There’s no let up in the big games ahead for Gary Johnson’s side, as Notts County head to Plainmoor tomorrow.
With United’s marvellous recent run seeing them reduce the gap between themselves and fellow EFL hopefuls Hartlepool and Sutton, a positive result tomorrow would see The Gulls return to the top of the National League table for the first time since early March, however to do so, they will have to overcome a side desperate to reignite their own promotion ambitions.
Who’s The Boss?
When the board at Meadow Lane decided to dispense with the services of Neal Ardley last month, it was to 38 year-old Ian Burchnall that they turned to, in pursuit of their next Head Coach.
Despite having never played at professional level, Burchnall has spent the last decade building up a reputation as one of the game’s brightest young coaches, with spells in charge of Scandinavian clubs Viking (Norway) and Östersund (Sweden) providing him with experience of top-flight football on foreign shores.
How Have They Been Doing?
After making it all the way to the Play-Off final last term, it’s not been plain sailing for The Magpies since, with a failure to establish themselves within the title race ultimately costing Ardley his chance to put last season’s Wembley disappointment behind them.
A surprise FA Trophy defeat to Hornchurch in Burchnall’s first game may have robbed them of an early return to the national stadium, however their post-season prospects were enhanced at the beginning of the month, following wins over Wrexham (1-0) and Woking (4-2). Three successive defeats since will have no doubt proved something of a setback, however they remain a dangerous threat to all sides at this level.
Player To Watch
Although former Scunthorpe hitman Kyle Wootton’s current ten-match barren run would frustrate any striker, he remains County’s principle goal threat, having notched twelve goals already this season.
United’s defenders will therefore need to be at the top of their game once again tomorrow to nullify the threat of a player who has averaged almost a goal every other game since his arrival at Meadow Lane in August 2019.
Played For Both
County defender Mark Ellis made his professional bow during his time at Plainmoor, after joining the club, initially on loan, from Bolton Wanderers back in September 2007. A permanent deal would soon follow, with Ellis proving a valuable member of the squad that reclaimed their Football League status under Paul Buckle, before eventually leaving the club to join Crewe Alexandra in the summer of 2012.
Further spells at Shrewsbury, Carlisle and Tranmere amongst others, saw Mark build a reputation for himself as a fine central defender at EFL level, and after joining The Magpies on loan at the beginning of March, Ellis has also displayed his worth at the other end of the field, netting 3 goals in 7 matches.
Previous Encounters
United’s recent impressive run has seen them banish a number of unwanted hoodoos recently, with long-overdue away victories over Wrexham and Woking putting to bed 33 years and 14 years of hurt respectively. With County and United having not crossed paths quite so regularly over the years however, you have to go back even further – 55 years – for the last time Torquay downed Notts County’s colours in a league fixture here at Plainmoor.
On that day back in May 1966, it was goals from John Benson and Tommy Spratt that sealed a 2-0 victory that ultimately helped seal Division 4 promotion for the Club – just in time for England’s solitary tournament glory two months later. The Yellow Army will, no doubt, be hoping history repeats itself once again in 2021.
In more recent times, The Gulls did manage 2-1 FA Cup success at home to County in December 2005, with two goals from Tony Bedeau, either side of a Lewis Mahon reply, helping his side set up a glamour-tie against Premiership side Birmingham City in Round 3.
In association with LV BET
Torquay United AFC will once again be providing full Livestream access for this fixture, including an hour-long pre-match show here.
The club will also be providing commentary of the match via Official TUFC Radio here.