By Matt Badcock
GARY JOHNSON’S post-match interview after Torquay United‘s huge win against Sutton was filled with plenty of light moments.
Asa Hall’s superb headed winner was yet another goal beyond the 80-minute mark this season.
“People have started calling it Gary time – I’m going to have to live up to it,” he says.
Skipper Hall’s history with Johnson – they won the title together at Cheltenham before the 34-year-old midfielder joined the Gulls and helped them to become National League South champions before playing a pivotal role this season – also earns a quip.
“He’s the evil I know,” Johnson smiles.
Lucas Covolan’s vital low save to keep out Omar Bugiel’s potential equaliser at the death, means Johnson can also smile about the keeper’s indiscretion in the first half that nearly saw him robbed of the ball inside his own box when trying to play out.
“That was one big save,” Johnson says. “He nearly cost us when he thought he was George Best, but he did make a big save at the right time.
Downtime
“We had a quiet word at half-time and said, ‘If you wouldn’t mind not trying to dribble in your penalty area’…that’s the Brazilian in him.”
Striker Danny Wright, 32, even gets a ribbing for “trying to look 23”.
But the manager who has won this division twice before on his way to six promotions is deadly serious too.
Tuesday’s win at Sutton United drew the third-place Gulls level on points with their hosts and means they too can still leapfrog Hartlepool United if they win their games in hand.
Sutton are still in the box seat having played fewer than their nearest rivals, but this was a huge victory for Johnson’s side.
Hall, for one, was fantastic in midfield long before guiding Adam Randell’s excellent cross into the bottom corner of the net.
“He’s a great captain and leader,” Johnson says. “When you need somebody to pop up and produce something at the right moment, you can rely on him.
“If you needed a couple of people to go to war with you, he’d be your first pick to take with you to look after you. He’s a top professional – he’s a good lad, but he’s a good player.
“Asa has got over an injury he had, which was a long one, a few weeks ago but since he’s been back, he’s run games.
“Their midfield is a decent unit but I thought ours of Asa, and Armani Little, did enough to warrant being in the winning team.”
Wright’s return from injury has been timely too. The Gulls have won six of their last seven and Wright’s importance to their play is evident.
“He is massive for us – you could see he was running around like a 23-year-old,”
Johnson says. “He’s as keen now as he ever was. I’ve had a promotion with him and he’s right up there with one the best players and people I’ve worked with. You keep coming back to them saying, ‘Can you help us out again?’
“Danny Wright has had a lot of success but that’s because of his enthusiasm. He tries to look 23 and he tries to play 23. But he’s been brilliant for us. His hold-up play today, his battering, he gave the two centre halves a big day. For a big fella he has got a lot of ability.
“I’d like to see him get another goal soon because his performances deserve it.”
This weekend saw some welcome R&R for Johnson’s side with it being their turn to put their feet up in the absence of a National League game. Johnson gets serious again.
“We need that because we have played a lot of games in a short space of time,” Johnson says. “Why the National League did not give our league five subs, I do not know. Because the amount of injuries in the league is unbelievable. We’re playing the same amount of games as the Football League teams that have got five subs out of nine, do you know what I mean? You’re putting professional footballers under a lot of strain. When there are injuries, you can’t always go and get someone else quickly.
“I’m disappointed with that, I’m really disappointed – our league should be doing the same as the EFL.
“Whoever made the decision we could only have three subs, I think, looking back on it, has made the wrong decision.”
Johnson also points out that whoever makes the EFL through the play-offs this season is going to have very little downtime before the treadmill starts churning again.
“The team that goes up,” he asks, “are they going to get enough rest? If you get to the play-off final, June 20th, and you get promoted via that – I am not saying we will, but whatever club is – then you have to be back ready to play the League on August 7. So that gives you no rest time, no pre-season time.
Haircut
“The team that wins the league has got half a chance of being ready. The play-off winners have got another month (of playing).
“So there’s a few things I want to get out of my system – but, what can you do?”
What he doesn’t want it to do is take away from what was an excellent performance at Sutton, who have been flying despite their recent spate of draws.
It’s getting to the stage of a season the former Yeovil, Bristol City and Cheltenham boss knows so well.
“Always the last ten to 12 games are massive,” he says. “As long as you’re keeping yourself in the race, this is the time to be ready.
“We are lucky a couple of our longer term injuries are coming back. You have to give them 30 minutes, then 45, then 60 so it’s difficult to gauge because you have to game-manage the players. But I don’t want to take anything away from this result. We’ve got to keep trying to do our best every week.”
As we finish up, midfielder Armani Little slips past on his way back to the coach.
“And just for the record,” Johnson adds, “Armani Little has got a fantastic haircut.”
But, make no mistake, Johnson is in full business mode.
