MX23RW : Saturday, February 1 16:03:34| >> :600:22313717:22313717:
[monks data]
Torquay United
National League
Jun 12, 2021 at 12pm UK
Plainmoor Ground
Notts County

Torquay Utd
4 - 2
Notts County

Wright (1', 48'), Hall (102'), Moxey (109' pen.)
FT
(aet)
Rodrigues (39'), Chicksen (51')
Ellis (105')

Preview: Torquay United vs. Notts County - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's National League clash between Torquay United and Notts County, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Torquay United take on Notts County in the National League playoff semi-finals at Plainmoor on Saturday lunchtime.

Sutton United have already secured a place in League Two and it is now a battle between four teams - Torquay, Notts County, Stockport County and Hartlepool United - for the other promotion spot.


Match preview

Gary Johnson in charge of Cheltenham Town in August 2017© Reuters

Torquay ended the regular season with four draws in a row to finish four points behind Sutton in the only automatic promotion place.

Gary Johnson's men must therefore do things the hard way by battling through the playoffs, which they enter at the semi-final stage.

Notts County have already had to overcome Chesterfield in the quarters to make it this far, earning a 3-2 victory in that one-legged tie.

It was a dramatic match between the local rivals at Meadow Lane, settled by a 90th-minute header from Mark Ellis in a game County trailed 2-1 with 70 minutes played.

The Magpies may have finished 10 points below Torquay after 42 matches of the regular season, yet there is an argument to be had that they are in better shape heading into this tie.

Whereas County have momentum on their side after beating Chesterfield, Torquay have had a two-week hiatus since their 0-0 draw at Altrincham on the final day.

That stalemate made it 13 games without defeat, though, so there is no doubt that United are the favourites of the four semi-finalists to earn promotion.

However, there was nothing to separate Torquay and County in their two league games this term, playing out a 0-0 draw in January and a 2-2 draw at Plainmoor three months later.

The pressure is now on Johnson's charges in a game that they are expected to win as they look to end a three-year exile from the Football League.

Torquay United National League form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • D
  • D

Notts County Nations League form:
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W



Team News

Ellis was the last-minute hero against Chesterfield and will be looking to reproduce something similar against his former club this weekend.

That was the centre-back's sixth goal since arriving at the club in March, making him one to watch, though Kyle Wootton is the visitors' go-to man with four goals in five games.

Ian Burchnall may stick with the same lineup from that late win against Chesterfield, with Callum Roberts the only confirmed long-term injury absentee.

As for Torquay, they have had two weeks to rest up for this game, though that 13-day gap is not necessarily a good thing as their players may be a little rusty.

It does at least mean that influential striker Danny Wright and tricky winger Ben Whitfield could return from injury in time for Saturday's showdown.

Scott Boden, Billy Waters and Josh Umerah were named among the subs against Altrincham last time out, but one of them will likely come into the side to lead the line here.

Torquay United possible starting lineup:
Covolan; Wynter, Cameron, Hall, Moxey; Sherring, Lewis, Little, Randell; Waters, Andrews

Notts County possible starting lineup:
Slocombe; Miller, Chicksen, Doyle, Rawlinson; Ellis, Brindley, Reeves, Boldewijn; Rodrigues, Wootton


SM words green background

We say: Torquay United 1-1 Notts County (AET, Torquay through on pens)

Torquay and County have been very tough to beat this term, and both regular season meetings between the sides finished level.

We can see a similar outcome here, though there does of course have to be a winner on the day, and we are tipping Torquay to hold their nerve in the penalty shootout.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



ID:450858:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect7274:
Written by
Daniel Lewis

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Torquay United win with a probability of 44.25%. A win for Notts County had a probability of 30.13% and a draw had a probability of 25.6%.

The most likely scoreline for a Torquay United win was 1-0 with a probability of 10.28%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (9.07%) and 2-0 (7.66%). The likeliest Notts County win was 0-1 (8.17%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.17%).


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Data Failed

How you voted: Torquay Utd vs Notts County

Torquay United
53.4%
Draw
5.2%
Notts County
41.4%
58
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
A general view of Southport football clubs ground Haig Avenue during the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON first Round match between Southport and Sheffield Wednesday at Haig Avenue on November 7, 2010
Read Next:
National League roundup: Cheltenham stay top
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Worthing2816754435955
2Boreham WoodBoreham Wood28157650262452
3Dorking WanderersDorking29157759382152
4Maidstone UnitedMaidstone291410545252052
5Torquay UnitedTorquay Utd281410442261652
6Eastbourne BoroughEastbourne29141053527852
7Truro CityTruro City28147740271349
8Weston-super-MareWeston2913884336747
9Hampton & RichmondHampton28128840291144
10Tonbridge AngelsTonbridge Angels28111073632443
11Chesham UnitedChesham2710893840-238
12Farnborough TownFarnborough27115113638-238
13Chelmsford CityChelmsford City2891094339437
14Slough TownSlough2999114747036
15Chippenham TownChippenham28105133838035
16Hemel Hempstead TownHemel Hemps.27104133748-1134
17AFC HornchurchHornchurch2688102729-232
18Salisbury27710103335-231
19Bath City2786132432-830
20Welling UnitedWelling United2993173351-1830
21St Albans CitySt Albans City28312132743-1621
22Aveley2855183051-2120
23Enfield Town2855182758-3120
24Weymouth29210171842-2416


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!