Weight of expectation is part of the deal for Torquay United

The idea that a game on the first weekend of October might be a ‘must-win’ affair raises the interesting question of what you’d then call a real six-pointer at the end of April, but that’s the sort of pressure that Torquay United are learning to live with as they head for Salisbury on Saturday (3pm).

Manager Paul Wotton did his best to lighten that weight of expectation this week (writes Dave Thomas).

“I’m not happy (with the away form), but I am genuinely not concerned, and I’m sure it will change sooner rather than later,” he said.

Sure, the Gulls are still looking for their first away win after five league and cup games, but they are third in the National League South and only early leaders Hornchurch have scored more than their 21 goals in nine matches.

Just as important as all that is the steady strengthening of the squad after a spate of injuries, especially in midfield.

So now, with players like Callum Dolan, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Dylan Morgan restored to full fitness, might be a pretty good time to crack that away form.

United also feel comfortable enough to have ended Keane Anderson’s spirited loan spell from Aldershot and sent left-back Matt Carson out again, this time to Taunton Town for three months.

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But new into Saturday’s squad will be 19-year-old striker Cian Dillon from Queen’s Park Rangers on a 28-day loan.

If Dillon proves anywhere near as good as fellow Dubliner Sinclair Armstrong, Stephen Duke- McKenna or Arkell Jude-Boyd, everyone will be a winner.

That trio all came to Plainmoor from QPR in recent seasons and galvanised their careers here.

Wotton said of Dillon: “We’ve done well to get him.

“He’s a strong runner and he’s quick, and it takes that little bit of pressure off Sonny Fish coming back too early.”

Young centre-forward Fish, who is yet to make his Torquay debut, is back in training after cartilage surgery and United hope he’ll be ready for action in two to three weeks.

Wotton’s men should certainly be fresh and firing on all cylinders at Salisbury - it will be a fortnight since they beat Ebbsfleet United 1-0 at Plainmoor.

That was their first ‘clean sheet’ of the season, and another one would make them very hard to beat in Wiltshire.

Salisbury’s new Kuwaiti owner Ali Alhamad hasn’t enjoyed too much return on his investment yet.

But just because the Whites are still without a win after nine league games shouldn’t lull the Gulls into a false sense of security.

Injuries have cramped manager Brian Dutton’s options, but Alhamad’s money did allow him to sign EFL players like experienced duo Tom Davies (Tranmere) and striker Matty Taylor (Cheltenham) in the summer.

Three of their draws so far have come against Hornchurch, Dagenham and Hampton & Richmond, and Wotton saw enough in a spying mission last weekend to know that they won’t be a pushover.

Saturday’s referee is Zachary Cunningham (Northampton), who also handled United’s 1-1 draw at Maidstone earlier this season.