GULLS BOSS Paul Buckle is confident that Torquay United will bounce back quickly after having their four-game 100 per cent start to the season ended by Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Southend United.

United play three of their next four matches at Plainmoor, starting with Accrington Stanley next Saturday, after being knocked off the top of League Two by Shrewsbury's 1-0 home win over Rotherham.

"We have put ourselves up there to be shot at," said Buckle, "and you could see that by Southend's reaction at beating us.

"It shows how far we've come when Torquay United turn up at Southend, and it's a big game for them.

"We've not got above our station.

"People could see why we are where we are from the way we played in the second half.

"You're going to lose sooner or later, but as long as you lose doing the right things, I can take that.

"If we keep playing like we did in the second half, keep doing what we've been doing and stay reasonably injury-free, we will have a good season."

Anthony Grant and Josh Simpson fired Southend into a 2-0 interval lead at Roots Hall.

Chris Zebroski made it 2-1 with his fourth goal of the season in the 77th minute.

But, despite hitting the woodwork four times in the match, United could not extend their unbeaten league run, stretching back to last season, to a 13th game.

The match came at the end of a week of three away games at Port Vale, Bournemouth in a cup-tie that went to penalties and Southend, plus plenty of media interest in the Gulls' flying start to the campaign.

Buckle also leapt to the defence of centre-half Guy Branston, who may be reported by referee Dean Whitehouse for gesturing at Southend assistant manager Tommy Widdrington after the final whistle.

During stoppage time, with United chasing an equaliser, Branston had words with a local photographer who appeared to punch a loose ball into seats behind one end of the ground instead of returning it to goalkeeper Scott Bevan.

"The cameraman was a bit silly to do that – that's not his job. His job is take pictures," said Buckle.

"I told Guy that he can't react like that, but he doesn't like losing, and I can understand the way he felt after seeing the cameraman do that."

After the final whistle Widdrington and Branston had an exchange, at some distance from each other, as the players left the pitch.

Buckle confirmed that Northampton official Whitehouse planned to report Branston for his one-fingered gesture at Widdrington.

But the Gulls' boss, clearly unhappy at the news, added: "We've now spoken to the Fourth Official (Matt McLaughlin), and he says that Guy was sworn at first.

"So we'll see what happens from there."

United's shoot-out win at Bournemouth has earned them a Johnstone's Paint Trophy Second Round trip to Swindon Town.

Plymouth Argyle will be away to Cheltenham, while Exeter City travel to Hereford.