Gulls gaffer: 'We've got to be better - some of the boys still have to prove themselves to me and our supporters'

Determined to mount a serious promotion challenge this season, manager Gary Johnson sounded a clear warning to his squad that they must shape up quickly after ten-man Torquay United slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Bromley on Tuesday.

It may have been their first loss of the season in only their third match, but a visibly frustrated Johnson branded defender Ross Marshall’s second-half sending-off as ‘unprofessional’ and described some of his players as ‘naive’.

Summer signing Marshall earned his third booking in successive games early in the first half and, with the score at 0-0, was dismissed in the 62nd minute for hauling down Bromley striker Michael Cheek.

Bromley then foiled the Gulls’ hopes of following up their unbeaten start against Oldham Athletic (0-0) at home and FC Halifax Town (1-0) away.

“Of course, the sending-off has killed us – that’s very unprofessional, and we will deal with that,” said Johnson, whose side next meets Boreham Wood at Plainmoor this Saturday.

“But we’ve got to be better anyway – at Halifax we weren’t necessarily the best team, or against Oldham.

“We looked a bit naive out there (at Bromley). They have to grow up quickly in this league.

“Some of them have still got to prove themselves to me and to our supporters.

“We’ve got a bit of hard thinking to do, unless the boys can actually turn our thoughts around.

“We’re giving them the opportunity but they need to prove that they’re going to be first-team players when all our injured lads get back. Some aren’t quite doing it.”

United are still without new signings Aaron Jarvis, Corie Andrews and Shaun Donnellan as well as left-back Dan Martin.

Brett McGavin’s goal on the stroke of half-time had given the Gulls something extra to fight for at Halifax, and a combination of goalkeeper Mark Halstead’s heroics and determined defence saw them hold on for three points there.

But a Will Goodwin shot against the bar and a couple of good saves by Bromley goalie Reece Charles-Cook were the nearest they came to a similar bonus on Tuesday.