Paul Wotton: “Frustrated and annoyed with playing into Totton’s hands”

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton shared an equal dose of bemusement and frustration after the 1-0 defeat at AFC Totton.

The Gulls controlled large parts of the first half and it came as a huge surprise when the hosts snatched the lead just before half-time, but chances for second-half redemption were plentiful.

Totton had a man sent off and United spurned a penalty, blasted over by Jordan Young after an argument with team-mate Callum Dolan on who should take the spot-kick. From there, the Gulls ‘played into the hands’ of their grateful hosts.

“It was bitterly disappointing and I can’t believe we went in at half-time 1-0 down,” said Wotton. “They had a couple of chances but that was just from us playing stupid sideways passes.

“We were in complete control but said at half-time that if we went out and played on the front foot, I fancied us to get back into the game. We didn’t do that, we started the second half poorly and I questioned a few individuals on that.

“The game then changes with the sending off and we get a penalty. There was a kerfuffle before the penalty, which I don’t like and shouldn’t happen, but we miss that and then huffed and puffed.

“In the end, we started slinging balls into the box, which is what Totton wanted. The frustration is we had 30 minutes to go, plus stoppage time, and the very clear message was to keep moving the ball and creating overloads.

“It is a huge opportunity missed, I’m frustrated and annoyed. I don’t want to be that manager to say ‘we go home and get rested for Boxing Day’, of course we will because there’s no other option but I’m angry. I feel like I wasting my breath on the sidelines.

“The players didn’t execute what we wanted, and not through lack of trying or effort, just a really disappointing afternoon for us.

“I felt like we’d been mugged at half-time but you’ve still got a half to get over that. They cleared two off the line but our finishing has got to be better. You’ve got to be ruthless, football is ruthless, but we played into Totton’s hands.

“Boxing Day is a massive game, I’m sure there will be a big crowd. I hope everyone has a great Christmas Day and we look forward to seeing them on Boxing Day.”