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2000.01.08 - Torquay United 4-1 Carlisle United


I am fed up of being told that; we were unlucky, it was against the run of play, unfair decisions, things didn't go our way, it was offside, we had a virus, the fans didn't back us, we have a lot of injuries; will anyone stand up and say we are crap?

Don't worry about needing a 'Jimmy Glass' this season because it will be over long before the final match with time added on.

I wasn't a fan of the recent regime and only hope the changes are for the better, although most teams go on to win comprehensibly after management changes we have just seemed to gift Cooper with a fair well present for his CV.

I hope I'm not looking through blue tinted glasses but it is far from bleak. The relegation position as far to Exeter in the league table is still available and I don't think the fight is over.

Even with the O's winning and Chester having a recognised relegation beating manager. Nah we can do what we haven't managed for the last two seasons, and put successive wins in.

Bring on Wigan in the Auto your unbeaten league record was just a myth, a black cat, a millenium bug, you were just lucky.......

Nigel Wilcox


That's twice I've seen Torquay and on each occasion the opposition has folded late in the game and the final score has flattered them. Unfortunately, unlike Forest Green, United failed to seriously test Rolly-Polly-Nev in the Torquay goal apart from Soleys superb headed equaliser..

United showed a lot of spirit in the second half, and looked odds on for a good value equaliser when they pressed the self destruct button. Thorpe's disastrous pass set up their third, and Weaver, probably culpable in the soft first goal, dropped a cross for the forth. The third looked a bit soft too.

All in all Torquay deserved to win because United deserved to loose. The second half was good entertainment and United did look pretty good for long spells, but not good enough. If it had stayed 2-1 I would have clapped them off, but letting in soft goals will get us nowhere. We also need a midfield general type, but that has been the case ever since the departure of Sumo.

Weaver5made one stunning save but otherwise an off day. At fault for at least two goals.
Barr6fairly solid but nothing spectacular.
Whitehead6Stupidly sent off in the last minute.
Brightwell7Commanding in defence and made a couple of crucial tackles
Clarke5Was lucky not to be subbed, not as good as he thinks he is
Pitts8Battled well, showed some grate touches and made some forceful raids.
Prokas7Pick of the midfield - 1 bonus for staying out of the book
Soley6Great headed goal but pretty anonymous
Tracey5Someone should tell this guy that the football is played with a ball
Durnin7Another battler, showed plenty of determination
Dobie7caused the defence some headaches, but failed to penetrate
Subs
Anthony6not on for long, didn't do much
Harries7Won plenty of aerial ball and put himself about well
Thorpe5Sorry Jeff, you messed up big time

Paul Watson


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