No choice but to fight and believe

Torquay United manager Gary Johnson conceded that the current run of disappointing results has been one of the most difficult spells in his long career.

The dramatic 4-3 defeat at home to Slough Town on Saturday made it four consecutive losses for the Gulls, who have now dropped down to 11th in the National League South and five points away from the play-offs.

There is obvious disappointment and frustration throughout the Yellow Army, emotions shared by Johnson and his players, but the only answer is to find positive results quickly, starting with the weekend trip to Braintree Town.

“It is one of them [most difficult times in managerial career] but even in the good times, there are spells and periods of games where you have a run of defeats,” said Johnson.

“You’ve just got to make sure you get it right at the business end of the season and we’ve got to get back into those play-offs. I still believe it’s possible that we can.

“We keep believing and we keep going because, just before this poor run, we had a very good run. We’ve had to bring in players who are not used to us and our system, but we’re trying very quickly to get them as a unit.

“Some of those that have come back from injury have probably not been 100% but we’ve got to believe in each other. The players are as disappointed as everyone else that we’re on this run but we have to stay positive.

“There are still 15 games left, a lot of points to play for. I know people have been frustrated with us but we can hopefully turn it around, as long as you’re working hard and believing in each other, that’s the staff, the players and the directors.

“The atmosphere is a little bit down but that’s the nature of a losing run. We will keep going and try to win these people back as we go along. We’ve got to fight our way out of this poor run and I believe we will, which I’ve said all along.

“The players are disappointed because they all want to play well for themselves, for the team, the supporters and the club. I see it in training that they’re desperate to turn it around and they see it from their management team.

“We work very hard on what we’re doing and we’re still not out of it. We have to keep faith in the lads and keep working.”