Ling cuts a frustrated figure as mistakes cost Gulls once again
"We need to stand up and be counted now," said Torquay United manager Martin Ling as he looked forward to a Devon derby against Exeter City at Plainmoor tomorrow night in the wake of Saturday's exasperating 2-1 npower League Two defeat at Burton Albion.
The frustrated Torquay boss continued: "Ours is a very frustrated dressing-room at the minute. We seem to be able to find a defeat from any given position. But I think the better side got beat, to be honest.
"As an attacking unit, that's as good as we've played for a while.
"We created good chances, asked Burton a lot of questions and always looked like we could open them up.
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"You're not looking at lack of effort or performance. You can't criticise that.
"We deserved to be in front at half-time.
"But then we gave away a sloppy first goal, from a mistake by us. Damon Lathrope has held his hand up – he tried to over-play, lost the ball and they put it away.
"I still thought we looked more like scoring, but then you can't legislate for their winning goal.
"If you're on a good run, you score goals like that. And that's what happens to teams when things aren't going right.
"Last year we found a way of winning games like that, but we seem to be finding a way of losing them now.
"But it's no good talking about last year. We're going to be in a relegation fight if we don't put this right, and we're better than that."
Ling had made three changes for the Burton game, recalling centre-half Brian Saah, back after suspension, in defence, Lathrope in midfield and fit-again Ryan Jarvis in attack.
Of Jarvis, Ling said: "I was delighted with him – he scored a good goal, and I thought he was as good as we had today."
Burton manager Gary Rowett said: "You're always going to have a day when you concede the first goal and the other team gives you a real test, and that happened today.
"But Matt Paterson has come off the bench and scored a goal – well, you wouldn't see a better goal than that in the whole country today.
"It was also a brilliant finish by Calvin Zola for the first goal, when we were looking for a bit of inspiration at that point.
"Torquay's two centre-backs [Brian Saah and Aaron Downes] were very good, very physical, and Calvin stood up to them very well.
"Then, we needed someone to come up with a bit of brilliance to win it, and Matt has done that.
"We've had a really good spell at home, and now we have to be a bit harder away from home. But I'm proud of what we have achieved so far."
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