No play-off negativity for Torquay, says boss Wotton

BBC News

02-05-2025

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton says his side will not be affected by their narrow title loss as they go into the National League South play-offs.The Gulls lost out on first place in the division to Truro City last weekend and face Boreham Wood on Saturday in the play-off semi-finals.A win would secure a home final against either Eastbourne Borough or Maidstone United next week."There is not one ounce of negativity that should be portrayed going into this game," Wotton told BBC Radio Devon."We've finished as the second-best team in the league, if people agree with that or not."There'll be a lot of people think Truro weren't the best team in the league - they were, they won the league."We're in a good run of form, the boys are in a good place, we've got a sell out we're fully aware we're playing an excellent team, a top, top team, and we've got to be ready for it."There's no givens in football, but we'll be ready."Wotton's side were 4-1 winners at Hemel Hempstead on the final day of the regular season and go into the play-offs in great form.They have won 10 and lost just one of their last 11 games since a 2-2 draw with Boreham Wood on 1 March, including 1-0 away wins at Truro and sixth-placed Dorking Wanderers."I'm clear in my head of the team we're going to play and the way we're going to play," added Wotton."It's a game of football we need to win. It's a shoot-out."You could sit there and go through all sorts of formations. Do I follow my gut, do I go with my heart? A bit of both with some decisions so we'll see."