Every Wednesday in the Herald Express, our Torquay United correspondent Richard Hughes takes a sideways look at what's going on in the world of the Gulls. This week, he looks at the role the fans can play this season

It feels different this season – doesn’t it? Sitting in the press seats and looking out at the Popside, it looks different too. Having almost 4,000 fans for a National League South game against Welling United is quite frankly ridiculous.

The five thousand for the New Year’s Day game against Truro was perhaps understandable: bank holiday, people back in the bay, the excitement of a promotion race that Torquay are currently leading. But 3,794 on a cold Saturday in January when the visitors only brought 29 with them is remarkable.

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We all know this new era has installed a new belief at Plainmoor, and there are many fans returning after voluntary exiles, but it still seems difficult to believe the crowds are holding up like they are. It wouldn’t have been surprising – and frankly completely understandable – if they had begun to drop into the latter two thousands by now. But no, the turnstiles keep rotating as supporters young and old return again and again to see this new team doing – mostly – wonderful things.

An unbeaten home record helps. I daren’t ask the question, can Torquay make it till the end of the season without losing at home? What an achievement that would be. But, if you’re going for promotion, then that kind of form is what you must strive for. Keep the unbeaten flag flying over TQ1, and the fans will keep coming back.

But fans do more than just stand on the terraces and watch football. They take part. How many times have I heard the manager and players praise our faithful this season for giving the team that extra 10%: the confidence to go and fight back, or kill a game off?

When Welling scored 10 minutes into the second half on Saturday, the fans did their bit once again. Torquay’s first-half performance was good and they deserved the 1-0 lead – but, oh, those first 20 minutes of the second half were a different kettle of salty fish. But the fans sung-up, changed the noise levels, and slowly the players responded. When a relationship between fans and players is symbiotic like that, it is such a strength.

“I know that we keep saying about how fantastic the support is here, but it’s no coincidence that these attendances are still holding up – and fortress Plainmoor remains unbeaten so far this season,” said media man Dominic Mee in his video interview with Wotton on Saturday. “They go hand in hand, don’t they?”

Wotton’s reply was: “Yeah, I think we needed them today. I thought they were terrific. They are always great but when Welling scored I didn’t hear any moaning or groaning – I thought the fans raised us.

“I have said many times, it is our job to raise the fans, but I thought the fans raised us today – so I am very grateful for that.”

The fans must not stay satisfied, either. The squad needs an extra striker to see us through this season – and don’t be surprised if one doesn’t join the club soon, perhaps this or next week. Cody Cooke has been excellent all season and has 11 goals to his name now – but he can’t do it all on his own up there, and so far Wotton’s efforts to try something different up front, when Cooke isn’t available, haven’t really worked.

On Saturday, Wotton made five changes from the team that started the FA Trophy defeat at Worthing, with Omar Mussa dropping to the bench after playing further forward at Worthing – and with Cooke retuning, and Jordan Young and Dylan Morgan playing on the right and the left, Torquay were much more threatening going forward. Add another good player to that mix and it might be the stuff of dreams.

However, it was rested defender Jordan Dyer that was missed the most at Worthing, and he scored his first two Torquay goals with quality forward finishes in the 3-1 win against Welling United on Saturday. Wotton keeps repeating that this is an ongoing process. I remember writing earlier this season that not all of the players he brought to the club would be a success. We have already seen some go – and others struggle to make the 16.

But right now, with the latest additions of Young and Morgan picking up the fight, if we have to wait a couple more weeks to find the perfect foil for Cooke, I for one am prepared to be patient. Especially if we have a defender who can score goals like Dyer did on Saturday.