TORQUAY United are no longer a side to fear in the Blue Square Premier... according to Crawley Town boss Steve Evans (above).

The outspoken manager is preparing his Red Devils side for battle with the Gulls at Broadfield Stadium tomorrow, but was less than impressed with what he saw on television on Monday night.

United fell 2-0 to Ebbsfleet in front of the Setanta cameras, and Evans said: "I feared Torquay last year, but they are weaker this year and we are much stronger.

"I would like to think we can win if we play as we can do and I think we can beat Stevenage (on Monday) as well. We have to play with the right energy levels."

Former Boston boss Evans has never been shy about speaking his mind – he is currently serving a 12-match touchline ban.

But his Torquay counterpart Paul Buckle refused to be dragged into a war of words, and instead has knuckled down to some hard work on the training ground with his squad this week.

"If he wants to talk about other teams, that's up to him," said the Gulls manager. "But I will never talk about other sides.

"You can't base anything on what happens at this stage of the season.

"This time last year we'd drawn with Grays and then we went and smashed Aldershot, who went on to win the league.

"For the first few games of the season, we are not going to know our settled 11 as we have got so many new players.

"In pre-season you can get some sort of idea but there is no reality to it. Only when the season comes do you get that."

On the training ground, Buckle has got exactly the reaction he was expecting from his players following Monday night's first defeat.

"The players always train really well and they are extremely professional – I could never question that," he added.

"They had an off-day on Monday and we desperately want to put that right on Saturday."

The manager will wait until the last minute to decide whether injured duo Lee Hodges and Chris Todd will be included in the starting line-up at Crawley.

Hodges is back in training following his neck injury sustained in the 2-1 win over Woking, while Todd is nursing a groin strain picked up in Monday's loss.

"I won't know the full extent until Saturday, as I like to leave it as late as possible before a game," said Buckle.

"We've got three games in six days, and it doesn't leave much preparation for Monday's game (against Salisbury City at Plainmoor).

"But first thing's first, we will go to Crawley and we will be fully committed to the cause."

Several acquaintances will be renewed at Broadfield Stadium tomorrow.

Gulls midfielder Tyrone Thompson was an ever-present in the Red Devils side last season, while Mustapha Carayol also spent a loan spell there.

And in the home side, goalkeeper Simon Rayner played 32 BSP games for the Gulls last season, including the two play-off semi-finals.

The big Canadian has quickly settled into life at Crawley, and said: "I know both Steve Evans and (assistant) Paul Raynor because they tried to sign me in the past.

"Steve is a very animated character and it felt like the right thing to do in respect of everything else.

"I had interest from two other clubs but it was nothing concrete and Crawley was the more attractive move.

"At Torquay it didn't work out between the two different parties and it ended up with me being pushed out.

"I didn't want to leave at first but I was told there's nothing there for me and, when you're told that, there's no point wasting your time.

"At Crawley I think the play-offs are not out of reach and it would be a great achievement if we could make them."

SQUADS

Crawley Town from: Rayner; Wilson, Thomas, Wright, Quinn, Rents, Weatherstone, Forrest, Bulman, Pinault, Killeen, Pittman, Rankin, Cook, Morgan (gk), Stevens, Fletcher, Mayee, Douglas, Giles.

Torquay United from: Poke; Mansell, Todd, Hargreaves, Nicholson, Hodges, Carlisle, Thompson, Wroe, Stevens, Benyon, Sills, Robertson, Green, Carayol, Dsane, Brough, Ellis, Woods, Adams.

Officials: Referee — Darren Sheldrake (Surrey); Assistants — D. Austin and D. Cook; Fourth Official — T. Robinson.