High-flying Torquay United welcome strugglers Sutton United as they attempt to re-assert themselves.
After a listless performance in the FA Cup first round away to Maidstone, which saw the Stones secure a second round spot, courtesy of a first half own goal from the Gulls.
After year upon year of ever increasing disappointment with multiple relegations, a revolving door of players, managers and owners, and the ensuing financial turmoil, Torquay are finally on the up. How has this come about?
It took the Gulls falling to their lowest ever league position, finding themselves marooned in the National League South for the 2018/19 season. A poor and uninspiring start to the season saw the club meandering their way to mid-table mediocrity at the hands of unpopular manager Gary Owers.
In early September 2018, the board acted and sacked Owers. Current manager Gary Johnson was swiftly appointed with the club and fanbase not looking back since. After claiming their first league title since 1927 and breaking a number of blue records on the way, Torquay arrived back into the National League amid much optimism.
Could the Gulls make it two promotions in a row? Many fans thought so and there can be no doubting Johnson’s credentials, having achieved five promotions in his managerial career thus far.
Fast-forward to November and Torquay find themselves fifth in the league and just two points off the top, after an impressive run of recent results. For Sutton, however, the picture is less positive. Not having won since August, they find themselves at the wrong end of the table in 23rd.
Team news
Gary Johnson is well known amongst Gulls fans for remaining tight lipped on the injury front, making it sometimes hard to ascertain which players are out and when they might be back.
However, the list of players definitely out of contention is left-back Liam Davis, and midfielders Asa Hall, Armani Little, Opi Edwards and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, with Jake Andrews touch and go until kick off. All of whom would be considered first choice if fit.
To fill in the gap at left back, Gary Johnson has signed Reading youngster Ramarni Medford-Smith on loan initially until the new year. Commenting on the new signing, Johnson said:
“He’s 21, we’ve seen him a lot, know his game and we know him. We’ve watched him develop over the years at QPR and then at Reading, and it’s due to our work that goes on throughout the year in identifying players and following them, that we were able to get Ramarni in very quickly.”
Head-to-head
Since their return to non-league football in 2014, Torquay have clashed with Sutton on four occasions. Last time out Sutton beat a Torquay side well on its way to relegation 2-3, with veteran midfielder James Collins netting a last minute penalty.