Injury-ravaged Torquay United bow out of the Emirates FA Cup

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton shared his disappointment with an FA Cup defeat at AFC Totton alongside an injury crisis that has severely hampered the Gulls in recent weeks.

Travelling to the club United defeated in the league four weeks ago, the Gulls were without the likes of Louis Dennis, Callum Dolan, Sonny Fish, Nashe Sundire, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Dylan Morgan.

Take six players out of any team at this level and there will be issues, but the defeat at Totton ultimately came down to slack defending either side of half-time and United’s failure to take their chances.

“I’m really, really disappointed,” said Wotton. “We are savaged with injuries, the first half was all quite pretty but we conceded a poor goal, and then we had multiple chances in the second half to score, but we didn’t.

“Totton scored the second at a really good time for them and a poor time for us.

“Injury-wise, we should have two or three back next week, which is a Godsend because we need them back sooner rather than later.”

The hopes of a cup run have again been dashed at the first hurdle for United, who suffered a painful loss at Southern League Bishops Cleeve a year ago.

While the footballing disappointment is obvious, there is also a financial implication to an early exit in the FA Cup, as the prize money for progression in this competition can be a massive help to clubs lower don the pyramid, hence the manager’s frustration.

“We didn’t take our chances and we didn’t defend well enough on two separate occasions,” he said. “We can’t allow free headers in our box and we’ve worked on that all week.

“I’m bitterly disappointed with that.

“We wanted a cup run, 100%, so I apologise for that but we need players back. Away from home, we haven’t been getting the results that we need.

“Of course the fans are disappointed, and I get their frustrations.”

United now move forward to the league visit of Ebbsfleet on Saturday, and with the hope that a reduction in their injury list will provide the impetus to repeat the fine display of beating Slough 4-2 in the previous NLS game at Plainmoor.

“We get back to work now,” added Wotton. “Our last league performance was excellent, so we have to make sure we don’t allow this to carry on into a poor week of training.”