Emirates FA Cup 1st round | Torquay United v Crawley Town | 08/11/2020 12.45pm KO

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United prepare for Crawley challenge: https://torquayunited.com/preview-unite ... challenge/

Full coverage details: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54737562

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How Torquay United will cope with a Sunday lunchtime start in the FA Cup against Crawley tomorrow
ByRichard Hughes
09:00, 7 NOV 2020

Torquay United players will be told what time to go to bed and what to have for their breakfast when they wake up - as they look forward to tomorrow’s 12.45pm kick off in the FA Cup.
For the Gulls, this is an unusual time to be playing football, but because the game will be featured on the BBC’s digital platforms, their game against Crawley Town is one of eight to be played at that time on Sunday.

Gary Johnson will have his side ready for the home game, though - and the manager says it will be a good chance for the team to gauge itself against League Two opposition. League Two is, of course, where Torquay want to be next season.
Johnson said: “The kick-off time affects our plans because we have to change what normally would be our plans if it was a Saturday at 3pm. We had the same going to Hartlepool with the 5.20pm kick off - so we will plan it. Me and Aaron Downes [assistant manager] sit down and work out what is best for the lads.

“We do that to the Nth degree really - when to have breakfast and what time to go to bed. But we have got the experience and we know that whatever kick-off time people give us, we have a structure that we know that works as far as getting them prepared for the game.

“Once that whistle goes for kick off, in the lads’ minds there shouldn’t be any time - it’s just about playing the game. But the build up to make sure that they are ready for it is very important and I think we do that very well.”
If Johnson makes any changes to the team that started against Hartlepool United last weekend it would be a surprise after they won 5-0 at Victoria Park.

Danny Wright’s hat-trick grabbed the headlines after that game - which took the Gulls five points clear at the top of the National League table - but it was a team performance with nobody really putting a foot wrong. The back four of Ben Wynter, Sam Sherring, Kyle Cameron and Dean Moxey has been excellent since it settled to that. Asa Hall was recalled to the starting line up last weekend and along with Adam Randell, and wingers Ben Whitfield and Aaron Nemane, they formed a great midfield, with Connor Lemonheigh-Evans playing a support role behind solo frontman Wright.

The bench was strong, too - Armani Little, Gary Warren and Jake Andrews all came on and played their part in the big win.
However, if there is going to be a change anywhere, might Johnson be tempted to play Shaun MacDonald in goal ahead of Lucas Covolan, as he did in the fourth qualifying round win against Sholing - giving MacDonald the role of FA Cup keeper?
Whatever team Johnson decides to play, he is expecting them to give Crawley a test. Coming down to top-of-the-table Torquay is not something Crawley and their former Exeter City assistant-boss manager John Yems will relish.

Crawley are eighth in League One after being beaten by Walsall 1-0 on Tuesday night. The last time the two teams met in the FA Cup was ten years ago when the Sussex team - who were a Conference side then - beat the Gulls 1-0 and went on to play Manchester United in the fifth round. That is not something Yems is accepting as a ‘good omen’ however - “I don’t believe in that cobblers, it’s a different time, different era,” he said. “We have got to do what we have got to do and let’s set our own bit of history. We can only influence what’s in front of us.”

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Plainmoor turnstiles featured on matchday link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/54749893

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https://x.com/TUFC1899/status/1325409748074827783

[SuperNickyWroe]

Good start....
Come on lads get one in the onion bag.....

[SuperNickyWroe]

GET F*UCKING IN!!!
Nemane

[SuperNickyWroe]

Brilliant goal.
From their corner....
Nemane ran with the ball from his own half.

[SuperNickyWroe]

Get in!!
Ben Whitfield!!!

[westbaygull]

Great, missed both goals and no replays Settled now, ready to watch a Gulls goal fest

[torq2u]

Yessssss. Wemane and Whitfield!!!!!

[westbaygull]

Ohhhhhh off the crossbar

[SuperNickyWroe]

Great, missed both goals and no replays Settled now, ready to watch a Gulls goal fest

You can watch them on the bbc website's live update page X

[Southampton Gull]

That's a great first half but Crawley aren't out of it yet.

[SuperNickyWroe]

That's a great first half but Crawley aren't out of it yet.

It was Dave.
Could have done with Ben's crossbar challenge going in.
Need to keep it up

[westbaygull]

Thanks Soops, just seen Whitfield's goal. Can't find lil Aaron's.