United sealed back-to-back wins against Leyton Orient, and Gary Owers and his men are expecting another tough battle on Saturday when top of the table Aldershot Town come to Plainmoor.
The Shots are on a four-game winning streak, scoring eight times in the process. They beat Bromley 2-0 on Tuesday in a rearranged match after the original fixture was abandoned due to an electrical fault. The win was even more impressive given that they played the entire second half with just ten men.
Aldershot lose the suspended Adam McDonnell for the trip to Plainmoor, but can include Manny Oyeleke who is returning from suspension. Top scorer Shamir Fenelon suffered a knock against Bromley and was substituted at half-time. Goalkeeper Jake Cole is near to a first team recall after a hamstring injury but Lewis Ward, on loan from Reading, is keeping clean sheets in his place. Midfielder Bobby-Joe Taylor is also pushing for a recall.
United player-wise are very much like they were seven days ago. Josh Gowling had a scan on his knee during the week and the Club is waiting on the results of that. George Dowling is continuing his rehab with his parent club Bristol City. Jake Gosling is also continuing his pathway back to fitness.
“We have to manage his knee a little bit,” said Gary Owers about Gowling’s injury at his weekly press call. “I think he has a bit of soreness that hasn’t settled down. Hopefully it won’t be too much.”
Despite the impressive form shown by the Shots, United have their own recent good form to call upon.
“We should go into the game with confidence. They’ve had a mid-week game that we haven’t had to contend with. Every team that we seem to play at home is going to the top of the league, or is has just been at the top of the league, or is coming here in form. I think we have been a little unlucky on that front, but they’re on a roll and we’re going to try and knock them off their perch.”
The Gaffer isn’t under any allusion of what previous matches between the two sides mean. United have lost twice to the Shots so far this season, including a 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup 4th round qualifying. He is also wary of getting United back up the table as quickly as possible to avoid needing any last-minute heroics.
“It doesn’t make any difference; it is what happens on Saturday. The big thing for me is that it is a big game and I want to play the big games in December, January, and February, and get them all out of the way and look forward to a very boring end of the season. I don’t want our big games to be in March and April because that means we are still fighting to get out of the position that we’re in.”
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Torquay United Vs Aldershot Town | 02/12/17 | Kick-Off 3pm
Torquay United Football Club
Plainmoor
Torquay
TQ1 3PS
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Gulls Nest
You can join us in the Gulls Nest bar from midday for the early kick-off between Chelsea and Newcastle.
Access to the Gulls Nest is possible through a Family Stand/Bristows Bench turnstile.