Torquay set for toughest test against Argyle

TORQUAY United manager Gary Johnson knows that the friendly game against Plymouth Argyle tomorrow afternoon will be a huge test for his players because it is coming too early for them in their preparations for the National League season.

Argyle start their League One campaign next Saturday with a home game against Rotherham United, so they are just about to peak, while Torquay have only been back in training for a couple of weeks and don’t have their first National League game until the visit of Altrincham on Saturday, August 21.

So, with Torquay having played just two friendlies so far, they are in a completely different place in their preparations for the forthcoming season than Argyle.

Still, there was a lot to like for Gulls fans in the wins against Southern League sides Poole Town and Truro City, and there should be a good turnout after almost 1,000 were at

Plainmoor for the Truro friendly.

Johnson said: “It’ll be one where we can get the players mentally ready and say ‘listen, your body will follow, go and enjoy it – and don’t give the ball away as much as you did against Truro.’ We have got to make sure that we give as good as we get.”

Johnson was slightly critical of the team’s performance against Truro, despite the 3-0 win with the goals coming from Danny Wright, Louie Slough and Klaidi Lolos, just released by Argyle. He said the players were ‘too slow’ at times and he wants to see more of the ‘Torquay United game’.

One player who knows the ‘Torquay United game’ inside out is former loanee midfielder Adam Randell, who has returned to Home Park to fight for a place in the first team there. He should get a good reception from the home fans after such a great season at Plainmoor.

Captain Asa Hall may be back in the squad after missing training because he was self-isolating; though fellow midfielder Tom Lapslie’s knock against Truro might see him given more time to recover.

Johnson said: “Ryan Lowe has got a good side there, and we wish them

well of course, but it is always a good test for us and we always enjoy playing against them in pre-season. It’s always a good atmosphere as well.

“It gives them a good game and it gives us a game to find out how many weeks away we are from them. We will be, for sure, but we will see how we go.”

Dave Rowntree/PPAUK Plymouth Argyle’s Adam Randell can expact a warm reception from Gulls’ fans after his successful loan spell at the club