Torquay v Chippenham match preview

Gulls have opportunity to right Saturday's wrongs

Just three days after turning in a performance that many fans agreed was one of the worst for years, Torquay United have a chance to put things right at Plainmoor against Chippenham Town tonight.

Torquay were beaten 3-0 at home by Worthing on Saturday, and but for a string of fine saves by keeper Mark Halstead the scoreline could have been even worse. It took the Gulls 85 minutes to produce a meaningful shot on the Worthing goal.

To add to United’s problems there were fresh injury worries after Saturday’s defeat. Combative midfielder Tom Lapslie was missing from the game, while young defender Finley Craske limped off in the second half.

In addition to that, experienced defender Dean Moxey finished the game in midfield, clearly suffering from an injury that would surely have seen him substituted if United had not already used all their available replacements.

But for United’s management team of Gary Johnson and Aaron Downes, tonight’s match presents an early opportunity to right the wrongs of Saturday.

Speaking on Saturday evening after a long post-match session in the dressing room with his players, Johnson said: “Having the Tuesday game means there’s less time to mope about it. We have got to pick a team that is going to do the job that we are asking - taking into consideration the injuries that we have got.

“We are missing our busy players. The busy players make our game easier, if we have got them available. But it’s up to the other lads to perform and stake their claim for a place when the others come back from injury.”

Torquay have just one point to show for their two games so far, picked up on the road in a 2-2 draw at Dover. Visitors Chippenham have six, having beaten Aveley and Havant & Waterlooville already.

Tonight’s National League South fixtures pit a number of West Country sides against one another. Apart from the game at Plainmoor, Bath entertain Weston-super-Mare, Weymouth are at home to Taunton and Yeovil are at home to Truro.