Big win will inspire us, says Gulls boss Johnno

PREVIEW

By Neil Harvey

OLDHAM ATH V TORQUAY UTD

Sunday December 11, ko 3pm

UPTURN: Gary Johnson is delighted with Torquay’s form

GARY JOHNSON wants his Torquay United players to picture the final whistle moment when they beat Dagenham & Redbridge last time out – and inspire them to victory at Oldham Athletic this afternoon.

The National League strugglers meet at Boundary Park with the game broadcast live on BT Sport.

The Gulls travel north on the back of three points that lifted them to 21st, while Oldham’s midweek defeat at Boreham Wood sees their woes continue as they sit second bottom.

Both need a win and Johnson wants his players to build on their 1-0 win at Daggers last weekend.

“We all thought a couple of games previous we deserved more than we got,” Johnson told TUFC TV. “So to go to Dagenham, who I don’t think we’ve beaten for so many years and get a result, deservedly so in my opinion, was nice.

“We showed them a video of the end of the game and we paused it – every one of them was doing some form of celebration as the whistle went. That shows me how much it meant to them to have got the result, because it was a little while coming.

“Having said that, the last six league games we’ve picked up eight points, which is not top form but it’s not low form either. It’s probably more than a few of the teams we’re competing with at the bottom.”

Johnson says his side are gaining confidence from results like at Dagenham. And he wants them to enjoy yet another TV appearance – their fourth of the season.

“It’s becoming a drama, isn’t it?” Johnson laughed. “We always enjoy being on the screen – everybody does. The lads see it as a chance to enhance their own CVs, if you like, a lot of people are always watching through scouts and bigger clubs.

“It also picks up the opposition as well. Oldham are at home and they will want to show they shouldn’t be down there. We want to show that as well. It will make for good TV – both teams want to win the game. “

David Unsworth’s Oldham are without a win in seven, their last three points coming from a 2-0 win over Yeovil in October. But they’ve boosted the ranks this week with the signing of Joe Nuttall from rivals Scunthorpe United.

The 25-year-old has nine goals this term and Unsworth said: Joe is the player I’ve wanted from the very start. It’s taken a bit of time but it is well worth the wait. I’m very excited to have Joe on board and he’s a brilliant signing for us. I really like him and have done for a number of years.

“He’ll be a top striker for us, he fits the profile of player that we want perfectly. He does the hardest thing in the game, which is score goals, and a lot of work has gone in to getting him.”