Western Morning News (Saturday)
Wins are all that matter for play-off place push
TOM Lapslie has started to show why Gary Johnson wanted to bring him in during the summer – with some controlled and quality performances in the Torquay United midfield in the last couple of months.
And the former Colchester United man, who is fast becoming a fans’ favourite at Plainmoor, is looking forward to this afternoon’s home game against Barnet as the Gulls close in on the National League playoff places – now that he seems to be free from the groin injury that has at times kept him out of the side.
With 22 points won from the last 10 games, Torquay are now just six points from seventh place – the final of the six play-off berths – with the manager’s stated aim of taking an average of two points from the remaining games still very much on course.
Torquay weren’t brilliant on Saturday at Dover Athletic but still won comfortably 3-1 with goals from Asa Hall, Joe Lewis and Stephen Duke-McKenna, the on-loan player’s first goal for the club.
Speaking to the club’s website, Lapslie said: “All that matters now is the wins, the results and the points. Obviously nice performances, good performances, free-flowing football and loads of goals would be a dream scenario – but I’ll take 17 one-nils between now and the end of the season.”
Asked about the current good run the Gulls are on, the 26-year-old said: “I think the penny dropped for the entire squad. The Gaffer has been drilling it into us from day one – about the relentless pressure and relentless attacks and a team ethic and team work rate. And that is what we are showing at the moment.
“I can’t really put my finger on it but it’s a great place to be at the moment where it feels like everyone is one – the staff, the players, the fans, the club. It seems that everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet at the moment.
“We are grinding out results and I think the fans are appreciating that.”
For the first time last Saturday, Johnson had a full squad to pick from, with Danny Wright coming back from injury and Armani Little shrugging off a couple of knocks.
That meant there was no place in the 16 for Chiori Johnson and Keelan O’Connell – two players who have enjoyed some good match-time this season – and Joe Felix, who is still finding his feet. Whether those players will get a chance today – only time and the teamsheet will tell.
Today’s opponents Barnet have won just once in their last nine games in the National League. But in the corresponding fixture in the North London club was in the middle of a good run under new manager Dean Brennan, beating Torquay 2-1.
There were two more wins for the Bees before the rot set in again – but they certainly shouldn’t be taken for granted, despite being 19th in the 23-team division and Brennan seemingly already focused on next