Wrexham v Torquay

[Dave]

So the Opening day of the season has come and gone, 1,963 gulls fans turned up to a sun drenched Plainmoor (LWS) and witnessed the team gain a very hard fought and important three points. August is always a hectic start to the season for clubs at this level, this season is no different as our team embark on a run of Seven games this month including three mid week fixtures.

Our hosts Tuesday Wrexham FC, are amongst one of the fancied clubs to do well this season, largely down to their fan base, Wrexham have sold a reported 2,200 season tickets, with the cheapest working out at under £10 per game, they certainly seem to have taken the less is more approach. Wrexham suffered a shock and relatively heavy defeat at newly promoted Bromley on the opening day, something they as a club will not be happy with and will want to bounce straight back from, see this as a very tough match for our young side.

For Gulls fans attending the match

he racecourse ground, Mold road, Wrexham, LL11 2AH. ttp://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/club/racecourse/

Featured Wrexham player

Lee Fowler ; Born 10th June 1983, Lee in his second spell with Wrexham, is a much travelled experienced midfield player and Wrexham club captain, Lee started his career with Coventry although part of the squad in the sky blues final season in the premiership lee didn't make an appearance until the following season, Lee Fowler made 12 appearances for Wales U21, has had a host of different clubs through out his career, but would gain football league experience with the likes Huddersfield, Fleetwood, Burton, Doncaster and Crawley. It would be from his time at then League two Huddersfield that us Gulls fans would remember Lee Fowler, he was a main part of the Huddersfield team piped to automatic promotion by Torquay on the final day of that season, although Lee Fowler would go on to score the winning penalty in the play-off final.

Current form

Wrexham L-

A) Bromley 1.3

Last time out

Bromley 3 v 1 Wrexham

01 Belford
21 Watkins-Clark (Logan - 46' )
04 Smith
10 Jennings
03 Newton
05 Hudson
02 Vidal Booked
08 Vose (Jackson - 69' )
16 York
09 Gray (Fyfield - 60' )
11 Moke

Substitutes
06 Fyfield
07 Fowler
14 Jackson
22 Royle
25 Logan

Wrexham manager Gary Mills

"We were dictating play, had that much of the ball but gave away a silly free-kick.

"I'd said to the players before we went out we were playing a side that will thrive on free-kicks, but Manny [Emanuel Smith] has tried to win a ball he was never going to win... and we don't deal with it.

"It's a tough one... but goals change games and decisions change games, and we've made a couple of wrong decisions."

From a Torquay point of view

We already know a long term injury could keep Luke Young out of action for the majority of the season, James Hurst will certainly miss this game, Louis Briscoe missed the game Saturday could be doubt along with Alex Fisher who limped out of the Macclesfield game. I don't think anyone would under state the importance of an opening day win at home, it certainly takes the pressure off the squad, we know our squad is young and we've got a lot of new players, that showed at times Saturday, but for me the best feature of Saturdays game was how solid and robust our defensive unit looked, hopefully that will continue, and was a real improvement on last season. Wrexham will fancy their chances in this game, in the head to head neither Torquay or Wrexham have gained a league away win, but Wrexham will still have the F.A.T semi final win over Torquay in their minds.

Current form

Torquay W-

H) Macclesfield 1.0

Last time out

Torquay 1 v 0 Macclesfield

01 Speiss
18 Smith
05 MacDonald
16 Richards
03 Butler
06 Geohaghon Booked
12 Carmichael Booked
04 Fenwick
11 Murombedzi
17 Fisher (Fairhurst - 77' )
22 Quigley (Lavelle-Moore - 58' )

Substitutes
09 Fairhurst
10 Marsh
21 Lavercombe
23 Richards
24 Lavelle-Moore

Torquay manager Paul Cox

“I am delighted that we have got off to a winning start,” said manager, Paul Cox, who took charge of his first League game for the club. “Yes, there are areas of our game that we can improve on, but we had a lot of debutants out there, and the lads gave a good account of themselves.

“We never really got to grips with the game early on – with and without the ball – but as it went on we started to get into our stride and we showed a little bit of what we are capable of.

“There’s certainly more to come from us, but the main thing is that we’ve got the win. Getting three points is what it’s all about and we’ve done that.

“I felt that we were a lot more compact and better on the ball after the break. We got the goal and could have added to it, but we did enough to get the win and now we have to look to build on this and continue to improve.”

Read more at http://www.torquayunited.com/news/artic ... j3gVIMb.99

Head to Head

Torquay 4 wins, Wrexham 3 wins, Draws 5

[Gullscorer]

After an opening day away defeat, Wrexham will be anxious to get a convincing win in front of their own fans. This anxiety could easily turn into a nervousness which our lads could take advantage of. This is a game which normally could be a draw or could go either way by the odd goal. But all it needs is for us to match them for determination, and they will be defeated by their own nervousness.

Hence a 2-1 or 2-0 win for the Gulls..

[Colorado Gull]

Looking forward to the game. I'll be there with the drum, hoping for a good atmosphere. COYY.

[Jeff]

Point would be a great result however it comes

[lucy6lucy]

http://www.torquayunited.com/news/artic ... 99555.aspx

Save a few quid if your going

[Gullscorer]

Useless information: Wrexham's pitch is exactly the same length as Plainmoor's, but is just 12 inches wider..

[kevgull]

1-1

[wivelgull]

The result may be an indicator as to how the rest of the season will go: a draw or a near (e.g. 1-2) loss could indicate that we will be able to hold our heads up against the better teams. If we get tonked though.....

[brucie]

I completely agree with Wivelgull.

[Dave]

Nice to see the bromance still going strong I don't see this match as any sort of indicator has to how our season will progress, regardless of the result, it's far to early for that, after all remember the start we had last season, soon faded out. Squad building hasn't finished, we've got 3 players here on loan, will they stay longer or be replaced with other players, Hurst, young and Briscoe injured, there's lot of things that can and will change as we go along.

Also said it prior to the Macclesfield game, and will say again after, I've not seen any evidence so far (early doors) that our team will be tonked by anyone, that's not say it wont happen of course. Seen us play against Exeter and Macclesfield, both very good footballing sides and our team has stood firm against both, long may that continue.

[wivelgull]

brucie is right (as always).

[Dave]

An article on the O/S featuring Alex Fisher suggesting he'll certainly be fit for tonight's game, will we see an unchanged line up, if Briscoe is fit can he force his way back into a winning side.

Latest View from Paul Cox

“It was an important victory at the weekend,” admitted manager, Paul Cox. “Especially when you consider the players we were missing and the fact there were a lot of new faces in the side, some of whom had barely trained with each other let alone played alongside each other.

To beat a side who have been in and around the play-offs for the past couple of seasons has given us a boost, but I am now looking for a consistency in our play.

“These are stepping stones for us and now we move on to the challenge that Wrexham will present to us.

“It’s no surprise that they are up there as one of the favourites for promotion. It will be another good test for us, but one that we are looking forward to.

“There will be some serious questions asked of us over these opening ten games and I will be looking for the lads to answer them in a positive way.”

Read more at http://www.torquayunited.com/news/artic ... riP2DPQ.99

[gillygull]

Does anyone know if there's a link to radio commentary for tonight's game?

[Gulliball]

You should be able to find it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13629210

[BayGull]

Oh my goodness ... not the Brummie Undertaker on tonight but our new over-excitable Chief Executive!

Radio off now again I'm afraid .. come on BBC Radio Devon - get your act together.