TALKING POINTS

Chris Wade – @tufcchris

Chris looks ahead to the game at the Beveree

TIME TO BOUNCE BACK

Let’s be honest. The last three games haven’t been quite what we had in mind, has it? An embarrassing cup exit, a tough away defeat and a frustrating home draw against the bottom side have left us all feeling a bit cheesed off. But we should still retain belief in the direction that the club is going in, rather than it being the latest in a long line of failures as in previous seasons. After a two week break and ahead of another two week break, Saturday feels like a big game to get three points on the board and get back up the table.

THE AWAY FORM

Five unbeaten games at Plainmoor in front of 3000 plus crowds have given a good start in Devon, but the away form hasn’t really got going yet. Apart from three points in Bath in mid-August, the away games have ben a tough watch. They are always harder to settle and to get your game going, but we have struggled to defeats at Farnborough and Welling along with the aforementioned cup exit on the road. We need to find a way to settle into the game on Saturday, impose our game on Hampton and to get the first goal. That away form is key, and it hasn’t been ours apart from Twerton Park.

DEFENSIVE DECISIONS

The injuries have started to add a bit in recent weeks, so a two week gap may not have come at a bad time. With Jordan Dyer working his way back to fitness and Ed Palmer set to be sidelined for the next few weeks with a facial injury, options appear a little limited all of a sudden. Jay Foulston returned against St Albans and should be fitter, but the third centre back slot looks to be between Finlay Craske, Ollie Tomlinson and Dean Moxey. Given the balance of that back three, I expect to see Craske in there with Finn Tonks coming into play in the right wing back role. Being tight is very important away from home.

ATTACKING OPTIONS

It hasn’t totally clicked in forward areas yet. Cody Cooke is the focal point, and whilst Brad Ash started the early season games, Ben Seymour has ben preferred in recent times. He will be hoping that will be the case again this weekend, as he returns to the club where he netted 13 goals last season. Young Jadyn Crosbie remains an option open to Paul Wotton, but I would expect that Seymour would start again. The option of an hour of him and then Ash to come on and buzz around has been used this season, and it isn’t easy for defenders.

THE OPPOSITION

Alan Julian’s Hampton team have made an inconsistent start to the season. Some poor early results have improved in recent weeks, with two wins and two draws in recent weeks. In the only game in NLS last weekend, they defeated new boys Enfield Town 4-0. So Saturday is another difficult and important test. We need to go to one of these away games and make a statement result. Go and win well away from home and show everybody that we have lofty ambitions for this season. With the Yellow Army again travelling in big numbers, three points would be very welcome to see us into another two week break.