Jay Saunders has praised his opposite number as Tonbridge prepare to host Torquay this weekend.

Paul Wotton has the Gulls fighting for promotion in his first season in charge at Plainmoor.

He’s overseen a complete rebuild since being appointed by the club’s new owners last summer.

Torquay are the biggest and best-supported club in National League South and that brings pressure.

But Wotton, the former Plymouth midfielder, has handled it well.

“I look forward to seeing Paul, their manager,” said Angels boss Saunders

“I get on really well with him and he’s done a good job going in there.

“I don’t think there’s many clubs with a lot more pressure on your shoulders than Torquay in this league.

“He has to deal with that and it’s not easy.

“They’ve had a complete rebuild from last year and they’ve been there or thereabouts all season.

“I don’t think they’re a million miles off top spot, so I’m sure they’ll still be chasing it down.

“I went and watched them a couple of weeks back at Slough and I’ve watched some videos.

“In Jordan Young, I think they’ve got probably the best player in the league in forward areas. I think he’s outstanding.

“It’ll be a tough game but we’re at home and our home form has been pretty decent and hopefuly we can put on a performance.”

Tonbridge thumped Torquay 4-1 at Longmead last season, having also beaten them in the FA Trophy a few years earlier.

They also picked up a 0-0 draw at Plainmoor this season.

Saunders, who could welcome back Brody Peart and Harry Ottaway from injury, said: “We had a good game down there and we beat them at home last year.

“It’s not easy when you’re a club like Torquay because teams raise their game against you as well.

“We haven’t done bad against the top sides, we beat Dorking at home, and we’ll try and get three points on Saturday.

“Torquay bring a lot of fans, so hopefully the weather continues as it is and it’s a good afternoon.”

Tonbridge lost 2-0 at Hemel Hempstead last weekend.

It’s been a bogey ground for them in recent times and the theme continued after conceding twice in the second half.

Angels have won only three away games this season, denting their play-off hopes, and Saunders feels it’s a mentality issue.

“There was nothing in it in the first half,” he said.

“We probably just edged it and had a couple of good chances, which we didn’t take.

“We came out second half and just weren’t good enough. We never got going.

“It’s very frustrating but that’s probably the story of us away from home.

“We’ve won three games away all season.

“All right, we’ve drawn quite a few, but it’s got to be a mentality thing because away from home we don’t pick up the same results.

“If you look at home form, we’re probably in the top five.

“Away form, we’re probably right down there.

“I said to the boys I believe it is a mentality thing.

“It’s fine lines when you’re looking to make play-offs.

“If we’d picked up three more wins away, we’d be right in the mix. That’s where we’re at and for us, as a management team, it drives us mad. We just have to keep working at it.”

Tonbridge visit Chesham on Tuesday night.