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| Ex Torquay boss Paul Buckle, apparently my lookalike? I fail to see it personally... |
Torquay finally moved into the play offs on Saturday after winning their 3rd game on the road this year at Morecambe 2-1. In fact due to our rearranged game with Ling's men, tomorrow night's game is their first home game of 2012. They do have a 100% record in 2012 so far winning all 3 games away 2-1 to Plymouth, Macclesfield and Morecambe. Torquay have only lost twice at home all season and haven't lost since October at home either making it not the most welcoming place for away sides this year. They are also on a 5 match unbeaten run where they have only dropped two points just to make Daggers feel reassured for tomorrow night's encounter.
The Daggers slipped back into the bottom two on Saturday after slumping to a 2nd successive league defeat as they were beat by Crewe 4-1 away from home. The Daggers have now conceded a total of 10 goals in their last 3 games in all competitions which will be of worry to John Still who currently has his first choice back 5 including the goalkeeper. The Daggers currently sit in 23rd one point from safety and a win would pull them back out of the bottom two above Plymouth.
Previous Meetings
The Daggers met Torquay earlier in the season in where it was the cliche of a "game of two halves" as the Daggers dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead through injury stricken Sam Williams while the visitors on the day dominated the second half and equalised from the penalty spot as striker Rene Howe converted from the spot after being fouled by South African Mark Arber. The two sides have only previously met 3 times in the Football League where the Daggers have never been beaten by tomorrow's opponents as they met in Dagger's play off winning season as they beat Torquay 5-3 at Victoria Road and played out a stalemate at the reverse fixture at Plainmoor. Hopefully a good omen for tomorrow's game, as you can see I'm trying to take any positives I can !
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| Sam Williams was the goalscorer last time we played Torquay. |
Martin Ling has the luxury of a fully fit squad with all 22 players fit for the Gulls. He will be expected to pick the same side that were victorious at The Globe Arena on Saturday. This would suggest that Ling will then stick with his formation of 4-1-4-1 as skipper Lee Mansell occupies the holding midfield role. Both Torquay's oversea players Austrian goalkeeper Robert Olejnik and Kenyan striker Taiwo Atieno are set to retain their places also.
The Daggers have a mixture of news in regards to injury for tomorrow night's game as it has been rumoured that ex Peterborough man Dom Green, in form Brian Woodall and ever present Jon Nurse are all carrying injuries and will not be risked tomorrow. However, there is also rumours that key man Josh Scott may return after the Crewe game coming too soon for him. The team is anyone's guess with Still possibly having to name another makeshift side for the game tomorrow. I don't like to make excuses and am a firm believer that you are only as strong as your weakest link but we do seem to be having terrible luck with injuries at the moment. Long term injuries Luke Howell, Sam Williams, Kevin Maher and Peter Gain all remain sidelined.
My One To Watch:
As the Gulls are a good side in the play off positions, there was many candiates for the one to watch but I have selected is Torquay winger Danny Stevens. I have admired the ex Luton Town man who was on the books at Spurs as a kid for a long time and always seems to be one of my first signings when playing Fifa Career Mode for a lower league side. Stevens has been at Plainmoor since 2007 and has made 146 appearences for the Gulls scoring 15 goals, one being on Saturday at Morecambe. The tricky winger can play on either wing and is a really talented footballer who I believe could play at the next level. Only 5ft2, the Enfield born lad is 25 years old and will be a real handful for either left back Femi or right back Abu Ogogo whichever wing he plays on tomorrow night.
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| Danny Stevens is one of Torquay's prized assets in my opinion. |
Being realistic, tomorrow night is going to be a real tall order as we play one of the better sides in this league. If the rumours that another 3 first team players are out are true, it will make the task even more difficult for our injury hit side at the moment. Despite this I always remain upbeat and positive and while we have players with the talent that on loan West Ham man Cristiano Montano has, we always have on outlet and a possible goal in us. While, we go into the game as underdogs you never know in football and any positive result for us tomorrow would be a massive boost. I am also expecting ex Leatherhead man Chris Lewington to have a good game tomorrow as his costly error which knocked him on Saturday will make him mentally stronger for the game tomorrow, the sign of a good player is one that comes back from his mistakes stronger. Keep the Faith. Stay Positive.
Unfortunately, due to Sixth Form commitments I cannot make tomorrow's game in Torquay so there will be no match report for this one but will post on Friday a preview of the game at home to Rotherham. Unless there are any other more rearranged games, I should be at all of the remaining 19 games of this league season so this is a rare occasion where I'm missing tomorrow's match.
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