Gulls look to put cup heartbreak behind them

There’s no doubt that Paul Buckle’s Torquay United side did themselves proud on Saturday, as they took Chris Coleman’s Coventry City side to the limit in what was a lively cup-tie, only to be undone by the cruellest of goals in the dying minutes.

So it’s back to the bread and butter of the Blue Square Premier for Torquay United tomorrow night, as they take on relegation threatened Lewes at the Dripping Pan Stadium.

Both sides need the vital three points as we begin to reach the business end of the season, but for very different reasons.

The Gulls will be looking to get their promotion bid back on track, with only four points from a possible nine in their last three games.

Despite the defeat to Coventry on Saturday, there was much for Paul Buckle to be encouraged about, and the Gulls can approach Tuesday’s match in great heart.

On the contrary, Lewes are a team fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table.

With no wins in eight games in all competitions, Lewes are undoubtedly a team bereft of confidence and form, and you feel a fired up Torquay side with a point to prove will be the last thing Rooks boss Steve King will want to face.

Complacency is not an option for Torquay, that’s for sure. Their last visit to Sussex ended in disappointment, with Eastbourne Borough defeating a lacklustre Gulls side 4-2, a defeat that ended the club’s unbeaten domestic record at 14 games and certainly brought the Gulls back down to earth.

4-1 was the score when Torquay last met Lewes at Plainmoor, thanks to two goals a piece from Tim Sills and Danny Stevens. That win moved the Gulls to the top of the table in November, and though a similar result wouldn’t have the same impact on the table, it would certainly keep the pressure on Burton Albion and the rest of the division’s promotion contenders.

Gulls made to regret missed chances

Torquay United 0-1 Coventry City

In the world’s oldest cup competition, it was the old adage of taking your chances that cost Torquay United, as they were left to rue their profligacy in front of goal on exiting the FA Cup.

A late Elliott Ward header sent Coventry through to the fifth round, though the Sky Blues can count themselves lucky to be in the last 16 at all after a spirited display from the home side in what was a pulsating cup tie.

For the first 20 minutes, it was Torquay on the back foot and under pressure as the Gulls started the match tentatively, giving Coventry too much time and space on the ball.

Freddy Eastwood spurned an early chance for the Sky Blues, heading over from Clinton Morrison’s cross with three minutes gone.

And after 11 minutes, it was Kevin Nicholson coming to Torquay’s rescue, showing great anticipation to clear Dan Fox’s effort off the line after some great work from the Coventry defender.

It looked like it could be a long afternoon for Torquay, but things started to settle down as the first half drew to a close, and it was The Gulls who came out brighter in the second half.

Matt Green was a thorn in Coventry’s side all afternoon, and the former Cardiff starlet burst clear after 54 minutes, forcing Kieran Westwood into a smart save.

And just minutes later, a Nicholson long throw caused chaos in the Coventry penalty area. With perhaps more time than he realised, Roscoe Dsane snatched at his chance and blazed his shot over.

By now it was Torquay in the ascendancy, with a sold out Plainmoor cheering them on, sensing a famous cup upset could be on the cards.

Coventry could sense it too, and when the usually reliable Westwood’s clearance fell invitingly to Wayne Carlisle with the goal at his mercy on the hour mark, Plainmoor held its breath. But again, Torquay couldn’t capitalize, and Carlisle’s chip sailed harmlessly wide.

There were yet more chances for Torquay. Steve Woods and Tim Sills both missed free headers, and you began to feel a lack of composure in front of goal when it really mattered would be costly.

And so it proved. An inviting Fox corner was met by the towering figure of Elliot Ward, and the centre-back made no mistake from close range. Ecstasy for Coventry, heartbreak for Torquay. One moment of madness had cost them dear.

With much still to play for, Torquay will hope that the players are able to use yesterday’s level of performance as an inspiration for the rest of the season. Based on this performance, a return to the Football League can’t be too far away.

Managerial merry-go round

"Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are the longest-serving managers, and that's no coincidence. When they had difficult times - and both did - they were given time to get it right and bed things down. Yet at other clubs, the manager leaves straight away, because he isn't given any control."


"I've been here six years, and that makes me the third longest-serving manager, and in a way, that's some sort of success."

David Moyes - Everton manager (2002-present)


As things stand, 29 managers have been relieved of their duties already this season in the top four divisions – and it’s only January!

For some, past glories have meant precious little. Take the recent scandalous sacking of Martin Ling at Leyton Orient for instance. Yes, the O’s currently find themselves embroiled in a scrap at the foot of the table in League One, but are by no means cut adrift. But, after over five years of good service at Brisbane Road, including a successful promotion campaign in 2006, he was dispensed of as soon as the going got tough. The irony of the decision? Ling was linked with the Swindon Town job a matter of weeks ago, a club where he has strong links from his playing days. However, Ling, who was the sixth longest serving manager in the league, stayed loyal to his present employers and look where that got him.

And what about Aidy Boothroyd at Watford? He massively overachieved in his first season in charge by guiding his side to the Premiership. However, following relegation, he had a number of players sold under his nose and received no money for new signings in return, making progress a near impossible task. Working as well as he could with what he had, Boothroyd was also dismissed. How the Hornets could do with his fighting qualities now, with the club embroiled in a relegation battle at the bottom of the Championship.

Unreasonable expectations from the fans and board alike also appear to be a factor. Earlier in the season, Alan Curbishley walked out on West Ham citing a "breach of trust and confidence" as his reasons for leaving Upton Park. But in reality, he had one of the most thankless tasks in football. West Ham fans not only want success, but good, attacking football. A big ask in the Premier League these days without big resources. Curbishley never truly endeared himself to the West Ham faithful, and his departure was inevitable.

It’s the same in the lower leagues too. Danny Wilson was ridiculously sacked from his post at Hartlepool after seeing his side slip into the bottom half of the table in League One. Hardly a crisis, is it? But the Pools board certainly thought so, and the experienced Wilson was sent packing.

Some dismissals were warranted, however. The departures of Glenn Roeder at Norwich Cityand Alan Pardew at Charlton Athletic were more than justified, with both teams struggling for confidence and form. However, with both clubs appointing their replacements from within, it seems the cheap option is preferred as the two clubs strive to stay in the Championship.

There are exceptions to the rule, though. Despite Middlesborough’s precarious position in the Premier League, Gareth Southgate will be given plenty of time to turn things round at the Riverside Stadium. In Steve Gibson he has one of the most patient chairmen in football, and the emphasis on English youth has been refreshing to see at Boro.

Mick McCarthy at Wolves is another example of a manager being given time to turn things round. Last season saw McCarthy spend lots of money, only to see his Wolves side fail to make the play-offs. But, he was backed by his chairman, Steve Morgan, and his Wolves side are now reaping the rewards, sitting pretty at the top of the table and playing some fabulous football to boot.

Of course, football is a results business, and no more so than in today’s cut throat industry. The price of success and failure is all too much to bear these days. Managers have to learn from their mistakes, and those who have made mistakes must be given time to do so. Chopping and changing constantly is not the key to success, and a glance at the top of the longest serving managers list will tell you that.

Djokovic continues to slip under the radar

With all the talk about Andy Murray during this year’s Australian Open, you could be forgiven for forgetting just who the defending champion is. Even names such as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have been touted as potential winners before the defending champion, who has barely been mentioned in some quarters.

His name is Novak Djokovic, and the Serb has started his Australian Open campaign in impressive fashion, after comfortably reaching the last 32 with an impressive straight-sets win over Jeremy Chardy.

So, why has Djokovic not been considered as a contender? This is the surface where he feels most comfortable, after all. He proved that with his victory in Melbourne just 12 months ago, where he came from behind to defeat Jo Wilfred Tsonga and become the first Serb to win a grand slam.

Djokovic came out of that final as the newest hot property in men’s tennis.

The first half of his 2008 season was impressive, with semifinal appearances in the French Open, where he lost to the eventual winner and clay-court specialist Nadal, and four of the five Masters events in 2008, with overall victories in Indian Wells and Rome showing his true potential. Things were certainly looking bright.

However, a disappointing showing at Wimbledon followed, with Marit Safin disposing of the Serbian in the second round; a defeat that confirmed Djokovic had a long way to go before dislodging Federer and Nadal at the top of men’s tennis.

The second half of the year was topsy-turvy, with controversy regarding the player’s fitness in the US Open, an incident which led to Djokovic’s criticism of the New York crowd. Third-round defeats in the Madrid and Paris Masters followed and illustrated Djokovic’s lack of form and confidence.

The year did end well for Djokovic though, with victory in the Masters Cup ensuring he ended 2008 on a high.

The emergence of Murray also didn’t help matters. 2008 was a year where the young Scot came of age, and emerged as a true contender for a Slam—in the eyes of the media at least.

But to forget about Djokovic would be foolish. He is, after all, capable of beating the very best on his day, and his talent cannot be denied.

There’s no doubting the credentials of Murray, who looks to be a player in top form, and we know enough about Federer and Nadal. But Djokovic is a top player in his own right, something that many have neglected to mention as the 2009 tennis season begins.

He looks sharp on his return to Australia, that’s for sure. He’s yet to drop a set as things stand, though things are bound to get more difficult as the tournament progresses. The early elimination of David Nalbandian in Djokovic’s section of the draw will help matters though.

With all the talk concerning Murray and others, Djokovic will look to continue to slip under the radar and go about his business. With all the added pressure seemingly affecting his game in 2008, you feel that will suit the defending champion just fine.