By Mark Mitchener

We've got to create our own bit of luck Alan Connell

Striker Alan Connell insists Torquay's players must work hard to lift themselves off the foot of League Two.

The 22-year-old told BBC Sport: "We've got to stay together as a group if we want to climb up the table.

"It's important that you don't sit back and think 'it'll change soon' - we've got to make it happen, and create our own bit of luck.

"Everyone's doing all they can to turn it around. As soon as we get the first win, I think we'll go on a good run."

After being relegated from League One on the final day of last season, Leroy Rosenior's side have taken just two points from their first seven games in the basement division - while only finding the net three times so far.

"The start hasn't been ideal, but all the players are working extremely hard in training, trying to get things right," Connell explained.

"Every successful team has a great team spirit, and it's not easy when you sign 10 new players during the summer to get that instantly.

"But things are improving all the time, and I feel the group's coming together very strongly now."

TORQUAY'S SEASON SO FAR Notts County (h) D 0-0 Oxford (a) L 0-1 Mansfield (a) L 0-3 Bristol Rovers (h) L 2-3 Bournemouth (h) (Carling Cup) D 0-0 (lost 3-4 on pens) Peterborough (a) D 0-0 Chester (h) L 0-1 Rochdale (a) L 1-4

Connell himself was one of those 10 new arrivals in the summer, moving along the coast from Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee.

But the Gulls' current plight is familiar to him - after his arrival at Dean Court from Ipswich in 2002, Sean O'Driscoll's Cherries also struggled to adapt to a new division in the early weeks of the season.

"In my first season at Bournemouth, we were near the bottom of the table after four or five games," Connell said.

"But we ended up managing to win promotion that season, so I've told a couple of the players that. That's an indication of how early in the season it is - anything's possible.

"Sean was given an ultimatum by the chairman, but from there we went on a really good run."

The former Portman Road trainee feels Rosenior and O'Driscoll - who were team-mates at Fulham in the early 1980s - are "similar in a lot of ways".

Connell added: "Leroy's probably a bit more vocal and shows more emotion, but both like to give their players responsibility once they cross the white line, and both like to hear the players' point of view as well.

"The manager's been keeping spirits high, so it's up to the players to repay the faith he's shown in us. This is the time when you show your true character.

The manager's been keeping spirits high Rosenior insists he will not quit

"The manager will do all he can for the players, but he doesn't play on a Saturday - it's up to the 16 players in the squad to do the job required.

"We have had a lot of injuries so far, but there are no excuses - we've got a squad who are willing and ready to play when called upon.

"Everyone will get their chance, and everyone's got to be ready when that chance comes."

Connell opened his account for the Gulls in last Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Rochdale, and he insists: "There were a lot of positives to come out of that game, even though circumstances went against us.

"I was pleased to get the first goal, as it's always nice to get that monkey off your back, and from a personal point of view it gives me confidence.

"I'm looking to score plenty more now, but all we're looking at really is getting those first three points on the board sooner rather than later, hopefully on Saturday against Shrewsbury.