Torquay aim to avoid FA Cup upset at village team

Having flirted with relegation after financial problems last season, Torquay have won five of their opening eight games and are fifth in National League South

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton has called on his team to ensure they are not victims of an upset in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The National League South side travel to Bishops Cleeve, who are 10th in the eighth-tier Southern League Division One South.

The village team from Gloucestershire have described the tie as the "biggest game" in their history.

It is Wotton's first cup game in charge of the Gulls having taken over as manager in the summer after new owners took control at Plainmoor.

"Everyone wants to see an upset don't they? Everyone wants the underdog to win. When you're British you want the underdog to win," Wotton told BBC Radio Devon.

"I think it's the upset and it's seeing the big club tumble; hopefully that doesn't happen to us on Saturday."

Wotton's side go into the game after a 2-0 loss at home to Welling last week.

The Gulls conceded a controversial opening goal - one which Wotton says the referee has since contacted him to apologise for his decision - as a five-game unbeaten run came to an end.

The former Plymouth Argyle and Southampton player says his side's attitude will be key in Saturday's FA Cup tie.

"I just think it is all about our mentality," he said. "They're going to be up for it, it's going to be a big crowd, I'm sure they'll be motivated to beat a big club.

"We know we're in for a tough afternoon. We've all been involved in these FA Cup games before and they're not as easy as people think, they're very tough games.

"If we win the game everyone just says 'well, you should win the game'. We've got everything to lose and Bishops Cleeve haven't," Wotton added.

"All the pressure's on us and we've got to go there and got to handle it."