Manager Martin Ling has no fears that Torquay United's promotion hopes might be affected by a schedule which sees them have more games away than at home.

After close rivals Shrewsbury Town visit Plainmoor on Saturday, the Gulls will have seven npower League home games left, and ten away.

That might normally be seen as a disadvantage, but Ling is confident that the style of his team suits their remaining programme. And, with five wins and only one defeat in United's last seven games on the road, they have every reason to be confident.

"Teams have to come at you when you're away from home, and the spaces tend to be bigger for you to play," Ling declared.

"We don't set out purely to play on the counter-attack, but we have proved we are effective doing that. We encourage the players to pass the ball, and that's conducive to getting away wins.

"We've played well on the road recently, and I'm not worried about the fact that we've got more games away."

Another helpful factor is that several of United's away matches, at Cheltenham Town next Tuesday night, Gillingham, Swindon Town and Barnet, are at places where Torquay can expect large, noisy followings.

First up is Saturday's important game against Shrewsbury, whom the Gulls knocked out of last season's play-offs semi-finals. By then, Ling will know whether United's 100 per cent January will have been good enough to win him the npower Manager Of The Month award.

The prize will be announced on Friday, and the panel must decide whether five wins for Ling's Gulls should beat Paolo Di Canio's Swindon and Lawrie Sanchez's Barnet.

The Robins and Bees both had four League wins, with Swindon also knocking Wigan Athletic out of the FA Cup.

Also nominated is United defender Mark Ellis, who is up against Swindon captain Paul Caddis and Barnet forward Ricky Holmes for January's League Two Player Of The Month accolade.

Former Torquay central defender Darren Moore has left Burton Albion by mutual consent. The 37-year-old, signed on a free transfer from Barnsley in August 2010, made just five appearances for the Brewers this season due to injuries.