A Tough But Valuable Win – Hargreaves

Manager Chris Hargreaves has hailed the team for a tough but very valuable win over Portsmouth last weekend.

A tight one nil win thanks to a first half goal from Billy Bodin was enough for Torquay to take a much needed three points at Fratton Park in front of an incredible plus 15,000 crowd and provided a massive boost to our own relegation battles – given the atmosphere if nothing else.

The heart the team must have taken from facing off against a good side, in front of such an intimidating crowd could reap it’s own rewards and prove to be more important than the three points taken itself as the season progresses now.

Speaking to the Official Site following the win, the gaffer said.

‘It was a good victory and a tough place to come. In the first half we played really well and played some good football, scored a good goal, and in the second half Portsmouth came at us, but when you’re down there, you have to put in big performances. I was delighted with our work rate today and I’m pleased for Billy.’

As for the overall game it really was for Hargreaves a true reflection on what Torquay are capable of when we fire on all cylinders, not only in attack as he believes we created opportunities worthy of more goals – that we ultimately didn’t capitalise on – but importantly showed a real defensive strength and attitude to cope with them when they came at us.

The first half was the pick of the bunch, and the second half was a great education, but in either case he cannot fault the effort or the commitment of the players again.

A great baseline to work from and learn from, and the perfect way to bounce back from the defeat to Oxford.