TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve Harris previews the game at Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED vs NOTTS COUNTY- NATIONAL LEAGUE

Venue: Plainmoor, Torquay

Date: Saturday 4^th February 2023

Kick-off: 3pm

CURRENT FORM

Torquay: D, L, W, W, W, D

Notts County: D, W, D, L, W, W

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Aaron Jarvis (10)

Notts County: Macaulay Langstaff (23)

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 9

Draw: 20

Notts County: 21

WOKING FACTFILE

Year founded: 1862

Nickname: The Magpies

Last season’s league finish: 5^th in the National League

Notable honours:

FA Cup:

Winners: 1894

Anglo Italian Cup:

Winners: 1995

Second Division/First Division/Championship:

Winners: 1896-97, 1913-14, 1922-23

Play-off winners: 1990-91

MANAGER: LUKE WILLIAMS

Luke Williams was appointed head coach in June 2022 following the departure of Ian Burchnall.

Prior to accepting the role, he had most recently been assistant head coach to Russell Martin at Swansea City, while he also had experience as a head coach from his time at Swindon Town.

After a promising youth career was curtailed by injury at 20, Williams turned his hand to coaching.

His first major role came in the form of a three-year spell as Brighton and Hove Albion Under 21s manager, which led to his appointment as assistant to Mark Cooper at Swindon Town in 2013.

The pair led the Robins to the play-off final in 2014-15, losing out to Preston North End, and Williams continued in his role under former Gulls’ boss Martin Ling following Cooper’s departure.

When Ling resigned in 2015, Williams took over as caretaker manager’s role and following an excellent run of results, he was appointed as the club’s head coach.

However, Swindon found themselves in a relegation battle which resulted in the club dropping into League Two and Williams’ contract was terminated. Williams then made an immediate return to work by becoming head coach of Bristol City’s Under 23s. Two years later, Williams teamed up with Martin as his assistant at MK Dons before following him to the Championship when became manager of Swansea City.

PLAYER TO WATCH: MACAULAY LANGSTAFF

After joined the Magpies for an undisclosed fee from Gateshead in the close season, Macaulay Langstaff is currently the National League’s leading scorer with 17 goals.

Langstaff bagged 32 goals and claimed 14 assists as he helped to fire Gateshead to the National League North title last season and was the league’s top scorer and player of the season. Hailing from Stockton-on-Tees, Langstaff progressed through the north east non-league scene with Billingham Synthonia and Blyth Spartans before moving into National League North with York City and Gateshead. His form this season has earned comparisons with both Erling Haaland and Jamie Vardy – as he is currently top of the National League goal scoring’ chart with 23 goals

LANGSTAFF STATS:

Position: Centre Forward

Date of Birth: 3rd February, 1997 (26 years old)

Birthplace: Stockton-on-Tees

Height: 1.78m

Former Clubs: Billingham Synthonia FC, Gateshead, York City

NL Stats 22-23: Played 28, Goals Scored 23, Yellows 1, Red 0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Notts County: Kyle Cameron, Aaron Nemane, Frank Vincent

LAST MEETING

Notts County 4-0 Torquay

Saturday, 29th October 2022

Notts County stayed three points clear at the top of the National League with a comfortable win over Torquay.

Aaron Nemane went close for County shortly before they broke through, with Connell Rawlinson finishing from the edge of the box in the 27th minute.

Ruben Rodrigues made it 2-0 from the penalty spot seven minutes later after Nemane was fouled, and Adam Chicksen hit the bar at the end of a dominant first half.

Substitute Sam Austin followed suit shortly after his introduction and Quevin Castro and Geraldo Bajrami fired home late on as County maintained their lead in the table despite second-placed Wrexham’s win over Altrincham.