-20, Trophee de Champions 2018, 2019 (Paris St Germain) UEFA Champions League, European Super Cup 2021 (Chelsea)

FA CUP FOURTH ROUND PREVIEW 2021-22

 Chelsea versus Plymouth Argyle

Less than two months into his reign as Plymouth Argyle manager, Steven Schumacher finds himself going head to head with the current Champions League holders Chelsea. 

One-time Everton starlet Schumacher, who succeeded Preston North End bound Ryan Lowe in December 2021, will be picking his managerial wits against Thomas Tuchel. 

The Blues, who trail leaders Manchester City by ten points in the Premier League, will no doubt see the FA Cup as an opportunity to win another major trophy. They also have a Carabao Cup final against Liverpool to look forward to next month. 

Tuchel will probably see their clash with the Pilgrims as a chance to feature a number of their fringe players, including Marcus Bettinelli, Saul Niguez and Timo Werner, as well as youth prospects Lewis Hall and Harvey Vale. 

Argyle midfielder Jordan Houghton will be lining up against the club where he started his career and Panutche Camara could return to the Argyle side after appearing for Guinea-Bissau in the African Cup of Nations. 

The Pilgrims have faced Chelsea's Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy three times in recent years, in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Several faces who featured in those three encounters are set to be involved at Stamford Bridge. Blues winger Callum Hudson-Odoi netted twice in their 2017 encounter and current Argyle first teamers Michael Cooper and Adam Randell appeared in their 2019 meeting. 

SKIVERTON LEAVES YEOVIL

The word 'legend' is often used term in football and in describing Terry Skiverton in relation to Yeovil Town it is a more than apt description.

Since he first arrived at Huish Park in 1999 from Welling United, the one-time Chelsea trainee would go on to make 382 appearances for the Glovers in all competitions over the next decade. During this time, he would serve under six different managers (Colin Lippiatt, Dave Webb, Colin Addison, Gary Johnson, Steve Thompson and Russell Slade). Skiverton would also win the FA Trophy (2002), the Conference title (2003) and the League Two title (2005) - as he became a key figure in an era that Yeovil Town went from being non-league hopefuls to realising their potential by becoming a Football League club.

He was also part of the Glovers' side that reached the League One play-off final in the 2006-07 season, where Yeovil were beaten 2-0 by Blackpool after memorably beating Nottingham Forest over two legs in the semi-finals. In addition to this, Skiverton was also named in the PFA League One team of the season.

In February 2009, he was named as player-manager, with left-back Nathan Jones appointed as his assistant, following the departure of Russell Slade. Skiverton steered the club away from relegation from League One in the 2008-09 season. In the following the 2009-10 campaign, he made excellent use of the loan system to bring in the likes of Steven Caulker and Ryan Mason from Tottenham Hotspur as the Glovers finished 15th in League One in his first full campaign in charge. 

After officially retiring as a player in the summer of 2010, Skiverton remained in charge until January 2012 when he was demoted to assistant manager as Gary Johnson returned to Huish Park for a second spell in charge. 

While working under Johnson, who Skiverton had won the FA Trophy as well as the Conference and League Two titles under as a player, Yeovil defied the odds to reach the Championship, as they beat Brentford 2-1 in the League One play-off final after defeating Sheffield United in the semi-finals. 

However, their stay in the second tier of English football proved to be a brief one as the Glovers were relegated after just one season (the 2013-14 campaign). In February 2015, Skiverton briefly took over the managerial reins again following Johnson's dismissal for a 13-match spell before Paul Sturrock was appointed as manager and Skiverton reverted to being assistant manager again. 

He continued as assistant manager under Sturrock's successor, his former teammate Darren Way. Under Way, the Glovers avoided being relegated from the Football League - but their 16-year stay in the Football League came to an end at the end of the 2018-19 campaign. 

On their return to non-league football, Skiverton combined the role of academy manager with working as assistant to Darren Sarll as the Glovers looked to bounce back to the Football League. In their first season working together they reached the play-offs in 2019-20, where they were beaten by Barnet at the first eliminator stage in a season that was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. 

The following 2020-21 campaign was marred by tragedy following the tragic death of club captain Lee Collins and Skiverton leaves Huish Park with Yeovil occupying 11th place in the National League. 

Fans of a certain age won't be able to remember the club without his involvement with it, and in an era where players are more transcient, it is likely that the Glovers may never see his like again. 

 

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE

 1. Asa Hall's opener amongst the fastest Torquay United goals of all-time. 

It would probably come as no surprise to anyone who witnessed it that skipper Asa Hall's opening goal for the Gulls, which he scored after 19 seconds when he headed home Dan Martin's cross, is one of the fastest in the club's history. It was marginally slower than Jordan Chapell's strike after 18 seconds at home to Portsmouth in the 2013-14 season, but not as quick as Kalvin Kalala's effort after just ten seconds away to St Albans City in the 2018-19 campaign, when United won National League South. However, none of those goals were scored as swiftly as Pat Kruse's unfortunately own goal against Cambridge United in the 1976-77 season after eight seconds!

2. Harry Perritt signs off with an impressive display in midfield. 

After missing a number of games for compassionate reasons, central defender Harry Perritt returned to the Gulls' starting line-up for the final match of his loan spell from Accrington Stanley in the centre of midfield. Perritt was deployed by United manager Gary Johnson as a holding midfield alongside Asa Hall in a 4-2-3-1 formation - and it was a role that he performed well in as he ended his loan stint on a high. 

3. Shaun MacDonald impressed again between the sticks. 

Once again United keeper Shaun MacDonald made a number of important saves to keep the opposition at bay. At the start of the second half, MacDonald palmed a strike from Daggers' striker Junior Morias behind for a corner, and three minutes later he pulled off a one-handed save to deny Dagenham midfielder Mohamed Sagaf. With eight minutes to go, his reflexes were called upon to deny Sam Ling, the son of former Gulls manager Martin Ling, which played a crucial role, along with his other saves, in securing a point for United. 

4. Stephen Wearne shows promise on debut. 

Early in his reign as Torquay United manager, Gary Johnson loaned a number of players from Bristol City where his son Lee was in charge at the time, including Saikou Janneh, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Opi Edwards and Robbie Cundy. Since Johnson junior became manager of Sunderland the stream of loan players between the Stadium of Light and Plainmoor hasn't flowed as strongly, with only Sweden Under-21 international Benji Kimpioka and the recent arrival of attacking midfielder Stephen Wearne. 

Wearne showed plenty of promise on his debut against Dagenham & Redbridge and forced a couple of smart saves from Daggers' keeper Elliot Justham in the first half.

5. Absentees.  

What was also notable yesterday was that the Gulls achieved their result with a number of absentees. Central midfielders Armani Little and Tom Lapslie were both absent, as were Chiori Johnson and new signing Joe Felix. All four could potentially all return for United's next fixture against Altrincham on January 22. 

6. United maintain strong home form. 

Despite feeling slightly disappointed that they only managed to draw with Dagenham and Redbridge in the end, Torquay United can take some comfort by the fact that they have maintained their improved home form. After losing their first three home fixtures of the campaign (against Altrincham, Woking and Grimsby Town), United have only lost one of their last eight home National League fixtures - a run which reads: played eight, won six, draw one and lost one.

FA CUP THIRD ROUND PREVIEW 2021-22

Birmingham City versus Plymouth Argyle

For the second season in a row, Plymouth Argyle find themselves travelling to Championship opposition in the third round of the FA Cup - as they prepare to face Birmingham City at St Andrews. 

The Pilgrims defeated Huddersfield Town at this stage of the competition in the 2020-21 campaign, and they will be looking to add the Blues to a list of their cup scalps which includes Sheffield Wednesday and Rochdale. Since their second round victory over Dale, Argyle have changed managers as assistant boss Steven Schumacher replaced the Preston North End bound Ryan Lowe last month, and Schumacher now embarks on his first FA Cup tie as a manager. Schumacher has also recently added Bristol Rovers coach Mark Hughes to his backroom staff, which follows the arrival of former England Under-19 coach Keith Downing. 

In addition to this, it might also be the first glimpse for many of the 'Green Army' to see January transfer window signing Alfie Lewis, a former West Ham United Under-23 midfielder who arrives at Home Park from League of Ireland side St Patrick's Athletic. 

Referee Rebecca Welsh will also become the first female official to take charge of an FA Cup tie.

Yeovil Town versus AFC Bournemouth

In the wake of two successive defeats to Torquay United over the festive period, Yeovil Town return to the FA Cup action - aiming to add another chapter to their proud record in the competition. 

The Glovers' victory over League Two side Stevenage was their 21st victory over Football League opposition - and a 22nd over the Championship leading Cherries would rank alongside their greatest cup results. 

Remarkably the two sides last faced each other in the 2013-14 season in Yeovil's one and only campaign in the Championship. They also won promotion from League One in the previous 2012-13 season - Bournemouth as runners-up and the Glovers as Play-off winners. 

Yeovil 's former Cherries pair Joe Quigley and Matt Worthington are also set to face their former club. 

GULLS COMPLETE FESTIVE DOUBLE OVER GLOVERS

Exactly ten years to the day that they completed their first double over Plymouth Argyle in over 40 years, Torquay United sealed their first ever league double over Yeovil Town. 

After beating the Glovers 3-0 at Plainmoor on Boxing Day, the Gulls showed real bouncebackability to come from behind after a stunning 35-yard strike from Jordan Barnett gave Yeovil the lead on 65 minutes. 

The Gulls then rallied as Connor Lemonheigh-Evans equalised in the 77th minute directly from a corner, with some assistance from the Glovers' debutant keeper Dillon Barnes, who joined after Grant Smith's red card on Boxing Day, who attempted to palm it away. 

In the dying minutes of the game, United's QPR loanee Sinclair Armstrong, who came off the subs bench in the 59th minute, had a goal disallowed as the Gulls pressed on in search of a winner. 

With one minute remaining, United finally found that all-important second goal as Armstrong played the ball inside towards Lemonheigh-Evans, whose chipped pass found Armstrong's fellow sub Dan Holman, who drilled home an angled finish to send the 1,044 Gulls' fans in the Huish Park away end into raptures.