TALKING POINTS

Joe Uglow – @Joe_Ugs

Joe looks ahead to the NLS game

FAAL TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Our visit to Worthing earlier on in the season in the Trophy was Bishops Cleeve-Esque and the travelling Yellow Army will be hoping for a vastly improved performance this time around. Our downfall that day was mainly due to striker Muhamadu Faal, who scored an exquisite hat-trick, showing pace, power and tremendous composure to notch three very different goals. The 6ft5 striker is a real handful and the back three trio of Palmer, Dreyer & Craske will have their hands full if they are to keep him quiet. This battle could be the difference between returning to the Bay empty handed or with one or all three points!

FRESH OFF THE BENCH

With this match coming so soon after a very tough afternoon at Plainmoor it may be those players who started on the bench on Saturday who will be key to getting a result. Dylan Morgan was an unused sub, Oscar Threlkeld featured for 10 minutes & Omar Mussa enjoyed a 30 minute cameo. They should have sufficient in the tank to push for a starting berth as Paul Wotton looks to utilise those in the squad available to him. Having players available who won’t be feeling leggy after Saturday will be vital on Worthing’s plastic pitch. If they are to compete for a starting place then that may mean Hasani & Young settle for a spot on the bench, ready to come on and effect the game similarly to how Mussa did on Saturday with an assist and a goal.

NO MORE EXCUSES

Everyone connected to Torquay United needs to stop fearing plastic pitches when we go away to those sides that play on them. Mentioning the ‘dreaded plastic’ so much almost gives the players an excuse to use when we don’t perform as well on them. The fact is the only record that counts on plastic is this season’s given that it’s a whole new club from top to bottom this year, How Ross Marshall performed on plastic bears no impact on how Sam Dreyer performs on 4G. Considering we train on it daily it’s time to put this lame excuse to bed and put in a performance. The surface should benefit the likes of Mussa, Hasani, Morgan, & Jay and getting the ball on the deck in the final third will be vital.

WORTHING WORTHY OF THEIR POSITION

Following on from Saturday, Tuesday is another tough challenge. Worthing, similarly to Eastbourne are on a long unbeaten run in the league (11 games), so a big performance will be required to bring home the three points. Saturday’s performance was what I would call ‘Professional’. We soaked up the pressure and then hit Eastbourne late on with an injection of quality off the bench. Tuesday’s game will likely need to be the same if we are to be successful, we’ll likely have to withstand early pressure from the likes of Faal, Spong & Cashman, and if we can get to the 60 minute mark at 0-0 or even better then I fancy us to finish strongly with the ability we should be able to bring off the bench.