Torquay Boss Blasts Pitch State

Torquay manager Paul Buckle was happy with his side's attacking play today but was less happy with the state he found the Gresty Road pitch in when his team arrived for today's game. Buckle felt the Alex grass was too long and dry, saying the pitch wasn't fit for League Two football.

Buckle told the Torquay United Official Website:

We are disappointed with the pitch, the surface here today was dreadful, the grass was long and dry and not fit, in my opinion, for a League 2 match.

'We had two very good sides who want to play the game on the floor but couldn't really do it. I actually changed our system when I saw the playing surface because there was no way we could play the way we planned to on that.

'I don't know if it was done deliberately or whether there was no one working on it but it was shocking.'

It's certainly hard to disagree on that. Although the club have in the past sneakily left a longer cut on match day, it was usually against the likes of Leeds United rather than Torquay United. So, as the pitch hardly played into our hands either, I'm quite certain it wasn't done deliberately. There is clearly an issue with the pitch however, probably concerning the towering Main Stand yet again.

Meanwhile, Buckle was fairly chirpy despite seeing his side lose a 3-1 lead with 20 minutes to play. Buckle said that he felt his side always looked the more likely team to win it:

'What a game that was, although we are a little disappointed not to have won it after leading by two goals on two separate occasions.

''From where I was I thought the decision for the second penalty was correct but I had some serious reservations about the awarding of the first penalty which was very harsh and I think Elliot Benyon was pulled down inside the area for us in the first half but let's forget that and talk about a great game.

''I was delighted with our reaction after Crewe pulled level, we could have gone under at 3-3 but we dug in and we had the better chances.'

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