Johnson could make changes as Torquay move on to Eastleigh
AFTER beating Stockport County at Plainmoor on the first day of the National League season on Saturday, Torquay United go to Eastleigh tonight with a busy October stretching out in front of them.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans’ dinjury-time winner earned the Gulls three points but manager Gary Johnson said afterwards his team can play much better.
With eight games scheduled for the month, another three points in Hampshire tonight would be a huge fillip for the team.
With injured defenders Gary Warren and Fraser Kerr out and Dean Moxey suspended, Johnson was forced to start with a back three on Saturday, giving Bournemouth loanee Sam Sherring a debut in the centre alongside Kyle Cameron and Ben Wynter.
And two more loanees - Adam Randell from Plymouth Argyle and Louis Britton from Bristol City - came on in the 80th minute and made huge contributions with the Gulls pressuring their big-spending opponents in the final throws.
Johnson may hand full debuts to those two this evening, while Asa Hall also impressed when coming on at the end.
Eastleigh began their season with 5-1 win away at Barnet - Tyrone Barnett, Alex Wynter, Ben House, Cavanagh Miley and Abdulai BellBaggie on target - and on the evidence of that performance, it will be a tough game for the Gulls.
“The spirit was there, you could see that in the way that they all threw themselves at things,” Johnson said, after watching his side beat Stockport on Saturday. “And all the new lads - and I class Asa as a new lad because we haven’t had him for a lot of time - did really well. They showed they had the quality to give us the momentum back.”
Johnson gave debuts up front to new signings Danny Wright and Josh Umerah and they both did well against a physical defence - but it was the quality of 19-year-old Britton that shone when he came on, with the player having a header saved, hitting the crossbar with a long shot, and having another long-distance strike tipped over.
Johnson said: “I know that Adam and Asa have got a pass in them, and I know that Louis shoots from anywhere. He missed the easiest chance which was the header - but he got two great shots in and they did give us some momentum, and I knew they would.”
Another player that impressed on Saturday - who will surely keep his place in the side - was goalkeeper Lucas Covolan. The Brazilian made some key saves during the game but was also dominant in his area and punched the ball clear from corners and crosses time after time.
But whether Johnson will be tempted to tinker with the formation or starting XI further up field will be interesting to see after Randell, Britton and Hall all made such an impact.