Taylor retains belief in Torquay United's ability to terminate losing sequence
Shaun Taylor has backed Torquay United's players to stop the rot and haul the Gulls back up the npower League Two table in the wake of their third successive defeat, 3-1 at home to Rotherham United on Tuesday.
"It just seems at the moment that everything is happening against us, but I've told the players that there are plenty of games to go," the Gulls' assistant manager said.
"We've got to get some points on the board, we know that, but I've got confidence in them."
United were on top for most of the first half on Tuesday, forcing the Millers' veteran goalkeeper Andy Warrington to make a series of smart – a couple of them were outstanding – saves.
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"It was the same against Fleetwood [in a 1-0 defeat last Saturday], and I know there's hardly any point in saying it was another good first-half performance," Taylor added.
"But we had numerous chances in the first half and a good opportunity to beat a side who will be in the top seven at the end of the season.
"We're just not putting the ball in the net, and I know that's the be-all and end-all. One might have to go in off someone's rear-end sometime.
"I didn't say a lot at half-time, because it was a good first-half performance. Maybe I should have said more."
Rotherham opened the scoring through Lee Frecklington 50 seconds after the restart, the ball eluding Michael Poke's grasp on its way over the line.
"Michael has put his hand up for that goal just after half-time, and then their second goal [from Alex Revell after 59 minutes] made it very difficult for us to come back," Taylor admitted.
"It was a disappointing second-half performance. You can't get back in the game, as we did with the penalty near the end, and then they go from the kick-off and go straight to the other end and score again. You've got to give yourself a chance."
Taylor revealed that midfielder Nathan Craig was feeling unwell before his substitution at half-time, and he added that new loan signing Elliot Benyon's match sharpness – he replaced Craig in a reshuffled attack – will benefit from his 45 minutes of action.
Rotherham boss Steve Evans commented: "It was a hard-fought win. The pitch was never conducive to good football and this is always a tough place to come, especially with Torquay coming off a defeat last Saturday, and you have to work here.
"Our goalkeeper made two or three important saves at vital times in the first half, when we didn't play well, and another very important one at 2-0 in the second half.
"We sat off them in the first half, waiting for things to happen instead of making them happen. But, although the goalkeeper fumbled it in, Lee Frecklington deserved the first goal for the piece of skill to set it up. We could have scored six or seven in the end."
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