TALKING POINTS

Dom Roman – @DomRoman

Dom discusses the key points

LOOKING FOR BALANCE

A visit to Chesham gives United a chance to follow up their previous away day victory at Salisbury, and it’s also a chance to push for the perfect balance as a team. Earlier in the season we were scoring more goals but also conceding more, however the last four games have only seen a meagre 2 scored and 2 conceded. The Paul Wotton doubters would point to this being him reverting to type and us grinding out results in a similar way to last season, but he is fielding an attacking team with enough talent to take more shots and create more chances, so they also have to take responsibility. At the other end the defence has settled itself after a nervy start to 25-26. If the attack can become more incisive and more clinical then the title is there to be won. Of course that’s easier said than done!

PUSHING HARDER

Dagenham were, to be fair to them, well set-up last Saturday, they gave us little room in midfield, kept a steady line at the back and the full backs were wary of Dolan and Young cutting in. They’d clearly done their homework and Chesham may well take some pointers from that performance. What I think we can do more of in those situations is be braver both in and out of possession. I’d like to see more challenges and more pressure in the attacking third, make our own luck and push the opposition back further. At the back we have the pace to deal with counter attacks, so this United team is certainly capable of doing a little more to strike fear and cause chaos for opposition defences. Whilst I think calling Paul Wotton a defensive coach is slightly unfair, his team can also play with more drive and personality when games are on the line.

DILLON

The bad news from Paul Wotton’s presser was that Cody Cooke would be out until around Xmas, so that leaves us currently with only one fit striker on our books. The good news is that Cian Dillon has not looked out of place in a Torquay United shirt so far. Young loan front men often struggle to make any impression at Plainmoor but Cian has been combative and involved, showing very good movement off the ball last Saturday to create passing opportunities and also delivering a sweet cross that Louis Dennis glanced wide. He obviously can’t do similar target man bits and bobs like Cody, but if the team move the ball quickly enough and play to his strengths, then he could well be the match winner this weekend.

THE OPPOSITION

Chesham United are having a strong season so far in the National League South, sitting comfortably in 11th place with 14 points from 11 games, scoring 12 and conceding only 10. I wouldn’t expect any complacency from the Gulls heading into this one, you only have to look back to April when Chesham came to Plainmoor and dug out a 2-1 away win (which looking back was a painful blow to our title challenge). With both teams drawing 0-0 last weekend, is this game bound to be low scoring, tight and tense? Perhaps! Any win would be welcome and set us up nicely for a Tuesday night under the lights at Plainmoor, not to mention a tasty trip to Dorking.