Steve Burr has reaffirmed his belief there will be no repeat of the season-long struggle that the fans endured in 2013-14.

Five defeats in eight games will be a concern to some but context should be added to that statistic.

Barnet, Forest Green Rovers, FC Halifax Town, Gateshead and Torquay United, who won 2-0 at the Swansway Chester Stadium on Tuesday, have been too good for the Blues but all five have greater resources.

Based on perceived budgets, the Vanarama Conference can be split into three mini-leagues with Chester failing into the bottom group, albeit at the top end.

Braintree Town and Macclesfield Town are in the same mini-league and both have been beaten.

With more games against clubs on a similar keel coming up over the next few weeks, the manager remains upbeat.

Burr said: “You saw the sort of level of team we were up against on Tuesday but I’m happy with the commitment the lads are showing and I’m sure we will be alright.

“We’ve got a long, hard season ahead of us but if we get that type of commitment and improve, like I can see we are doing, then we’ll be okay.”

Chester gained some confidence from the 1-0 win over Macclesfield on Saturday with John Rooney scoring a splendid free kick against his former club.

A second home game 72 hours later provided a chance to build some momentum but Torquay, relegated from the Football League at the end of last season, put paid to those plans.

Burr had no complaints about the result and rates the Gulls as the best side he has seen this season.

He said: “I felt our effort, work-rate and commitment was fantastic and I praised the lads for that but we were beaten by a better side.

“It’s difficult to create chances when you’re up against a side as good as one we came up against on Tuesday but we kept going, which was pleasing.

“I thought maybe we had a bit of luck in the first half but overall sometimes in football you’ve got to respect the opposition and how they played and Tuesday was one of those nights where we just fell short because they were better than us.”

Referee Karl Evans provided the two biggest talking points of an otherwise routine win for the Gulls, with Burr admitting post-match he felt the official “lost control”.

Keiran Charnock was wrongly sent off after a Michael Kay foul before Mr Evans corrected his mistake and he then missed a clash between Angus MacDonald and Craig Hobson, who alleged the Torquay defender spat at him.

Chester head to unbeaten Woking on Saturday (3pm) and the manager hopes to have Peter Winn and John Disney back in contention but captain Matty Brown will be out for another two-to-three weeks.

Burr said: “The likes of Matty Brown and Peter Winn have been a big miss but I must say Kieran Charnock’s gone in and done a great job alongside Michael Kay.

“Ben Heneghan at right back is doing well and everybody is doing okay it’s just on Tuesday we came up against a side that were better than us.

“Woking have had a great start but they are all tough games in this league.”