Wotton faces Boxing Day selection headache ahead of crucial Weston derby

Manager Paul Wotton faces some key selection decisions ahead of Torquay United’s Boxing Day Westcountry derby against NL South promotion rivals Weston-super-Mare at Plainmoor.

The stakes for the Gulls (5th), four points behind leaders Hornchurch, have been cranked up by successive defeats against Tonbridge (1-2) and AFC Totton (0-1).

Those setbacks followed five successive league wins.

But, after that barrage of points and goals (17) the failure to score more than one consolation goal in the last two on-paper winnable matches has upped the ‘ante’ massively.

Wotton admitted that his attack ‘huffed and puffed’ at Totton after a day when Jordan Young’s missed penalty was a major turning point against ten men.

The Gulls’ boss sent on both Callum Dolan and fit-again centre-forward Cody Cooke from the bench in Hampshire after enforced absences.

But despite good performances in defence and midfield, United were hugely disappointing in attack at Totton, and that’s where Wotton’s mind will surely be focused ahead of Boxing Day.

The main injury concern at the weekend was the sight of in-form midfielder Sonny Blu Lo-Everton limping off in the second half.

Lo-Everton, who has been one of United’s best players in recent weeks, did not look too badly hurt and it may have been a precaution to withdraw him.

But few others bring the same level of industry to side as Lo-Everton, and it will be a big miss if the former Yeovil schemer is missing against Weston.

One thing is certain, and that’s a big crowd on Friday.

All seats have been sold out since the end of last week, although United have been hoping for a few more Bristows Bench places to be freed up once a deadline for Weston sales has passed.

It may be only the halfway mark of the season, but other results are already starting to occupy everyone’s minds.

The big in-form team is second-placed Worthing, who have enjoyed an impressive run since the return of former manager Adam Hinshelwood.

The Rebels have won nine of their last ten league games, their only defeat coming at Plainmoor (2-3) last month.

On paper Worthing are favourites to beat South Coast rivals Eastbourne Borough on Friday, but it may not be as straightforward as it looks.

Since the Sports were routed 7-0 by the Gulls, they’ve started to turn things round under another returning boss, Tommy Widdrington, and it could get feisty at Borough at Christmas.

On a day of NLS derbies Hornchurch also make the short trip to hot-and-cold Dagenham & Redbridge, while improving Dorking Wanderers (4th) host surprise packets Horsham (6th).