So, after the thrills and spills of the opening day 2-2 draw at home to Burton, The Gulls travel to St Marys for the Carling Cup 1st Round. Torquay will be looking to avenge the Johnstones Paint Trophy match a few years ago, where after finding ourselves 0-2 up in the first half, Southampton pulled it back to 2-2 in the second half, before winning 5-3 on penalities.
Southampton:
The Saints began life back in the Championship with a comprehensive 3-1 home win over Leeds United. The Saints are managed by Nigel Adkins, who guided Saints to promotion last season, just like he did with Scunthorpe in 2007.
I wouldnt be surpirsed to see the Saints rest many of their starting XI and play a reserve side for this fixture, which I hope we could use as some inspiration. I would expect some of the first team regulars would be on the bench, just in case we provide a shock.
Torquay:
The Gulls showed great character to come from 0-2 down to draw 2-2 against Burton just a few days ago. Goals from Rene Howe and Lee Mansell helped the Gulls continue a run of 10 matches unbeaten on the opening day of the season. That draw puts the Gulls 12th after the first round of fixtures, one place higher than Plymouth.
Martin Ling was concerned with the defending of both Burton goals, quoting.
"We need to work on our talking at the back because it wasn't great and probably cost us the three points."
With this tough cup tie, Saints will provide a stern test for our back line.
Southamptons Record in the League Cup (Last 5 seasons)
2010-11: 2nd Round: Lost 1-0 to Bolton (H)
2009-10: 2nd Round: Lost 2-1 to Birmingham (H)
2008-09: 3rd Round: Lost 3-1 to Rotherham (A)
2007-08: 1st Round: Lost 2-1 to Peterborough (A)
2006-07: 3rd Round: Lost 2-0 to Notts County (A)
The Saints have made it to the second round on four occasions in the last five seasons. They have lost to lower league oppositon in the past, but were playing away from home. The last two seasons has seen the Saints draw two Premier League sides in the second round of the competition, narrowly losing to both Bolton and Birmingham by a single goal.
Torquay's record in the League Cup (Last 5 seasons)
2010-11: 1st Round: Lost 1-0 to Reading (AET) (H)
2009-10: 1st Round: Lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace (A)
2006-07: 1st Round: Lost 2-0 to Norwich City (H)
2005-06 1st Round: Lost 4-3 on pens to Bournemouth (0-0 AET) (H)
2004-05: 1st Round: Lost 4-1 to Coventry City (A)
As you can see, our record in the League Cup is not great. The last time The Gulls managed to win a Round 1 match was back in 2001 when goals from David Graham and Chris Brandon against Bournemouth earned the Gulls a trip to White Hart Lane. The Gulls provided the Premier League club a massive scare, before eventually losing 2-0, with second half goals from Ledley King and Les Ferdinand.
This was the squad who started against Burton.
Robert Olejnik
Joe Oastler
Chris Robertson
Brian Saah
Kevin Nicholson
Danny Stevens
Eunan O'Kane
Lee Mansell
Ian Morris (72)
Rene Howe
Billy Kee (68)
Substitutes :
Mark Ellis
Lloyd Macklin (72)
Chris McPhee
Taiwo Atieno (68)
Damon Lathrope
I hope we try out a different front line on Tuesday. I don't think Kee and Howe is a good partnership. They are too simular in my book. I would like to see Atenio and Howe up front. I thought that Howe caused the Burton back line some trouble and with better fitness, can be a dangerous striker for us.
Result:
As for the result, I don't expect us to win. In all honestly, I expect us to lose by a few goals, but I thought that in the Johnstones Paint Trophy a few years back, so who knows. I'm hoping for a positive performance and a good atmosphere from the Torquay fans.
Saints 3-1 Torquay.
COME ON YOU YELLOWS!
![Scarf :scarf:](./images/smilies/scarf.gif)
![Scarf :scarf:](./images/smilies/scarf.gif)
![Scarf :scarf:](./images/smilies/scarf.gif)
(Never done a matchday thread like this before, so I hope its up to par!!)