Why Torquay United manager Gary Johnson relishes Barrow challenge

'This is a great game for us, and I am looking forward to it. Both teams will be trying to win it, that's for sure'

TORQUAY United manager Gary Johnson says he relishes the chance to halt Barrow's march towards the National League Championship when two of the division's highest-scoring teams go head to head at Holker Street on Saturday (3pm).

The Bluebirds, unfancied at the start of the season but now dreaming of a return to the Football League after a 48-year absence, have hit 60 goals in 31 games so far and stand five points clear with a game in hand.

The Gulls may be in mid-table, but only three sides have scored more than their tally of 52 goals and they still believe they can mount a late push for the Play-Offs.

Johnson, foiled so far in his efforts to strengthen the squad in the wake of departures for striker Ruairi Keating (Gateshead) and centre-back Jean-Yves Koue Niate (Aldershot), saw his attack stutter in a 0-0 draw at home to struggling Ebbsfleet United last weekend.

"None of us enjoyed the Ebbsfleet game, but the ball was only in play for 42 minutes , which is ridiculous, and it's very difficult to get a momentum going, especially at home," he said.

"But this is a great game for us, and I am looking forward to it.  Both teams will be trying to win it, that's for sure.

"We can compete with any team in this division on our day."

Torquay have no new injury concerns and, although full-backs Ben Wynter (groin) and Liam Davis (ankle) are still sidelined, recovering trio Matt Buse (ankle), Jared Lewington (concussion) and Louie Slough (back) all safely negotiated run-outs in Wednesday's 'Devon Bowl' defeat at Tavistock AFC (3-0).

Whether the 350 miles between them has anything to do with it, United have to go back to October 1969 for their last, and only, win in 13 visits to Barrow.  The Bluebirds have a similar record at Plainmoor, by the way - just two wins in 14.

It has been the most extraordinary season in Furness.

When Barrow won only two of their first nine games, most of their fans would probably have settled for a place in mid-table by now.

But since they lost 1-0 at home to Hartlepool United on September 3, Ian Evatt's squad has tasted defeat only once in 22 league matches - and that was at Plainmoor (4-2) on October 26 when they had John Rooney dismissed just before half-time.

That day still rankles, with Evatt saying: "We felt hard done by down there when 'Roons' was sent off.

"Even though we got it rescinded, I felt if that didn't happen, we would have probably gone on to win the game, or definitely not lose it.

"They have conceded a lot of goals, but we've got no given right and they score lots of goals as well, so we will have to make sure we are tight and compact defensively."

Evatt, who formed a highly effective centre-back partnership and friendship with Gulls assistant manager Aaron Downes during several seasons at Chesterfield, has enjoyed good fortune with injuries.

But that hardly explains the way that a team of underachievers elsewhere has clicked, nowhere more than in attack.

Summer signings Scott Quigley (The New Saints, Blackpool) and Dior Angus (Kidderminster, Redditch, Port Vale) have scored 28 goals between them, Quigley leading the way with 17.

Quigley has not only been matched every step of the way by Torquay's Jamie Reid, but by teammate Rooney, younger brother of Wayne, who has also hit 17 goals from midfield.

And, for good measure, Torquay also have to find a way through a defence which has conceded only eleven goals in 15 home games.

Torquay United from: Covolan or MacDonald; Lewis, Cundy, Warren, Longridge, Kalala, Nemane, Hall, Lemonheigh-Evans, Whitfield, Reid, Andrews, Little, Cameron, Lewington, Buse, Koszela, Slough.

Unavailable: Ben Wynter, Liam Davis (both injured), Ryan Dickson (out on loan).