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THE DAILY DIARY
A Round-up of Argyle News
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Argyle News Sites: Greens on Screen's Daily Diary is a compilation of Argyle news, with help from these and other Argyle-related sites. On This Day: Also included on the three most recent days, facts from Argyle's history. |
Saturday 29th April 2023
Argyle: Burton, Gillesphey, Wilson, Scarr, Butcher, Edwards, Mayor (Azaz), Ennis (Hardie), Mumba, Randell (Matete), Wright (Houghton). Substitutes (not used): Parkes, Cosgrove, Lonwijk.
Schumacher's ethos throughout the season has been the ensure perfect preparation for games, but his own personal build-up to the game was a little out of the ordinary. He will not mind, though. He is the leader of a group pf players that consistently defied odds, silenced naysayers and shown extraordinary talent and mental strength to top the division after 45 games. "I woke up at 2.45am, couldn't get back to sleep," said Schumacher. "I went downstairs, watched Netflix for a couple of hours, and went back to bed at five. I was up at half seven to take my lad because he had a cup final today, which he lost. Everyone was asking me before the game: 'How are you feeling Gaffer?' I felt quite calm. I wasn't overly nervous because I just said to the players that if we performed to the level that they have been doing - we've been so good lately - then we'd have enough, and thankfully we did. The whole atmosphere, throughout the whole season and today in particular, it was just outstanding. The Janner song at the start literally put the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. We're just so pleased that we could do this job, it's what we wanted to do for our fans who have been incredible home and away all season. Today, we've got our rewards. We've managed to get ourselves into the Championship, which is where we all wanted to get to. We all dreamed of getting there - and nobody else gave us a chance. But we knew within our group, with how well we did last season, if we stuck together, added and recruited really well, which we did, then we'd have a chance to compete again. And that's what we've done. Now we've done it, we're in the Championship and we can't wait."
On the game itself, Joe felt the Greens managed the occasion superbly, though accepted the single goal advantage added some tension to an already crackling Home Park atmosphere. He said: "We just needed that second goal to kill them off. We didn't quite do it, but I felt it was our year. We've worked so hard to achieve what we wanted to achieve and we were written off so many times by everyone apart from people inside the club. We knew what we could achieve." The first signing of the Ryan Lowe and Steven Schumacher era at Home Park, Joe has led a playing group which has propelled the Pilgrims up two divisions in four seasons. On the dressing room he's had a significant hand in developing, he said: "They're brilliant. I'm proud to be captain of them. Everyone works so hard. Everyone's grounded. Everyone works together and sits together, spends time together outside of football. It's just an amazing achievement to do it against probably some of the best teams that League One's ever seen. We fully deserve to be that Championship club next season. It sounds really good, and it's where we deserve to be. This club's on the up. We've got a fantastic owner. We've got fantastic people working here. It's the least they deserve for the effort we put in. We've now achieved something that we could only have dreamt of at the start of the season." 28th
Argyle boss Steven Schumacher is excited at the prospect of playing for the promotion, but is more than aware of the threats of a side that have achieved several good results against leading sides in League One of late. The Greens are in good form of their own, though, winning four games in succession, including two this week at Home Park, against Cambridge United and Bristol Rovers. "We've put ourselves in a brilliant position over the last couple of home games," said Schumacher. "We've got maximum points, which was excellent. We performed really well to get them. We know now that if we perform to the levels that we know that we're capable of and we go and get another maximum points on Saturday, then we've achieved the objective. We also know that it's a really difficult game and we have to play really well if we're going to win it. I think they're a threat. They're in really good form at the moment. Just in the last few weeks, they've beaten Lincoln away from home, which hardly anyone ever does. They've beaten Sheffield Wednesday, they've beaten Barnsley, they've drawn with Bolton. They're a real strong team, and the key to that is to be as organised as possible. We'll try to hurt them in areas that we feel they might be susceptible to getting punished. We know we need to play well." Schumacher says the tempo and passing verve that his team have played with this week has been their key to achieving maximum points at home, along with the support from the Green Army. Another sold-out and possibly expectant crowd lies in wait on Saturday, and the manager has a simple message to them: stick with us. "In the past few games, we've passed the ball really well here," he said. "We're going to need to do that again on Saturday because when we play with that energy and that tempo, we move the ball as quick as we can then we are a tough team to stop as well. That energy that we've played with has been really good. This is the third game in a week so it's going to take a big ask for the players to get to that level, but the players know what's at stake, so they should be highly motivated. If we continue to play that way and we keep trying to do the right things and not get frustrated and change how we play, just trying to stick to the plan, then we'll be all right. We felt that, especially in the Cambridge game, we might have possession of the ball and we needed to stay patient and work our angles to try and break them down. That turned out to be the case on Tuesday night as well against Bristol Rovers who had a man sent off and then defended really well for a long period. Our crowd stuck with us. They didn't get impatient and start getting edgy. I know Saturday's game, there's a lot riding on it, so naturally people are going to have a little bit of tension in the air, but all I would say is just keep trying to bring the atmosphere and the noise because it does inspire the players. It gives them that little bit of confidence boost that they might need. If it isn't going to plan, then stick with us for as long as possible because as this team's shown, we keep going right the way until the very end. It's going to be another challenge that's ahead of us and if the players can rise to the challenge, then it's going to be a brilliant achievement." 27th
It says much for Argyle's squad depth and quality that a player like Randell was out for some time, and yet results continued to keep the Pilgrims on top of League One. Argyle have 95 points from 44 games, and yet are still not confirmed as being promoted, an unprecedented position for a team with such a tally to be in. Speaking to Argyle TV, Randell was asked what he thinks has got the squad to such an impressive points number at this stage. "I don't know if it's down to just one thing," he said. "I think the squad as a whole have been very strong and the depth that we've had has been massive, because people have dropped out, people have come in. We've had all sorts of teams named throughout the year, and every single one has performed. We've been digging out results and special moments where someone's brought out a piece of brilliance from somewhere to drag us through. There have been occasions, when you're talking about the big games here at home, where we've come back from 1-0 down and managed to find a way, had that resilience to keep going. It's just something new to me, where the fight and the spirit of the team to just win at any cost and just keep digging in at important moments and finding a way somehow. I've not experienced it before. It's a very, very good thing to have. It's managed to drag us through some times where we didn't think we were going to get the result we got." Home Park is sold out for 18th time this season, from 23 league games. In a season that has yielded some memorable encounters and incredible atmospheres, there is a possibility that this one could top the lot. Adam says the players, should they obtain the result they need, are looking forward to having the opportunity to celebrate with the Green Army. However, this is something that could be denied should pitch incursions take place. Asked if he has a message for the Green Army this Saturday, Adam said: "Enjoy it as much as you can. Everyone wants to enjoy it, but we need to make sure that we're enjoying it in a safe way and it's safe for everyone else. "We want to have that moment. Everyone else wants to share that moment as well. If it does happen, hopefully everyone is sensible about things. We want to make sure that everyone can enjoy it in their own way without feeling as though they're in any danger of any sort. I think they'll be bouncing, they'll already know what it's going to be like. Just make it as enjoyable as possible. Be really loud, get us going, because it really does help." 26th
Argyle kept calm, dictated the game, and through goals early in the second half by Niall Ennis and Macaulay Gillepshey, cruised to victory. The win puts Argyle in a position where they know that a win on Saturday would guarantee automatic promotion. "We knew this was a big game for us," said Schumacher. "We knew we wanted to get three points that would get us a lot closer to the target that we need. We knew it was going to be a tough game, so we had to start really well. I thought we did that. For the first 25 minutes we were excellent. Bristol Rovers looked a threat and it looked like it was going to be a really good game. Then their lad gets two yellow cards; I don't the ref had too much of a decision to make. The game became different for us then. The lads kept trying to play at the right tempo and eventually got the goals - two great goals - and then the game's over. When Accrington got a red card against us, for 20-odd minutes, Accrington looked like they were a better team because we kept fouling and then they could put the ball in our box. So we spoke about that, about keeping the ball in play as long as you can, trying not to make any fouls. Jay Matete made one foul when he came on late on, I think that was the only foul we made in the second half. We didn't really give them opportunities to stick it in our box and cause problems." Niall Ennis's opener was a thing of beauty. From James Wilson's right-wing cross, Ennis chested the ball into the air and, as it dropped, hit a sublime overhead kick into the corner of the net. That goal was swiftly followed by one from Macaulay Gillesphey, who headed in a Matt Butcher corner, and from that point it was plain sailing. Schumacher said: "We wanted someone to get in the area and show a bit of quality and Niall Ennis wow. What a brilliant goal that was. It was a lovely ball in from Willo, and that's why Niall was in the team. He's got strength with his back to goal. The Bristol Rovers centre-backs are all strong lads, and he might be able to just wriggle away from one of them. It was a brilliant bit of individual skill and it's right in the corner, the keeper had no chance. That got everyone going, and I was pleased that we didn't stop, we kept the tempo up for five, six minutes, and scored again another set play goal, so Hughesy will be buzzing. After that the game slowed down, it just fizzled out, but we got three points and that's all that matters." The Green Army relaxed after the second goal, and although the decibel level in Home Park was high all night, a chorus of 'ole' greeting virtually every pass in the second period was a luxury few anticipated. Another sell-out beckons on Saturday, against Burton Albion, and Schumacher has a message for what is understandably going to be an expectant faithful. "I think the crowd understood that this was really going to be a tough game, playing one of our rivals. Once we got ourselves in front, we sensed that we were probably going to go on and win the game," he said. "It looked like the fans enjoyed it. What I will say though is that we're not over the line yet. We need one more. We're going to need everybody in here on Saturday to really take the roof off because they give the players so much energy. If we can play with that energy like we did today for the first half an hour and get ourselves ahead against Burton, we've got a great chance of achieving what we want to."
25th
Argyle: Burton, Gillesphey, Wilson, Scarr, Butcher (Houghton), Edwards, Mayor (Azaz), Ennis (Hardie), Mumba (Cosgrove), Randell, Wright (Matete). Substitutes (not used): Parkes, Lonwijk. 24th
For Schumacher, the award was a pleasing validation of what has been a collectively excellent campaign, but there is a far bigger target that the manager has in mind. "I think it's always good to get recognised for individual awards, but I would swap them all gladly right now for a promotion. That was the target at the start of the season. We are three games away from achieving it. We know that if we play to the standards that we have done for the majority of the season, then we can get the points that are required. We're slightly ahead of Ipswich, slightly ahead of Sheffield Wednesday and we know we are going to have to show that consistency. Otherwise, if we don't and we fall off that, then those two teams and Barnsley are also really good. If we don't get the results we need, then we'll get punished." Rovers are 15th in League One, with 52 points from 42 games played. They have tended to have spells of great form interspersed with defeats, but have achieved creditable results against teams in the top six, including draws with Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town and, earlier in the season, at the Memorial Stadium, Argyle. "We know Tuesday night against Bristol Rovers is going to be a really tough game. Every game is a huge game, but this one that's in front of us now is massive and we need to make sure that we're prepared as best as we can for it. We'll put in the same energy, play with the same amounts of effort as we did at the weekend, and play with the same quality if we can. On their day they can beat anyone in the division. They're really strong. They have the League One Player of the Season in Aaron Collins, who's got unbelievable numbers this year, so many goals and assists. He's been outstanding, but he's not the only one in their team performing well. Whatever system that they choose to play, we know that they're a threat all the time, and I know that they're going to be really motivated to beat us. Every day we talk about standards in training. We pride ourselves on getting that right. If the attitude to learn and try to get better as a squad is there all the time, then you've got a chance to get some consistent results. We've been, in my opinion, really consistent and played really well for a large part of the season. We've had dips, as every team has, but we're still there. We're still in the mix. Three games to go and it's in our own hands."
Mumba's season has been an impressive one, and his performances have bene noted beyond the South West. On Sunday night, he was named as Sky Bet League One's Young Player of the Year, and was also named in the divisional Team of the Season. Speaking to Argyle TV with two award trophies in front of him, Bali said that the best way to celebrate those awards is going to be with a League One promotion medal alongside it. "The awards are a good achievement, and I'm buzzing, but I have to push it to the side and, and straight away focus onto the next challenge and the next goal. As a team, we know where that is, and we're working towards that. I'm hungry to finish off the season strongly and, hopefully, put my hands on a bigger sort of achievement which is a league. Hopefully when it comes to 7 May, I can sit back and then enjoy what I have here in front of me. It's quite exciting. I'm ready to go. We're all focused on the game, focused on the next couple days, to get the result that we need to get in that game, and then we can look onto Saturday to hopefully finish the job." 23rd
Schumacher was given the nod for his award ahead of Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna and Sheffield Wednesday's Darren Moore, who respectively are in charge of the teams in second and third place in the division, behind leaders Argyle. Talking to host David Prutton, Schumacher said: "In the summer it was tough just missing out on promotion last season. We got the lads in and said: 'let's go again'. Every player to a man has played their part and we have been outstanding - and we are nearly there." Mumba was named as the division's leading young star, the on-loan Norwich wing-back getting the nod ahead of Charlton Athletic's Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who is on loan at the Valley from Crystal Palace, and Cameron Humphreys, a 19-year-old midfielder who has caught the eye coming through the ranks at Ipswich. On collecting his award, Bali said: "It's been an amazing experience for me, it's still not done and we still have a little bit more to push but I just want to say a huge thank you to the gaffer, the staff, my team-mates and Plymouth Argyle Football Club for the opportunity and platform to play and perform this season. I'm grateful for the faith they have shown in me and I'm glad that I can pay it back by winning these awards, and long may it continue." Mumba was also named in the League One Team of the Season. The 22-year-old, who has excelled on either flank for Argyle, has played 44 times and scored six goals in the green and white, including memorable strikes against Exeter City, and twice against Ipswich. Joining Mumba in the League One select side is Michael Cooper. Even though Cooper, 23, was injured in February, having played 29 league games, he has still been the stand-out goalkeeper in the division, and takes his place in the line-up. 22nd
Argyle: Burton, Gillesphey, Houghton, Scarr, Edwards, Hardie (Ennis), Mayor (Matete), Mumba (Earley), Randell (Cosgrove), Lonwijk, Wright (Azaz). Substitutes (not used): Parkes, Wilson.
The promotion race will continue at least until next weekend, although Argyle have a chance to extend their two-point cushion with a victory on Tuesday night against Bristol Rovers. Contenders Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley all won while Argyle were beating Cambridge. Schumacher was keen to ensure that the euphoria of those emotional wins did not spill over into the preparation for this fixture, and declared himself pleased by how his players reacted. "We've spoken about it as a group, that we can't get distracted," he said. "The Exeter game was a brilliant win, the Shrewsbury game was brilliant because it was in the last minute, but if you celebrate too much and you lose focus on the next game, you can come unstuck. I'm really pleased with how professional the players have been. The consistency levels that they're showing is excellent. I felt today that the changes were needed because so we didn't get back until 4am after Tuesday. We had a few knocks and niggles as well from the last two games, so we freshened it up a little bit and everybody who came in stepped in and did well. It shows the importance of having a good squad. We just focus on what we can do. The standard this year has been outstanding and for us to be in there and pushing Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich and Barnsley every single week is credit to everyone. 92 points is a good milestone, and we should be really pleased with that, but we're not finished. It's not over. We know we can't rest and can't expect anyone to do us a favour. We've just got to try to deal with our own business." 21st
For Cambridge, the inverse is true. They too have three away games in succession, with their task being to pick up points to enable them another season in Sky Bet League One. They head to Devon in 21st, one point and one place behind the team above them, but boasting arguably the best form in the bottom half of the table. After winning just two games in 16, following a 0-0 draw with Argyle in December, United won three of their next four, beating Port Vale, Fleetwood Town and local rivals Peterborough United, as well as drawing away at Bolton Wanderers. Most recently, Cambridge lost at home to Wycombe Wanderers, but their upturn in fortune is enough to make Schumacher wary of Mark Bonner's side. "We have to analyse it, but we can't keep celebrating it," said Schumacher of the win at Shrewsbury. "We have to just move on and try and use that experience for the next game. That'll be the message because I think Cambridge will be probably a similar type of setup to Shrewsbury. I don't think it'll be a similar sort of game that we had against Exeter. We might have a fair amount of the ball and we might find little ways to get into their box and cause them problems. We'll learn from that Shrewsbury experience and try to take it into the next game if we can. I'm quite surprised that Cambridge are down there this year with the players that they got. There's obviously a reason, but I'm not surprised that they've put a run together now and their fighting for the lives. They're in with a really good shout. They've been in great form. I really rate Mark as a coach. I think he does really well with his team. He always does well against us. We know that we're going to be in for a really tough game. We understand that they'll come here with a game plan, like they have done a few times, of being organised and hard to break down. We know that they've got a threat when they break and counter-attack because their forward players are really good. That's why I'm surprised they haven't got as many goals as they would've liked. They're still in with a chance because they've been in good form, had a great win in their derby game, against Peterborough. They lost to Wycombe, which can happen, but they'll come here full of confidence, I'm sure." Argyle should have confidence of their own. Although the Pilgrims lost their most recent home game, against Lincoln City, their record from 20 league fixtures is 17 wins, one draw and two defeats. It is the best home record in the division, and producing an extension of that form in the coming days could put Schumacher and his team on the brink of their season's objective, or even obtain them. The manager is counting on the character of his team to help them through. A combination of patience, skill and determination will be needed for the season's denouement, and the first of those qualities is something Schumacher hopes the Green Army can assist with, starting from Saturday. "The character of the team is really good. It's shown, no matter what, they stick together. They look like a team in the last couple of games, that's been the most pleasing thing for me. We had a bad result against Lincoln on Easter Monday, and then going into a huge game with loads of pressure on it, away at Exeter, we needed everybody to stand up and be counted and play as a team. If you haven't got good character, then you'd fold under that pressure. They haven't, they've got maximum points. Our home form has been incredible this season. To only lose two and draw one shows how strong we've been and the fans have played a huge part in that. It's sold out every week. The players have been putting in brilliant performances at Home Park. Can we go and replicate that again the next three games starting on Saturday? We know that we're going to have to play with an energy about us and pass the ball really well. I think we're going to have to be patient, so again, the fans will play a big part in that because they've got to understand that we might have times on the ball where we have to go side to side on the pitch and find little ways in. It's not a good idea just to kick long balls against Cambridge because the lads at the back head everything, you've got to find ways in to try to beat them. That takes patience and it takes bravery from the players." 20th
"We've done it numerous times this season; I think that shows the character that we've got in this squad, on this team. We've got players coming off the bench and making impacts all the time. We've got lads doing shifts in different positions and that's what it takes to get to where you want to get to. Emotions came out on Saturday. That was a massive result for us in the league and obviously considering who we were playing. With them behind us, it is even better. Then tonight, to get a last-minute winner, seeing them there singing and cheering, it was a fantastic feeling. It's time for us to keep working hard and cherishing these moments. Hopefully it's a happy memory and we can really achieve something special in the next few weeks."
"I feel like it's in our hands really. Technically, it is. We just need to focus on ourselves and make sure we do what we need to do, get the wins, because if we win all our games, there's not a question. Don't look anywhere else, just look at ourselves and just focus on our games. If at the start of the season someone said we'd have three home games out of four to try and go up, we would've taken that. We've got a good opportunity, we just need to take it. We've seen it all season, sold-out games. Hopefully, they can just help give us the atmosphere that they deserve and we deserve, and we just get the wins. That's all we strive for, that's what we've been trying to get all season, and that's the reward that we want: to get promotion. Our away fans have helped us as well. Let's just win. Let's just get promoted. That's the main thing. A win on Saturday and you never know. I'm happy to be back on the pitch," he said. "It's not nice to be in the stands watching, but I was there for the team when I wasn't involved and now I hope I'm showing that I'm there when I am involved. There's not many games left, we just need to do what we do and hopefully we can go where we belong. I feel I've had a decent season. I had that injury that broke it up a little bit, but I feel like I've played my part, which I'm happy with. I just want to end it with a promotion. That's the main thing. We don't want to have all of what we've done - all the moments, the memories - and then we don't have that at the end of it. There's four games to go. Let's leave it all out there."
"We have got people who can come on and replace them, and do a good job, so if they are struggling we want them to let us know and not to make it any worse. It's just a minor thing but with Mickel Miller's injury history we can't push him through. He was out doing a little bit more with Gareth Law today so, again, nothing too major but he won't be available for Saturday, maybe for Tuesday onwards, yeah. Waineo has had an ankle problem but put himself out there because Niall Ennis was not available. When he did play against Morecambe and he scored his ankle swelled up agai. It's one of them, while we have got the other three strikers fit, or in a better position than him, there is no point in risking him. We know that if he's needed he's ready. It might only be 15-20 minutes, and he's willing to put his body on the line and go through the pain barrier, but if it's not necessary then we won't risk him because we want to get him as fit as possible." 19th
"Joe's the captain. He's almost like another member of staff because he gets it. He's the one that we look to for leadership and inspiration. I think the last two games have been great games for him. I thought he was our best player tonight and he deserved his goal. That's what you need big players for in the team. He's not the only one that we've got in there, there are leaders. They're all doing a brilliant job, hence where we are in the league and we just need that to continue. The away victories are so important. Any victory at this stage of the season is so important. We've been to some difficult places, haven't been free flowing, but we've ground it out, battled and showed that we can compete and we can mix it up. We've also showed moments of quality like we've had tonight. We got over the line: that's the most important thing. It's exciting. We're buzzing to be in the mix with it all. We're sitting on top of the league and it's in our hands. The Green Army have seen their team tonight put in 100% effort against a stubborn team that were difficult to break down, but we kept going. So many of them here tonight on a Tuesday, having to travel back wherever they're going, all over the country, but they'll go home happy. They've seen another massive three points, and to do it in the last minute away from home - it doesn't get much better than that." 18th
Argyle: Burton, Gillesphey, Houghton, Wilson, Scarr (Earley), Butcher (Matete), Edwards, Ennis, Cosgrove (Hardie), Azaz (Wright), Galloway (Mayor). Substitutes (not used): 32 Parkes, Randell. 17th
"I'm pleased we won a Devon Derby, that was so importan. Physically, the schedule is quite demanding on the players, so you have to make sure that you use your squad and you keep people as fresh as you can, but also have people playing who are in form. That's a huge thing that we've got to consider. Having games in such a short period of time, if you get some good momentum and you win the next game, then you carry it into the one afterwards from confidence. That's what we're doing going into Shrewsbury now on Tuesday. If we can go and get a good result there, that gives us a bit of momentum going into three home games here. They come around quick and fast; we just got to make sure we make the most of them. If we lose, don't get too down. If we win, just try and be consistent. I think that's been a strength of ours this season. Whenever we've had a bad performance, we've had a good reaction and we've got on with the job in the next game. That'll be the message. We said that after the game on Saturday; we can't celebrate too much. We've got another huge game on Tuesday. After Tuesday's game, we'll be saying: 'let's get home and recover, because we've got a huge game on Saturday.' We're all aware of what's at stake and the players are up for the challenge. It's a brilliant position to be in. I should enjoy it. I know there's going to be twists and turns probably, but who doesn't want to be in this position?"
"Game, recovery. Game, recovery. Game, recovery. As a footballer, you want to be playing every three, four days. It's enjoyable. This is where you want to be in football. This is what you want to be fighting for. We all want to get the club where it should be. We focus on Shrewsbury. After that, we focus on the next one, and then the next one. There are five big ones left and we're feeling confident. We're up for the fight. It's going to be exciting. We've got three home games in a week, so that's going to be fantastic you just want to be out on the pitch. We just have to keep the momentum up. All the players can feel that it's an exciting moment for everyone. We'll keep going, game by game and I'm sure that we'll get there." 16th
"Everyone, wherever you've grown up - up north, down south, wherever - you can relate to a derby. It's about trying to remember those games, remember those emotions because they're the experiences that, although you don't see it at the time, when it comes round, you really need to look back and take it into these games. That's what's what we dream of as a kid: playing in derbies, playing in atmospheres like this - and scoring makes it even better. I thought the Green Army were amazing again. That was a big part of it. If we can get them going and silence the other side - which we did - we're always going to get a chance and we're always going to get opportunities. The fans can enjoy their day and so they should." 15th
Argyle: Burton, Houghton, Wilson, Scarr, Butcher, Edwards, Ennis (C Wright), Cosgrove (Hardie), Azaz (Randell), Galloway, Earley (Gillesphey). Substitutes (not used): Parkes, Mayor, Matete. 14th
"We need to stay calm. Don't get too down if you lose one, which I felt I was guilty of on Monday. I was too down, when actually we have just won five league games out of seven, but I forgot that for a minute. I wasn't myself. I'm the leader of the group and I need to lead by example. We think we're in a good position. We've stuck to the plan. We've had a target line that we wanted to stay above. If we stay above the target line, then we'll be ok. At this moment in time, it's in our hands. If we put in performances that we know that we're capable of in this run-in, then we'll stay above that line and that'll be enough to get us promoted." 13th
"We know what the aim is for the end of the season, we know how close we are. Every game's a massive game at the minute, but to be in a Derby straight after a defeat. it is a perfect game to put it right. We know what the aim is, and we know how close it is. I think at the beginning of the season, if you said that with six games to go, it's going to be our hands to get promoted and possibly win the league, we'd have snapped their hand off. We need to understand that we need to go into every game knowing it's a cup final and for 90 minutes, give everything to come out with the right result. It's what every player wants. I've been lucky enough to be promoted a few times. I know what the feeling's like. After last season, experiencing it, just missing out the points that we got, I think it gives everyone the fire in the belly to not let it happen again." 11th
"I thought we were in control before the first goal. It's just trying to get back to that rhythm. It's always difficult because they get a lift, they get that little bit more energy, and you need a bit of a reset button to maybe shore up for the next five. I think we go a bit chasey sometimes after a goal or after a chance, to try and make up for it. This isn't the time to feel sorry for ourselves or dwell on results. This season, where we have had a bad performance or bad result, we've bounced back brilliantly. There's no time to dwell on this. That'll be the message going forward into training, and then in the games coming up. If we can do that, then we give ourselves a much bigger advantage to go and win games. We've said what needed to be said in there, and then we'll come into training and really set a stall out of how we want to finish the season. We need to be bang on it day in, day out. That comes from us. We've done that this season so far. We have to go back to the positives that we have seen from results like this."
10th
Argyle: Burton, Wilson (C Wright), Scarr, Butcher (Houghton), Edwards (Azaz), Hardie (Cosgrove), Mayor, Miller (Waine), Lonwijk, Matete, T Wright. Substitutes (not used): Parkes, Gillepshey. 9th
Like Argyle, Lincoln began their Easter with three points, beating Cheltenham Town at home. "It's obviously a bit better if you've won the first game on the Easter weekend," said Schumacher. "I spoke last week about it being an important part of people's seasons, for momentum. Psychologically, as well, it can have an effect. We've done the first part of it, what we needed to do. We came away from Morecambe with all three points, now we've got to go and back it up with another good result. They're a good team. It's never an easy game against them. They've got some quality individuals that can hurt you if you don't concentrate and we'll have to be ready for them. I remember the game against them, at their place early on the season. It was a tough game. We were in great form as well going into that. We were flying, but we got out of it and we said, at the end of our game, it's a good point. We are at home. We've got our fans behind us. I'm sure it'll be a sell-out. We need to make sure that we're ready for it and as best prepared as we can. I know it'll be a tough game. It'll be one that we'll be confident going into, especially after today's performance and result. With our form how it has been at home, we know that if we do the basics well and we play at a tempo like we have done pretty much every time at Home Park, then we'll be okay, and we can give Lincoln a good game. Hopefully we get another big result like on Friday." 8th
Waine was one of five subs introduced during the second half, and all made an impact, with all goals scored by players coming from the bench. Their goals turned the tide, and carried on a pattern of Argyle players impacting the game having emerged from the subs' bench. "Quite often as a striker you're told to be patient and wait because you will get the opportunities, especially late on in a game like that," said Ben. "It's sometimes hard to keep that faith that it will come. Jay put it right in front of me today, so I couldn't do anything but hit the back of the net. I'm glad I did. "For strikers it's pretty simple; the impact is a goal or an assist. Workrate is a pretty big given in this kind of environment, but I think the biggest thing is there's no real sulkers in the team. It would be easy, if someone's had a good game and they've been put on the bench, to get their head down and be a bit annoyed at the gaffer, but it never seems to be like that. It was a great finish from Danny. Unbelievable. I think it's just about being patient. We could keep lobbing the ball forward over and over again, but we didn't; we remained patient. Danny got us the goal, the crowd got behind us and all the boys felt the momentum change. We capitalised on that momentum." 7th
Argyle: Burton, Houghton (Matete), Wilson, Scarr, Butcher (Mayor), Edwards (Mumba), Hardie, Miller (C Wright), Cosgrove (Waine), Galloway, T Wright. Substitutes (not used): Parkes, Lonwijk.
The single-goal deficit that Argyle turned around had come from earlier in the game, and in slightly odd circumstances. The Greens raced out of the traps, having two good chances and several set pieces in the first three minutes of the game. However, perhaps in their haste to get an early start, were caught by a swift Morecambe break, allowing the hosts to lead via Jensen Weir's goal. "I felt we started the game really well," said Schumacher. "Everything that we asked the players to do before the game, we got on the front foot and put Morecambe under pressure immediately. We had a couple of chances, a few corners that we looked like we were going to score from and then out of nothing got done on the counter-attack. It was a lovely move from them and we're 1-0 down, scratching your head, thinking it could really knock our confidence. After that I felt we played okay in the first half. It was always going to be the type of game that wasn't going to have loads of free-flowing football. We had loads of chances and opportunities, especially from set-plays but found ourselves a goal down at half-time. Probably the only negative in the whole of the first half was that maybe we were a little bit hesitant at times, a couple of second balls where we weren't sure who was going to go for it. At half-time we asked the players to play with confidence and if you make a decision, go for it; go all out to win the ball. I felt if we did that, then we'd land on something and create an opportunity." On the longest trip of the season, and battling Bank Holiday traffic, Argyle were backed by over a thousand members of the Green Army, in front of whom the three, crucial goals were scored. Schumacher thanked the fans not just for their turn-out, but for their backing throughout the game, and turned his attention to Easter Monday's home game against Lincoln City. "Even in the first half, they could see we were playing ok," he said. "They weren't getting frustrated with what we were doing. They knew we were on the front foot. The support was outstanding, brilliant. I'm delighted we could score three goals right in front of them. We wanted 39,000 to have something to cheer on Sunday. That didn't quite happen, but today, the 1,000 that were there, the hardcore, they got what they deserved and now they can enjoy their Easter weekend and get ready for another big game at Home Park." 6th
5th
The Greens' boss presided over his side winning four of their five games during the month. Although Argyle lost at Barnsley, they had two March wins - 2-0 against Charlton Athletic and 2-1 against Derby County - under their belt before that loss, and bounced back brilliant to win 2-0 at home to Forest Green, then 2-0 away to Accrington Stanley. Also nominated for the award are Wade Elliott of Cheltenham Town, Mark Jackson or Milton Keynes Dons and Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna. The announcement will be made on Friday.
Morecambe, managed by former Pilgrims' boss Derek Adams, have only won one of their last 13 games, but have a reasonable record on their own patch, and are sure to make things difficult for promotion-seeking Argyle. Schumacher told Argyle TV: "The result that Forest Green got against Sheffield Wednesday was a reminder to everybody, if you didn't know, that it doesn't matter where people are in the division, you've got to make sure that you are at it and your performance is right. "We managed to take maximum points from Forest Green and Accrington who were in a similar position to Morecambe in the league. We expect a tough game from Morecambe. One of our old managers is their manager. We know that Derek's teams will always be really well organised. They've got a threat when they counter attack and break, and they can score goals from outside the box. we need to make sure that we're prepared for that." The trip to the North West will come five days after Argyle lost the final of the Papa Johns Trophy to Bolton Wanderers. After Sunday's game, the Argyle squad, along with their families, stayed in London and headed home the following day, with Schumacher keen to bring everyone in on Tuesday, and draw a metaphorical line under the defeat. This week's attention has been on focusing on the final eight games of the season, starting with Morecambe, and emphasising what a strong position the club are in going into the run-in. "Everyone was really disappointed on Sunday, and then Monday we had to travel back from London," said Schumacher. "It was good on Tuesday to get the players in because we had a load of under-8s in, who are going to be the next crop of academy graduates. It was good to see them and lighten the mood a little bit. "Today's training session was really sharp. We spoke on Tuesday morning to the players about it. We didn't go into the detail of the game, but we just said: 'we're ready to go again. We have to be positive. Stick together as a group and we'll be okay.' We would've said that if we'd have won the game anyway. If we'd have won on Sunday, we'd have been having the same conversation with the players on Tuesday. They all knew that anyway. The players are not draft. They get that the final was a big day, and it would've been an unbelievable thing to win the first trophy for the club in our history, but the league and the last eight games were always going to be more important. I'm sure the players will be desperate to put in a good performance and get a reaction. We'll give them all the information that we think is necessary and then we'll do our best to try to win the game." After the long trip back from Morecambe, the Greens will soon be in action again, on Monday, at Home Park against Lincoln City. Six points from those fixtures would give an even healthier picture of the league table coming out of the Easter weekend than it looks going in. "Quite often the Easter period can define people's seasons," said Schumacher. If you are looking to chase, or you are in and around the play-off picture and you can get six points, then it gives you a right good chance. If you're down at the bottom and you can get a few points over the Easter weekend, then again it can springboard you. We're in the top two and we need to make sure that we're ready to compete and fight to get as many points as we can. We know the other teams behind us are going to have an eye on the same thing. We have to make sure that we just deal with the next game that's in front of us, which is Morecambe, which is never an easy game. I don't care where they are in the league, it's never an easy game."
Argyle head to Morecambe, a side managed by promotion-winning former Argyle boss Derek Adams, who are 22nd in League One, with a relegation fight on their hands. They are, though, hard to beat at the Mazuma Stadium, having lost just six times in 20 fixtures on their own patch. Scarr says that for the Morecambe game, the first of eight remaining matches this season, the Pilgrims need to regroup and take confidence from the league form that has seen reach 80 points and occupy a promotion slot at this advanced stage of the campaign. We're in a great position," he said. "We've got lots to be excited about and to look forward to. We'll go in with our heads high and do what we've been doing all season really. We will try to get our preparation right, work out the strengths and weaknesses of the team we are playing. We make sure we do the things that we are good at. I think it'll be a really tough game. I expect we should have a lot of the ball, but it's just trying to break them down. They'll be solid. They'll want to try and cause an upset; they need the points. If you had offered me 80 points at this stage before I'd kicked a ball at the start of the season I'd have snapped your hand off and I think most of the fans would as well. To be able to have eight games left and be beyond the points tally of what we were last year is a great achievement. It's a credit to what we've done this season, but obviously nothing's done yet. There are eight games to play and they're big games. We're going to go into it and just do the best we can. I'm sure the celebrations, if we get promoted, will be a lot better than they were for the Papa Johns." 3rd
Joe, who has now experienced one win and one defeat from his two playing visits to the national stadium, is under no illusions as to how much that defeat hurt the incredible 39,000 Argyle supporters who made the trip to the capital. He said: "First of all, I just want to apologise for that because that isn't the Plymouth Argyle we know and want it to be. When you see the number of fans that have travelled, we are really sorry that we've let them down. It's a heart-breaking day really. On the day they were better than us, and we didn't perform. That's the opposite of how we want to start. We pride ourselves on starting well, on the front foot. They had the momentum, got their goal, and we were under pressure for the first 10-15 minutes, and they got another one. That sort of laid a path for the rest of the game." Argyle had stemmed the Bolton tide by the half-time interval, enjoying much more possession and territory after goals from Kyle Dempsey and Dion Charles. Tactical changes at half-time, including the introduction of substitutes Sam Cosgrove and Matt Butcher, gave the Greens fresh impetus, but a self-inflicted third goal followed shortly after a promising start, putting faint hopes of a famous fightback to bed. Joe said: "We wanted to come out at the start of the second half and do that to them, but it just didn't happen and, unfortunately, we gave them another goal. We're really disappointed, and it's not how we wanted it to go. "It went from probably the proudest day to probably the saddest day I've had in football. We were looking at all the photos and videos of them travelling up and we were so excited and proud to walk out in front of nearly 40,000 Argyle fans." Despite the painful circumstances, the Pilgrims, led by their skipper, made a point to remain on the pitch to take in Bolton's celebration and thank the Argyle supporters. It was a visibly chastening experience for the group. However, unlike any of Argyle's previous visits to the famous arch, this one occurs mid-season, with eight vital fixtures left to go in the Greens' pursuit of promotion. The talk pre-match had been that Sunday's result would not define the campaign, whether the Trophy was won or lost, and Edwards believes his colleagues in the dressing room are determined to ensure Wembley's bitter disappointment will be the last they feel this season. He said: "We can only apologise to them the Green Army, and we know how to repay them so we know what we've got to do for that. We'll do everything we can, and make sure they know how much they mean to us. That's what I've just said to the lads in there, we've got eight more of these cup finals and we can't perform like that in these eight games. We've got to step up now. It's an opportunity to still achieve something special this year, and we have to look into these eight games with that mentality. They're all cup finals, and we've got to do a lot better than we did today in them. We know the job at hand, and we'll make sure that we're up for it." 2nd
Argyle: Burton, Gillesphey (Galloway), Houghton, Wilson, Scarr, Edwards, Hardie, Mayor (Cosgrove), Mumba (Miller), Wright (Azaz), Matete (Butcher). Substitutes (not used): Parkes, Lonwijk.
Things are still very much all to play for, with Schumacher looking for his team to show the resilience following defeats that they have done previously in this campaign. "Before we left the hotel, we said that no matter what happens today, no matter what the outcome is, we come back with heads held high, because it's a brilliant achievement to get here," said Schumacher. "We're on 80 points in the league, joint top, behind on goal difference to Sheffield Wednesday. Even if we'd won the game today, we'd have said exactly the same. We don't let it define the season; the season's not over. We've got eight games to go and we have to have that focus, that look in our eyes that we're ready for the challenge." Despite that pragmatic approach to the current situation this season, Schumacher was justifiably frustrated by the performance as Argyle were second best throughout to an admittedly very good Bolton side. The manager pointed to his own side's inability to retain the ball, as well as making mistakes to allow Bolton the chances from which they capitalised. "I'm hugely disappointed," he said. "It wasn't good enough to start. We gave two goals away early, in the first 10 minutes, and it's a back to the wall job then. After the first two goals, we actually passed the ball okay, but defended poorly and could have been more than 2-0 down at half time. I said to the players at half time: 'somehow we're still in the game, so let's try to improve in possession, try not to make any more mistakes' because if you do give a team like Bolton Wanderers opportunities, they've got good players can punish us. There was a bit of naivety early on in the game. In a cup final you have to not make those types of errors. The second goal's a killer, again from another throw-in where we lose possession without Bolton having to really play well or open us up. We made another from our own throw-in again just after half time and from there on its game over. In a lot of cup finals, then team that get the momentum early on, can be really strong and usually have a good day. They were a better team. All credit to Bolton. Congratulations to them." Schumacher did take solace in the atmosphere, noise and backing generated by the Green Army, especially before kick-off. When Schumacher's face filled the big screens inside Wembley as the teams walked out, they showed a man surveying the scene with immense pride. After the game, disappointment pervaded, but pride still existed. Schumacher recognises that he and his team may face criticism for the result and performance, but thanked the fans for the their support, and backed his players to bounce back. "I felt we let our fans down today," said Schumacher. "We need to perform better than that for them to have the following that we did. I can only apologise. The turnout was absolutely amazing. To see everyone beyond the goal like that, all supporting the team was brilliant. It was a hugely proud moment but, unfortunately, we just didn't give them anything to cheer and shout about. I felt the players kept going. We didn't give up, but I felt there were too many players that were below the standard that we've set. When you do that in a cup final, then it obviously, it really hurts. Everyone's going to have take this criticism that's going to come on the chin. People are going to be disappointed, but I can honestly say there's no one more disappointed than that group of players and that group of staff in there, because that wasn't us today. To do that on the biggest stage, it's devastating." 1st
The opportunity to make dreams a reality takes place on Sunday afternoon, when Schumacher's Argyle and Bolton Wanderers contest the Papa Johns Trophy final at Wembley Stadium. Nearly six weeks have elapsed since a final berth was confirmed by virtue of a tense semi-final win, via a penalty shoot-out, against Cheltenham Town. In the meantime, the Greens have continued a promotion push in Sky Bet League One, and going into the weekend, they remain on top of the division. Inevitably, among ticket sales, media attention and the mountains of preparation that goes into any Wembley occasion, the final has pervaded thoughts. However, now that it is on the horizon, Schumacher has welcomed a chance to prepare in as regular fashion as is possible. "It isn't a normal game," said Schumacher. "You can't pretend that it is. There's a lot of stuff that goes on on the outside that's different. Sorting tickets out, travel arrangements, loads of family going: the stuff on the outside of the football is quite intense. I want to give assistant club secretary Ellen Shine a big shout out because she's been absolutely incredible the last few weeks trying to help everybody out. She's a diamond. She's looked after everyone; she took care of all the noise. But the football preparation is the same. We've gone through the same routine, the same sort of detail that we give the players for every league game. It's somebody we know a lot in Bolton Wanderers. We've played twice already this season. They're a really good team, and we need to give the players the information that we would for a league game. We can't just say: 'oh, it's a final, let's just go and enjoy it.' We need to be prepared as best as we can. Not having a game at the weekend was probably a good thing. We had a couple of niggles and knocks leading into the Accrington game, so having that free weekend gave everybody a chance to recover. Training this week's being good. We've had an extra day for preparation because we're playing on a Sunday. It's felt quite relaxed, but the lads are focused and looking sharp in the training sessions. We had an in-house game on Tuesday, which was really good. Today, it's been lovely and wet and raining down there, so the ball was zipping about a bit and then we finish the preparation off on Saturday. I can't wait. I've been excited for ages now. Everyone's really looking forward to it. Since we got through in the semi-final against Cheltenham, it's been in the back of our minds. The preparation this week's been great; the excitement's building. Everyone in the city's looking forward to it. Roll on Sunday." Schumacher's only visit as a player offered him mixed emotions. He was a Fleetwood Town player when they reached the League Two play-off final in 2014, and despite having played the two semi-finals, Schumacher watched the final from the Wembley bench, never coming on the field. His pleasure at Fleetwood's promotion via a goal from former Pilgrim Antoni Sarcevic was slightly tempered by his personal experience. Schumacher has promised to take what he learned that day and use it to assist him, as his faces perhaps the trickiest task of the preparation phase: telling some players that they will not be involved in the game. He told Argyle TV: "I had one opportunity to play at Wembley. I was part of the squad and was on the bench. I managed to be on the winning team even though I didn't enter the field, which was big disappointment. I'm still delighted that we got the job done. Having an opportunity to go there now as a manager, it's just brilliant. I hope it's not the last opportunity that I will get either, because there's no better place to play than the home of football. I have to make sure I'm clear in my decision making. I know it's not going to be easy telling people that who are not in the starting 11 and the worst part is going to be telling those who miss out on the squad. That's really difficult. I'll just stress to them that I've been where they've sat. If they get some bad news, that disappointment, it's not taken lightly by myself, so hopefully they can accept it. What's a good thing about it is, it's not the last game of the season. There's still eight more 'cup finals' to go. One of them could be the hero." On Friday, Bolton announced ticket sales had surpassed 34,000, and when added to Argyle's haul, which travelled past the 38,000 mark earlier in the week, means a bumper crowd awaits under the arch. The support of the Green Army is something that has long delighted Schumacher, but even he had an extra glint in his eye when he did another spot of visualising that of seeing half of Wembley packed full of green and white. "It's outstanding," he said. "It just blows your mind, doesn't it? Every single week, whether that is traveling away from home to support us, selling out at home and for us to sell 38-and-a-half thousand tickets at this stage, it's just phenomenal. It's more than Bolton Wanderers, who are a former Premier League club. You hear the pundits say 'one of the big boys in the division' well we've dwarfed their numbers. It shows how good our fans are. We've got the best fans in the country and hopefully we can put on a performance as a team that they can be proud of." |
Diary Archive: |
Today is a day that will live forever in Argyle history as a 1-0 win over Burton Albion secured promotion to the Championship. Steven Schumacher opted for the same side that powered to victory over Bristol Rovers in midweek and the game started in bright sunshine, with the atmosphere inside Home Park off the charts. A Niall Ennis strike in the dying seconds of the first half was the decider which secured a brilliant promotion.Greens on Screen is run as a service to fellow supporters, in all good faith, without commercial or private gain. I have no wish to abuse copyright regulations and apologise unreservedly if this occurs. If you own any of the material used on this site, and object to its inclusion, please get in touch using the 'Contact Us' button at the top of each page.