THE DAILY DIARY

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Also included on the three most recent days, facts from Argyle's history.

Sunday 31st December 2017

Derek Adams believes Blackpool stole an undeserved point from their clash against Argyle yesterday- but were allowed to do so by poor defending from Argyle. He said: "Blackpool have stolen two points. We should have had three points; they don't deserve to win the game. We deserved to win the game – we were 2-0 up and we should have won the game. Blackpool are a very lucky team. We are obviously disappointed because we have lost two goals in the second half without Blackpool being a real threat. They scored two scrambled goals and probably find themselves lucky to get a point. To go in at 2-0 at half-time was thoroughly deserved. The way we defend, I didn't see that Blackpool were going to breach us in open play. They have scored a couple of goals with a bit of a scramble and they were never going to cut us open – that was never going to be the case; they couldn't find a way through us. I didn't see Remi Matthews making many saves in the game. They had a number of corner-kicks. Other than that, we dealt well with the threat of the long high ball into the striker. They have obviously stolen the points because, in the 94th minute, they have got the goal. We should have cleared the ball and we had opportunities to do that long before it became a problem.

"He should have scored; he should have made it 3-1 for us. If he had done that, it was game over and there was no way back for Blackpool. We're in League One and with 30 seconds to go, we were in 15th position. We feel we should have more points than we do. We have had a very good 2017 and we continue to go from strength to strength as a football club."

Meanwhile, Adams confirmed his intention to bolster the Argyle squad going into 2018 further following the signing of Remi Matthews. Adams said: "We'll try to strengthen. We've done that – we've taken in Remi Matthews – and we will try to strengthen the squad in the window. I am delighted with Remi coming back to the football club. He has done really well for us when he was here on loan and he is the first signing of the transfer window. I am delighted that Norwich City have allowed him to come to the end of the season; we have got a lot of good goalkeepers that are coming back from injury – Kyle Letheren is the first one; then it looks like it will be Robbert te Loeke; then it will be Luke McCormick. I am delighted to have good competition. Kyle Letheren is still a few weeks away but I took him with us to Blackpool because I wanted him to be part of the squad and he's worked really hard to get back to fitness."

Joel Grant too gave a bittersweet analysis of the game, claiming that he is not surprised Argyle enter 2018 in such good form but admitting we should have done more to see the game out better. Grant explained: "We've got a very strong group, a very strong coaching staff. The times when you see the best players and best coaches are in times of adversity and I think we've dealt with it really well. Of course, we are still not where we want to be but, as I've said before, the ultimate goal is, at the end of the season, to be where we want to be. You do that by taking each game as it comes. It's a disappointing result in the end. Taking a 2-0 lead, we are disappointed to end up taking a point. It's a bit of déjà vu. You could say that's four points lost in those two games, but, there again, it's undefeated – it keeps the run going. You have got to take the positives as well, so we move on to the next game."

"He wanted me to come on and do a job on their right-back. He was pushing on quite a bit so it was to try to stop the full-back and try to take him the other way. We had a chance to clear it, didn't quite get our lines right, and they put the ball in the back of the net. You are coming on to try to stop that and go the other way. As an attacker, you want to come on a score and be influential that way; it's not always easy to come on and defend."

30th

Argyle have gone five games unbeaten but did so in the most bittersweet of circumstances, conceding in the last minute for the second time in three awaygames, to see out 2017 with a 2-2 draw away at Blackpool. Argyle went 2-0 up in the first half through Ruben Lameiras and a sublime individual effort from Graham Carey that will be rewatched for many years to come. Blackpool pushed back in the second half however, reducing the deficit just after half-time and scoring with almost the last kick of the game to ensure the spoils were shared. Argyle: Matthews, Threlkeld, Edwards, Bradley, Sawyer, Songo'o, Fox(Jervis), Diagouraga, Lameiras(Grant), Carey, Taylor(Sarcevic). Subs: Cooper, Miller, Ainsworth, Wylde.

29th

Remi Matthews has rejoined Argyle for the remainder of the season. The 23-year-old Norwich City keeper will resume his Argyle career in Saturday's final game of 2017 at Blackpool. He made seven appearances earlier in the campaign on emergency loan from Norwich before a leg injury sustained in a 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth in November curtailed his stay. He has now recovered from the injury and linked up with his Argyle team-mates again for a Thursday training session at Harper's Park. With all three of Argyle's contracted professional goalkeepers – Luke McCormick, Robbert te Loeke and Kyle Letheren – sidelined by injury, the first part of Remi's stay will be covered the EFL's emergency loan regulations. That will be converted into a season-long loan when the transfer window opens after the holidays.

Matthews said of his big return: "It's been all over social media for a few weeks now but we couldn't say anything until we get the thumbs up. It's nice to be back. Before the Portsmouth one it was a good six or seven weeks for me. It was a lot longer than I anticipated, but like I said when I was down here in the first place I enjoyed every minute of it, that is one of the reasons for me coming back. The original plan was to sign on January 1. But I couldn't sign on the first and play on the first so the only way we could do it was an emergency loan to run through to January and sign for the rest of the season then."

"Being back at Norwich I had to sit down and think whether it was the right thing to do. I wouldn't be playing games up there as they have Angus Gunn doing well. I sat down with my family as it's a tough one as my missus is pregnant at the minute. So leaving her isn't ideal, but it will be good for the family in the long run. It's been good for us getting a few key players back; suspensions have been a little bit less at the minute. So fingers crossed we carry on going well and the good thing is we can see an improvement. We are now out of the relegation zone, that is the main thing for us at the moment just getting ourselves as far away as possible from relegation. You look down there at how tight it is. We got ten points in however many games it was and we were still bottom. So it showed we were a little bit off it. If we had a couple more wins we could have been middle of the table or a little bit higher."

Derek Adams feels his side are capable of keeping up the positive momentum that has been built up in recent weeks with a win against Blackpool that would see Argyle overtake the home side in the table. Adams said: "Going away from home and picking up three points is excellent, and at this time of the year after coming off a very good win at home to Oldham, to go away to MK Dons and win has allowed us to catch a few teams above us. We have just been able to keep on winning games, and that's what you need. Draws are good at some point, but wins are vital in this league. The biggest difference is that the injuries and the suspensions have cleared up," he said. "That has enabled us to have a stronger squad and to not have too many changes to the starting line up or the eighteen and that has benefited us with the games we have played. They have changed their style a bit from last season. We are looking to go there; we won their last year 1-0 in the League and it was a good day at the start of the season. It is another difficult journey for us but, we are looking forward to the game. They are a good side and started the season very well and have got used to life in League One very well.' We are one point behind them, and we just have to try and win the game and get above them. That's what we have been trying to do in the last number of games and we have been able to do that, and this one is a game we want to win again."

Finally, Adams commented on the re-signing of Matthews, claiming that the current players would 'thoroughly enjoy' playing with the resurgent keeper once more: "He came in and performed very well. Unfortunately for him, he picked up his ankle-shin injury in the Portsmouth game, so he had to go back to Norwich for treatment. I needed someone to be with us until the end of the season and Remi was the one we wanted to take back. He's a good kicker of the ball; a talker; an organiser; he comes for crosses. I've seen him last season, when he was in Scotland and I've seen him with us. He's good around the squad and it's a good signing for us. He's coming from Norwich, all the way across the country to Plymouth; he wants to come here; he wants to play first-team football; and we feel we can give him that opportunity. We have got good competition in that area and we will thoroughly enjoy him coming back. We've been through a good number of goalkeepers this season but every single one of them that has come in has got on well with the players and fitted in well to the squad."

28th

Goalkeeper Remi Matthews appears poised to return to Home Park following the return of Kelle Roos to parent club Derby County. Roos left a message on social media thanking Argyle fans for their support during his four games at Home Park.

Derek Adams gave a positive review on 2017- the calendar year that saw a thrilling double header cup tie with Liverpool and promotion to League One before looking ahead to 2018. He said: "It has been an exciting year for the football club in many ways. Just look back at the start of the year, we were able to get in the third round of the FA Cup against Liverpool and look what that brought to the football club and the city. We went there and drew 0-0, took them back here and unfortunately got beat 1-0. We went on and were able to get promoted out of the league, which was our main focus. It was great that the promotion came, finishing second on goal difference to Portsmouth. Starting life in League One has been good to us and we have put ourselves in a very good position to move on to the latter half of the season and try and stay in League One in a good position. The Youth team have also progressed to the next round of the FA Cup beating Manchester City on penalties so that has been beneficial. Just through the players, a lot of them have enjoyed success around the football club. We have taken in players on loan or on permanent deals and they have been successful. Also the Youth Team have been able to progress in the 18's league. The planning permission to build the grandstand has obviously been a major plus for the club, because financially over the years it will help extra revenue. The extra revenue will only help the first team move forward. I would like to add if I can in the transfer window to try and bolster the squad for the remaining games of the season. We have got players in mind, are we able to get them? Only time will tell. The players we have got at the football club have done exceptionally well over the past year and they are now finding their feet in League One. I Don't see many changes in the transfer window."

Adams also confirmed that a deal until the end of the 2018/19 season is on the table for midfielder Toumani Diagouraga, after previously only indicating that a deal until the end of this season was on offer. He explained: "That is something that can happen. We have spoken about that with the player. We are not ruling it out but it has got to be beneficial to both parties. It might work for the player, or it might not. It's not a closed shop. There is six months or there is 18 months. We are still working on it. We don't have anything finalised at this moment in time. I have obviously said I would like to keep Toums at the football club. He has enjoyed playing here. I have given him a lot of game-time and he has appreciated that. Everybody around the club has appreciated his influence on the games that he has played in. Of course there is going to be interest from other clubs. Any player that does well in a short space of time is going to gather interest. He has done exceptionally well for us. He has been a big part of why we have done well. We are doing all we can to try to keep him at the football club. There is nobody who wants him to stay than me because it makes my job an awful lot easier."

Ruben Lameiras, upon his return to the Argyle team, focused on the team performance in the win at Milton Keynes rather than his own personal accomplishment. He said: "I have tried to come in and do my best, as I always try to do. I think the team have really played well the last two games, and the team have been really unlucky at times this season not to pick up more points. I think things are going really good for us, over this period we knew how important the points would be and we are determined to put everything inside and concentrate on every game and to make sure we were out of the relegation zone - and we did it. We knew they had only won once in twelve games so we knew we were going to start fast; that was the most important thing. We tried to get a goal and when we did that we knew we were hard to beat. We caused a few problems as well, we had chances where we could have scored some more goals. But, we kept a clean sheet and defended very well. Gary has so many shots so I'm surprised he has only scored the one, I'm sure he will get a couple more this season."

"Everyone came here knowing the travelling is part of what this club has to do. So, you've got to take it and do it, the boys are good so on the coach it's alright. As soon as we get a chance to rest we try and do it as much as possible. We've had back to back wins we want to carry it on and the boys are desperate to move forward and keep getting points. As long as I keep playing I've always been happy."

27th

Derek Adams congratulated his temporary captain on finally getting his first goal of his second spell at Argyle and spoke about how the match leaves Argyle in a good position going forward. He said: "The goal was a very well worked goal: down the right-hand side, it got a switch of play, a great ball from Ruben and Gary Sawyer got himself in an advanced area and slotted it into the bottom corner. Gary can get himself forward into these areas. We just got an overload on the left-hand side; we played a great ball, from Ruben, and a great finish. Gary can get himself in those areas. He has had a couple of good shots, probably more playing at right-back, than left-back. It was good to get the lead in the game because we know that, when we get a lead in a game, we have got a good opportunity of winning it. When they put the balls into the box, we had to have a few blocks here and there. They didn't really cut us open, which was pleasing. On the opposite side, we did cut them open a few times. We had good opportunities in the match to get other goals but we didn't take them for one reason or another. Sometimes we didn't shoot when we should have – we tried a cut-back and it was blocked – but, over the 90 minutes we have got to be happy with three points on our travels."

"We have put ourselves in a very good position after today. We have jumped ahead in the league – we have cut the gap between us and the teams above us and we've opened up a gap between us and the teams below us. At this stage of the season, it is always important to get wins. Around this Christmas time, we have been able to pick up six points in two games and we want to continue the form we are on. Teams around us are losing and we are winning and that's what you want to happen. We have gone there, last season, and won. So we know what it's like to win against them up in Blackpool. We beat the likes of Bradford and Charlton; we've drawn with Blackburn and Shrewsbury; who are all at the top of the league. We can play when we are on top, and we can defend, as well."

Adams also confirmed that Ruben Lameiras is in the team to stay and fight for his place following two wins and two good performances since his return to the side. He explained the situation of the Portugese attacker, saying: "He's been away and seen what it's like somewhere else but he wants to stay here and fight for his place. He's in the starting 11 and he's set up a goal today, which is all good. Ruben can take the ball and take it for a run. His individual skills are unquestionable and I am delighted with the way he has responded because it hasn't been easy for him at times. It hasn't been easy for me because I haven't been able to put him in the side. We have got a team that is looking stronger week on week; we have got a squad that we can change things about with; and, when we have got everybody available, we have got a decent squad. We are getting a stronger bench now, and we have got players not ever with us, and that shows you that we are getting everybody back to full fitness. That is benefiting us."

Finally, Gary Sawyer himself said of his moment in the sun: "To get a win is the main thing," said Gary. "For me to get on the scoresheet is a nice feeling. I saw the keeper over a bit which is why I took it early. I've got myself into many positions this year but not managed to score. I feel like it's been coming. A lot people seemed to let me know that I haven't scored for a while so it's nice to get one in the net and see where we go from here. Our form has been good of late. Our last game was probably the best we have played this season. The boys have done the right thing over Christmas, we trained yesterday as normal, and put a good performance in. It is pleasing for me to get the goal, but more pleasing to get the win and keep going in this run we are on. We want to keep clean sheets. The boys are throwing their bodies on the line, which you see today, and it is nice when it comes off. The boys worked hard, we deserved the win. We have been in form recently and picked up some good points. This is where we really need to have a go at it."

26th

Argyle have made it three wins out of four with a 1-0 victory away to Milton Keynes. The goal came from the unlikeliest of sources- Gary Sawyer scored his first goal of his second spell for Argyle and indeed his first for Argyle since precisely 8 years earlier in another 1-0 away Boxing Day win, at Cardiff. Argyle had the better chances to put the game to bed but in spite of missing them, still took three points back to Plymouth. Argyle: Roos, Threlkeld, Edwards, Bradley, Sawyer, Songo'o, Fox, Diagouraga, Lameiras(Grant), Carey(Jervis), Taylor. Subs: Cooper, Miller, Sarcevic, Ainsworth, Wylde.

24th

Derek Adams was full of praise for his Argyle side that comprehensively had the better of Oldham Athletic in the 4-1 win at Home Park, saying that the win was entirely deserved: "It was a comprehensive win for us today. A very good performance and thoroughly deserved. We started the game well. We scored two quick goals in six minutes from Toums Diagouraga and Graham Carey. Then, in the second half, they got back into the match, but quickly after that, a great header from Ryan Edwards makes it 3-1, and we score with Jake Jervis' first touch of the ball to make it 4-1. Over the afternoon, we had a lot of chances. We could've scored a lot more goals. Oldham came into it in the second half but, in the 90 minutes, no-one could dispute that we were by far the better team."

"It's important in this division because we know that teams want to go forward and play in a way that sometimes is off the cuff. Oldham do it. They get bodies forward and try to get a goal, but they leave space. When they leave space, it gives us the opportunity to play on the counter attack and score goals. It always is important to win against the teams are around about you. We've been able to close the gap between a lot of teams today. We've gone above a team as well, and we're four points off 12th position. That shows you how tight the league is, and it's going to be that way for a good number of weeks. It's always important that you try and win your home games. We always do well away from home; we were two minutes away last week from winning as well, so we feel we're in a good run of form. We're away to MK Dons and then away to Blackpool. It's long journeys for us, but the fans were all here today. They've gone home happy into the Christmas period. Three points, as I keep on saying, is vital in this league, and we've been putting points and wins on the board for a period of time now."

Adams was also praiseful of some individual players including Ruben Lameiras and Oscar Threlkeld on their returns to the side as well as debutant Cameron Sangster. The manager said: "I just thought that Ruben and Graham Carey, playing off the sides, very narrow, would cause Oldham problems and it did. Their centre halves on the outside of the three didn't know what to do with them. Technically, they're both very good players. I've had a word with Ruben, and it's his opportunity to stake a claim and stay here. He wants to stay here and fight for his place. I feel that his performances have changed. He's been away; he's seen what it's like being away from Home Park and he doesn't want to leave. That can only be a good thing. Unless circumstances change, it looks like he will still be here. He played for 70 minutes and I took him off because I thought he was just running out of legs, and brought on Jake Jervis. We had a wee idea that they could do that, just looking at their team formation and then watching them in the warm-up. I watched them set up as a back three. They actually saw me watching and tried to change it, so we had an idea that was going to happen. So what we did was we played three strikers against their three centre halves, and play the ball down the side of them. Lameiras, Carey and Taylor gave them a hard afternoon. The three in the midfield for us, Fox, Toums and Songo'o, played balls down the side, and even our full backs as well."

"Oscar's done well today. He's got through the game, and it's important he kicks on today and makes the right back position his own."

"Cameron has done very well with the first team at the start of the season, in pre-season. I like the look of him as a player. He's very comfortable on the ball. It was good to see him getting a good number of touches on the ball when he did come on for a short space of time. He's got a good idea of the game and he's the type of player that I do like in my team. I told him not to play the ball backwards too often and to play the ball forwards. He took it on board, because he did actually play two very good passes to our forward players down the sides. That's what you need to do when you come on and make your debut, and he did that."

Goalscorer Ryan Edwards spoke of the influence of his namesake Ryan Taylor and admitted that he is a striker who he would hate to play against as a defender. Edwards said: "With Tayls, he's a big outlet for us. The way he is today we have clearly missed him this season. The way he holds it up the way he brings others into play, he lets us as defenders get up. That's giving us a breather and we take it from there. It's not all about goal scoring for him. If you see how he's done today: that is the best I have seen him play. Apart from missing out on a goal, that was a complete centre forward's game today. He is fighting off big 15 or 14 stone defenders at the back and bringing others into play the other side. He's been brilliant for us and hopefully he stays fit. We have got to get bodies up with him. Sometimes we don't when we are under the cosh but he still finds that pass to bring others into it. I remember today in the second half he was up there all alone and fought two off and found Ruben with a 30-yard switch. He knows where the man Is, he is in control of the ball and he is a strong lad. He is great to have for us and hopefully he can keep fit. I wouldn't want to play against him as a centre back."

Of the game overall and his own goal, Edwards said: ''The only disappointing thing is the clean sheet," he said. "We conceded from a set piece which we are usually quite solid from. Take that away it has been a great day all around, defensively we were brilliant and in attack we were brilliant"

"I was starting in an offside position," he said, "but the lad kept dropping back in with me. I was talking to him to put him off and I've seen him lose flight of the ball as it comes in. I've had the run on him and I knew I headed it and as I just fell on the floor I heard the crowd cheer. Obviously it's gone in so it's a relief to get the cushion back."

"At half-time when they brought on another big lad, we knew they were going to come out firing. They got the goal back but we scored one straight away. When Tayls flicks it on to Jake to go one on one clear. It was a big pressure off our shoulders at the back which has allowed us to relax a little bit. It's been the aim for a long time now to get out of the bottom four, now we have done it we need to keep going forward. With the confidence we have at the minute hopefully it will help the performances on the pitch. Everywhere is a travel from here, so we will be in tomorrow recovering, looking over the game and looking over Milton Keynes, again Monday to travel for Tuesday."

23rd

Argyle climbed out of the bottom four for Christmas and for the first time since September with a convincing 4-1 victory over Oldham Athletic. Argyle went 2-0 up very early in the game through Toumani Diagouraga and Graham Carey- the visitors pulled one back early in the second half but goals from Ryan Edwards shortly afterwards and then (just nine seconds after coming off the bench) Jake Jervis, secured all three points for the Greens. Youngster Cameron Sangster came on for his professional debut in the 89th minute. Notably, Oscar Threlkeld and Ruben Lameiras returned to the Argyle starting eleven after long absences. Argyle: Roos, Threlkeld, Edwards, Bradley, Sawyer, Songo'o, Fox(Sangster), Diagouraga, Lameiras(Jervis), Carey(Grant), Taylor. Subs: Cooper, Miller, Ainsworth, Wylde.

22nd

Derek Adams confirmed Luke McCormick will miss at least two more months of action following an operation on the ankle injury that has troubled him for months: "He's going to get an operation on his ankle. It's a straightforward one. The physio Paul Atkinson and the consultant feel that because he has twisted it three or four times the operation would be beneficial. Clinically, the ankle was fine, but it's just to give him that extra stability."

21st

Argyle midfielder David Fox is relishing the Christmas period and the feasts of football it can bring. He said: "It's quite testing as there are a lot of games, and being down here there is a lot of travelling as well. You want to play the game but we wont be training as much. It will be ticking over and then playing the games and making sure you are ready. It's a good period; I like the Christmas period because there are a lot of games and you normally get decent crowds. It's enjoyable; there is a lot of games, but that's why you are here. You want to play games and the lads are looking forward to it. You put a decent little run together over Christmas and you can climb up the table. Things can change quickly when you've got four games in ten days. When you get older you know what you need to do. You've got all your recovery protein shakes, your ice baths and your stretching. There's loads of things that you pick up over the years and the club will make sure that we are right. There wont be any running sessions in between games, it will be just ticking over and getting the tactics right and making sure we are fresh going into the games.''

Manager Derek Adams however displayed a slightly different viewpoint, focusing on the exertion and energy expanded over the seasonal period. He said: "We will train today and tomorrow, play against Oldham on Saturday, then Sunday and Monday we will be in. Christmas Day we will train and travel to Milton Keynes. We travel by bus so it will take us 6/7 hours. That's the way it is and we will have to get on with it. It is an important time for so many football clubs. It is a busy time for most football clubs as everyone is on holiday. A lot of people get excited and there are the biggest crowds of the season as people come home from foreign countries and want to get out on Boxing Day to see a football match. I would have a winter break in January like they do have in most countries Three weeks off in January. I would reduce the size of the league but I'm not a chairman or on any FA board. That would probably go against most chairmen in the football league as they want to have more games to generate more income. I've had it a number of times in Scotland. It gives everyone a break from playing so many games. We are into the mid-twenties for games so it refreshes the batteries. We went to Spain last year which helped us immensely in the run in to the season as we were refreshed. Every football team is exactly the same in the Christmas period; they are not playing at 100% capacity as it is impossible to do that, because of the amount of time they get to rest between games."

17th

Ex-Miller Ryan Taylor has mixed feelings about scoring at his former club but Argyle going on to throw away a vital two points in the dying stages as the game resulted in a 1-1 draw. Taylor said: "It was nice to get a goal but we were disappointed, in the end, not to get all three points. We think we dropped two points. But we'll take the positives out of the game – it's one more point on the board and we've got to start looking up the table now and try to catch the teams above us. In the last two games, we've got four points – we've got to look on that and build from there, as we will do. We'll be working hard this week, ready for a big home game against Oldham. They are all massive games now. We are obviously down the bottom of the league so all the points we can get are massive points and it's another point gained.

"It was a great ball from Lionel; I just attacked the near post and got a little touch on it. It was nice to get a goal. Just before it, Gregg Wylde put a great ball in and their centre-half put a great block on – it was disappointing not score from that, but we did the same thing again and got a goal from it. It's a good little confidence-booster to get on the scoresheet. My all-round play wasn't good enough but that is something I will work on. I have been out for four months and that's a long time – the fitness is not quite there, but it'll get there."

"In the attacking third, we weren't good enough in the first half so that's something to work on which we will do, ready for next week. Rotherham had most of the possession in the first half. They were keeping [the ball] in midfield and we were struggling to get close to them. I think I touched the ball once or twice in the first half. I wasn't good enough. But it was nice to get on the scoresheet."

In response to allegations that Taylor deliberately celebrated in front of Rotherham's fans, Taylor instead said that the goal was dedicated to his father: "My dad had a bit of bad news this week, so it was for him. It wasn't anything to do with the Rotherham fans. They thought it was to do with them, but that definitely wasn't the case. My family were sat there, behind the dugout, so I was going over to them. It is the home fans' stand, so they don't expect my supporters to be sat in it, I suppose, but it was nice to get a goal and I am going to celebrate with my family."

Derek Adams too expressed his frustration with the way Argyle threw away the win at the death but was keen to assert that the positive momentum was still with Argyle: "Rotherham sat back and defended after Wood's sending-off and it was difficult for us to play through them; they defended with ten players behind the ball. We went for it. We went two up front and two wide players. We did have the opportunity to make it 2-0; we didn't do that and they get a last-gasp goal in injury-time. We created chances, especially in the second half, not so much in the first half. In the second half, we had opportunities in and around the 18-yard box. When you've come away from home, going in at 0-0 at half-time, you are always pleased; we nullified the threat of Rotherham. We stopped Rotherham playing, more than them not playing well. That's the nature of football, and we stopped their danger players being successful today. It was a great corner-kick and a very good header from Ryan. It is always nice, coming back to your old club to score a goal. We're on positive momentum. We have taken 16 points from our last 11 games; we took five points from our first 11 matches.

Derek Adams is content that whilst his spending budget may not be as high as other teams in the league, he is capable of making some effective signings out of the budget he has. He explained: "I know what the budget of this football club is since I came to this football club," he said. "This football club knows where they are. At the last Board meeting, we discussed it and the Board have given me a budget to go ahead and get players in for the remainder of the season. 100%. As a manager, it's difficult, but I'm given what I'm given and I take it. That's the way it is as a football club. There are managers all over the country who would have liked to go out and spend £300,000 on a left-back, like Rotherham. I would. It wouldn't be a left-back but if I could go out and spend £300,000, but I can't do that. Would I like to go out and spend seven or eight grand on a player? Yes, I would, but I can't do that."

Finally, Adams praised the Argyle youngsters for beating Manchester City in the FA youth cup specifically by what he called 'The Argyle Way'. Adams said: "They did exactly the same as the first team," said Derek. "They sat back; soaked up pressure; nullified the threat of Manchester City; and went through on penalties. It's the Argyle Way. We have played that way a number of times and got positive results. It was good for the young players because they had to defend very well and then be very composed to win on penalty kicks. It was a great night for them."

16th

Argyle have gained a point from their fixture at Rotherham but it could so easily have been three following a last minute equaliser from the home side. Ryan Taylor had put Argyle 1-0 up away to his former side with 8 minutes of normal time to go. Rotherham were down to ten men following the dismissal of Richard Wood early in the second half following two bookable offences. Argyle: Roos, Sawyer, Edwards, Bradley. Taylor-Sinclair, Fox, Diagouraga, Carey, Jervis(Ainsworth), Taylor(Fletcher), Grant(Wylde). Subs: Cooper, Miller, Threlkeld, Songo'o.

15th

So soon after Ryan Taylor's return from injury, he will be ironically returning to face one of his old clubs when Argyle travel to Rotherham on Saturday. The striker had this to say about his former club: "It's a bit different because it's a new stadium now, I never played there as a Rotherham player. I have been back since but they built the stadium after I left. I played across the road at Millmoor and Don Valley. It's a bit different now; it's a lot better set up. The club has come a long way since I left and it will be nice to go back. I have played there once and scored there once so hopefully the same again. It was last year for Oxford in the cup and we won so hopefully more of the same. It's a great set up, Millmoor was a different experience. They started to build a new stand there and didn't finish it, we used to get changed in portacabins.

"I know Paul Warne. I partnered with him a couple of times as a striker. But he used to play wide right a lot; he was getting on a bit when I played with him so I had to do most of his running! He was a nice guy; enthusiastic and a hard working player. I think he has transferred that into management. I don't really know any of the boys there now; it's all different. But from what I've heard in the papers back home that's exactly like he is. It's going to be a tough game they are going well at the minute. They'll be a few family members there. A few have bought tickets as I don't think I'll be able to get that many with maybe 10-15 going and then a few friends too!"

Meanwhile, Derek Adams praised the ability of his Argyle side to nicely turn their form around following the disastrous start to the season, saying: "We've taken 15 points from the last ten games. We took five points from our first eleven games, so that tells you the progress that we have made. I did say, once we got over our injuries and suspensions that we would put a good run together because we have got a decent squad that have shown that they can beat the best teams in the league. We have gone to Bradford and won, we've beaten Charlton at home, we've drawn with Shrewsbury, away to Blackburn, we have shown that we can do it. It's given us an opportunity now to try and get another victory on the road against Rotherham which would enable us to catch teams above us and we've certainly closed the gap. We've gone above teams last Saturday, we've put ourselves in a far better position. It's always helps around the squad and it helps with the spirit. They've come down from the Championship and they've performed well this season to start with. They've got a good victory away to Blackpool last week. They were 1-0 down, got it back to 2-1. They've got Championship players in their team but we have come off a very positive result against Gillingham."

14th

After a goalkeeper made their Plymouth Argyle debut for the sixth time this season on Saturday, Derek Adams was once again full of praise for the ability of the man between the sticks to adapt in good speed. He said of Kelle Roos: "He was very composed last Saturday. He came into a game where it was a high pressure situation. It was two teams that were in similar positions. He's an experienced goalkeeper for his age. He's been out on loan a number of times. He comes across well, he talks well and he understands his position in the team. I took him back to the hotel last Friday and he pulled out the programme and he was asking me the names of the players and who everyone was. So from his point of view, that was very professional of him because he's thinking ahead. I think it's important because coming into any football club is strange. He's got an opportunity now to get to know the players and their names and be in amongst the squad, so he'll be looking forward to Saturday's game."

Adams gave updates on the progress of first Kyle Letheren, then Luke McCormick: "He's doing a little bit of handling. He's still a couple of months away from coming back. He went to the consultant last week and he was happy with the operation. The tendon has now reattached so obviously the operation has made that work. He was going to be out for four months but they have revised that and it's going to be back probably between the three and the four month period."

"The consultant's got to look at the report and report back to our physio to see the extent of the damage. Until the consultant reports back to the physio and the doctor then we just have to wait and see what he says about the scan that he had."

James Brent has spoken of his excitement after Plymouth City Council gave the the green light for the development of Home Park's Mayflower grandstand. PCC planning committee meeting on Thursday afternoon resulted in permission being granted for the proposed development of Home Park and some of its surrounds. The development will provide Argyle with a refurbished grandstand; new players facilities; new offices and classroom; new bars; retail and ticketing functions; and a conference and banqueting facility. Seating capacity will be increased to an initial 18,600. Brent said: "This is a very exciting day, a very exciting conclusion. We still need to build it, but many thanks to all who have helped. There is great excitement, and we're looking forward to 2018 and beyond. A great thanks to the Green Army Grandstand Working Group, to the staff who put time and effort in behind the scenes, and to the Akkeron and professional adviser teams. Also, thanks to the Members for approving it, and the Plymouth City Council planning department for the very diligent work that's gone into it. It's been a very long journey, and there have been ups and downs. We've had a lot of feedback and made a lot of changes. The broad scheme remains the same in terms of what the ambition is, but we have made improvements. With these things, consultation and constructive feedback make it better in the end. We now have a consented plan for a great asset to the football club, and to the city of Plymouth, and we need to focus on delivering it."

Argyle have remarkably knocked Manchester City out of the FA Youth Cup, following a penalty shootout victory from a 0-0 draw in 120 minutes at Home Park. This City side had made the cup final for three seasons in a row prior to this season. Academy boss Kevin Hodges spoke of his pride: "They showed good character, good strength, and I am so pleased and proud of them tonight. You can't achieve much more than going in and beating one of the biggest Academies in the world. I think they may be a little bit shocked. The message was 'Stick to the plan and stay in the game' and whilst you are still in the game, you always have an opportunity. We managed to see it through to extra-time, when there were some weary legs and weary minds, but we managed to see the game through, and then to actually come through by winning the penalty shoot-out is fantastic. When we lost the ball, we got back into shape and they delivered the plan. I am so pleased. I don't think the boys will understand until a few days time what they have actually achieved, but it's something that we said could be achieved. It's a cup-tie and anything can happen in a cup-tie."

13th

Argyle have opened talks to extend the contract of effective new midfielder Toumani Diagouraga, Derek Adams has confirmed, saying: "He's here until the end of January. We are already sitting down and looking to extend that deal until the end of the season. I think that Toums has come in and played a lot of games for us. He will see that we have been very beneficial for him because we have been able to give him game-time, and he will enjoy being around the squad. It's about playing football matches and we are hopeful that he will continue to stay with us. Toums is one that has very good experience of playing in the Championship. He's very composed and he does organise on the field. He talks to the players and that has been beneficial to why we have been able to get the results we have had."

11th

Derek Adams has confirmed that he is willing to let attacking midfielder Ruben Lameiras leave the club this January transfer window, following media reports that he has been on trial with Oldham. He said: "It gave Oldham an opportunity to look at him. We are obviously coming up to the January transfer window and they had asked to see how he could do."

Of the chance of other players being allowed to take up similar opportunities, he answered: "There is nothing in the pipeline but there is always a possibility."

10th

Derek Adams came away pleased from Argyle's crunch 2-1 win against Gillingham- with both the result itself and the nature of the victory. The manager said of his resurgent team: "I thought at times in the first half some of our play was very good. Then in the second half, we got at them and Jake Jervis opened up his legs on a number of occasions. Over the 90 minutes, we were better than Gillingham. We controlled the game for large spells, and when we went 1-0 up, for us, it was a perfect way of finishing off the move for Joel to score the goal. I thought we deserved, over the 90 minutes, the three points.

Regarding the disputed goal claimed by Gillingham, in the first half, Adams added: "I don't think anybody was close enough to it to say. Obviously I haven't seen the footage, so I couldn't give you a right answer. We allowed them back in the game when we were 1-0 ahead. We give away a stupid free-kick and then, quickly, they take the free-kick and get themselves back into the match, needlessly from our point of view. It was disappointing, because they didn't look like they were going to score. It just got a wee bit like a basketball match at times. That's not something that we wanted. Credit to Gillingham: they got the ball forward. We did give away some bad corner kicks and free kicks away, allowing them to put pressure on us."

And of Diagouraga's winner, he added: "I was saying to him just before the game: he needs to score more goals from that position. He's been able to get the ball over the top of the defender's head and slot it in. To score the late goal is always important. It was a big game for both clubs today, because we knew we were able to go level on points with Gillingham today. We were able to close the gap between the teams above us, and we've done that today. Gillingham were the same. If they picked up the three points, they would've put themselves in a very good position. It was a very big win for us today. Three points is massive in this league and we've been able to get them. We've looked at the league table and we're closing in on a lot of teams now."

Adams also spoke about the inexplicable circumstances that have seen Argyle having to sign yet another goalkeeper following the ankle injury sustained by Luke McCormick which reoccured itself in training last week. Adams explained: "He's injured the same ankle again. He tried to save a shot with his foot in training on Thursday morning, and I had to go and get a goalkeeper on Thursday afternoon. I wasn't too happy, to say the least. We don't know the extent of the injury just yet. He's had a scan today. We'll look at the scan and hopefully have an opinion next week. There's nothing we can do about it, but it left me an afternoon with me, my staff, my chief scout and everybody trying to get a goalkeeper in. We don't have any professional goalkeepers fit at the moment, which is strange, but that's the way it goes. Derby County were very good with us, and so was Kelle. He's got experience of playing with Derby and Port Vale this season, and he's also been at Wimbledon as well. It's not easy. He doesn't know anybody; he doesn't know any of his teammates. He made a number of good saves in the game. He couldn't do anything with the goal because it was a fantastic strike. He did really well. Hopefully he continues to stay injury-free. It's not easy coming into a new club. When you have one of your biggest crowds of the season as well, it's a high-pressure match, and he's coped with it very well."

Roos himself spoke about an afternoon of mixed feelings, with his disappointment at conceding the late equaliser being made up for by his delight at a superb late save that denied the visitors a 2-2 draw: "If we keep doing what we are doing, and with the support of everyone, I believe we will get out of it. It is a very important win. You can see, on the lads' faces, that they enjoy winning games like this. At times, it was a bit scrappy, but you just have to graft them out and get the three points. It was a bit of a range of emotions but, at the end, we did the job and that's what it's all about in football – three points, and we got them over the line. We did well, as a team, to keep the clean sheet in the first half and maybe we should have taken that into 95 minutes, but great strength from the squad. Everyone just grafted and I think it is a great team effort that we get three points. I would have liked to sit here with a clean sheet but I think I have to wait until the next one. He hit the target but I managed to turn it around. I was happy with that one because, at the end of the day, saves matter more when the team needs the points and that was one of those moments. After that, we gave the goal away. For a goalkeeper and defenders, everyone involved, who loves clean sheets, it was a bit of setback but, at the same time, you see how we respond and if you have that in this group of lads I am very surprised you are in this position in the table. They put two balls underneath my bar and I managed to tap them over, and then the header but my defenders did well there because I didn't have to get the sting out – there was no sting in the header. It was a simple header and I had to tip it over."

9th

Argyle have climbed to 22nd in League One following a dramatic late 2-1 win over Gillingham. New keeper Kelle Roos was involved early on, spilling a low drive from Tom Eaves and almost spilling the ball into his own net but the assistant referee ruled that the ball did in fact not the cross the line. Joel Grant put Argyle into a lead in the second half but Eaves really did score, equalising with 6 minutes to go after a quick free-kick undid Argyle's defence. The game was won as stoppage time began however, when Toumani Diagouara slotted the ball home one on one with the Gills keeper. Argyle: Roos, Sawyer, Edwards, Bradley, Taylor-Sinclair, Fox, Diagouraga, Carey, Jervis, Grant(Songo'o), Taylor. Subs: Cooper, Miller, Threlkeld, Ainsworth, Wylde, Blissett.

8th

After another injury to Luke McCormick, Argyle have signed Derby County keeper Kelle Roos on a week-by-week emergency loan deal. Roos famously played against Argyle in the League Two play-off final in 2016 where Wimbledon beat us. The 25 year old Dutchman will be the 8th keeper to appear in a matchday squad for Argyle this season and will wear the number 29 shirt in his spell with Argyle.

Derek Adams never tends to look further ahead than the next fixture - but he is already lining up possible new recruits to strengthen his squad in January. He cited the additions made last season as an example of how a strong January window can make or break a season: "We have already started discussions, we just need to finalise targets. We have an idea of the type of player we are looking for. It wont be many, we have a budget to work to so we will stay in the scope of the budget. We will have to move out some players as well. The input comes from Greg Strong, Craig Brewster and Paul Wotton and myself, we will all sit down and have a discussion. Matt Neil will pull through all the stats as well to see who to go for.

"It's always important to try and get in players. We did that in the last transfer window and we did that last January where they provided us with the impetus to get into League One. We have got a good squad and have competed well this season but we haven't got the points we deserve, so adding to it can only enhance the pool.We could do more than a couple, we could do three or four, it depends how the transfer window pans out. Who comes in and out it all swings in roundabouts too it."

Adams looked ahead to the game against Gillingham at the weekend, admitting it was a crucial one in the battle at the bottom of League One: "A win is important for us considering the position we are in. If we can get three points on Saturday it puts us in a better position and closes the gap between a good number of teams in the league. We played last week against Bradford, played some really good attacking football and should have scored a couple of goals. They got a couple of goals that were fortunate for them. I thought that we created a good number of opportunities throughout the 90 minutes and the chances we created we should have taken. But from our point of view if we play like we did at Bradford we have a good opportunity to win the game. They are very direct as a team. They get the ball from back to front very quickly and get support to them. So we are going to have to deal with that threat, they have Tom Eaves and Wilkinson and they will try to get it into them as quickly as possible."

7th

Joel Grant believes Argyle have comfortably enough quality in their squad to climb out of the relegation mire, starting win a win against Gillingham on Saturday. The winger said: "I think that's the difference has been that we haven't taken our chances when we have created them, and obviously if we concede it makes it more difficult. But it sums our season up, it definitely shows what we are capable of. We definitely showed a little bit of weakness. The stuff we've worked hard on, day in day out, to rectify those mistakes. Although we have had some positive results recently its something we are still working on. I'm very positive. I know we have enough in the squad at the moment. We are bottom at the moment but we are approaching it in the same way. We have to look at it and say 'why can't you have a top half finish in the second half of the season?'. The teams at the top have been on a good run in the first half of the season, who's to say they might not have a bad second half of the season? For us, we are working hard and I've seen an improvement from day one of the season.

"We have had some good results of late in the last couple of months. We have clawed some points back; we could go level on points with them. But every game is a big game and not just because it's Gillingham and we are three points behind. I personally don't feel we should get too carried away with 'we must catch Gillingham'. We have over half a season and the aim is to get as many three points as possible. If we can do that at the end of the day we want to be as many points away from relegation at the end of the season.

"As a professional you want to play and that's something I'm working really hard on. As a player I am my own biggest critic, and being at the bottom of the table can sometimes make you feel sometimes a certain way. As if you're in the team, are you doing enough? There's a number of things I can work on. At the moment I personally want to affect us going forward more. In terms of goals we have been free flowing with the goals. If you were to watch training day in and day out you would definitely say we are not quite getting it right. As when you see training you would expect us to score a few more on the match day. Considering the ability we have in the squad I feel we have been underachieving there. So personally if I can help that would be good. It's about showing the manager, and getting him to believe in you; that comes from all around.

"I honestly believe we are going to do really well in the second half of the season. I have been a professional a long time and I have been a part of some very successful teams and I've also been in some unsuccessful teams. My view of this club is that it's a club with a winning mentality and we have a manager who has been successful and continues every day to work hard. The players continue to work really hard. One thing you would often see when a team is not doing very well is the spirit can be really down. But we have enough players in the squad pulling in the right direction to be successful."

5th

The refurbishment of the Mayflower Grandstand and related developments are to be discussed at a Plymouth City Council Planning Meeting on Thursday, December 14th. The application will be heard at 2pm, at the Council House, and will be attended by several members of Argyle staff. Ahead of the meeting, PCC have provided a report on the application.The report contains a recommendation of approval, subject to conditions.

3rd

There was a bittersweet return to action for Argyle captain Luke McCormick, who suffered an FA Cup exit on his comeback from injury but took great heart from the Pilgrims' performance in their 3-1 defeat at Bradford. He spoke about the goals conceded, the third of which he admits he could have done better. McCormick said: "On the whole, we played really well. Overall, we're really pleased with the way we played. We've created a lot of chances. The boys looked hungry to get on the ball and moved it about well and were causing a lot of problems. Some of the football we played going forward really gave them a problem. I didn't see the first game up here, but I've been told we played a lot better second time round. Unfortunately, the goals we conceded were disappointing.

Of the third:"It's taken a slight deflection as it's coming across and I was backtracking. I've tried to stop and get on top of the ball and ended up getting it terribly wrong. Unfortunately, it's squirmed underneath me and ended up in the back of the net. I hold my hands up for that. I'd like to think it's an uncharacteristic mistake but I should have done better. But, on the whole, I was quite pleased with my contribution today. It'll be the talking point. That's how it goes; it's the nature of the job. I'll get on with it, get another week's training inside of me and get up to speed. You can never be too high or too low, just get on with it. There's another game on Saturday to look forward to. There's no point moping. I am never going on concentrate on mistakes because they are inevitable; they are always going to happen. They happen all over the pitch, but I am in a position where, if I make one, the ball usually ends up in the back of the net. I'm certainly not going to dwell on it. I'm pleased with being able to come though the game today.

Of the second:' The ball has come into the far post. We haven't really cleared it. Someone is stood there, unmarked, and it's a wild volley which is going nowhere near goal and it's hit one of their players full on in the face and found its way into the bottom corner. On another day, it doesn't go in, but, unfortunately, today, it has."

McCormick went on to speak about his return from injury and that of several of his fellow players including Oscar Threlkeld and Ryan Taylor: "Hopefully we've seen the back of it all now and there will be a little bit of continuity between the sticks," said Luke, after the game. We're getting our strength back and our competition for places back: Ryan Taylor was able to come off the bench today – it's great to see him back, and Oscar. That competition which we had at the start of the season – people vying for places in the team – is slowly coming back, and that will help us going into the busy period over Christmas. With that competition, we'll only improve. The character we've shown today....alright, we've conceded a couple of bad goals but it didn't seem to affect us – we still wanted the ball, still wanted to go forward and create chances – I think that says a lot about us. If we continue with that mentality over the Christmas period, I think we will be alright. We need to use this performance to base other performances on coming up because, if we keep playing like this, we will win a lot more games than we will lose. I'm really looking forward to being a part of it. It's a chance for us to roll up our sleeves and tackle the Christmas period head on.

"It's easily been the most frustrating period of my career. You just want to be able to help the lads in any way, shape or form and you simply can't do that. Not only can't you be out on the pitch, but you have to allow lads space at times – you can't affect things on the pitch, so you have to let the lads and the staff get on with it, which is a hard thing to do. To be back out there, and to be able to help the boys, is really pleasing. I broke down twice in training. That was really disappointing and it stretched the injury out much longer than I would have liked. Having said that, it reacted well to an injection and I've been able to shave a great deal of time off my expected return. The consultant, medical staff – everyone – have been really good with me and given me every chance to get back as quick as I can. He advised an injection and I had to go quite carefully afterwards to give it every chance of working, and I'm really grateful to him and really pleased it's managed to do the trick."

In spite of the loss to Bradford, Derek Adams was insistent that it was one of Argyle's best displays of the season in terms of the chances created. He said: "It was probably one of our best performances of the season the way we created chances, and defended at times. It was a really good performance from us today. Bradford scored against the run of play when we have had three or four very good opportunities. It was a great ball into the box from their right-back and a very good header, but it was against the run of play. Going in at half-time, we were happy because we were the team in the ascendancy. We played very well in that first half and took the game to Bradford. They were probably fortunate to be in at 1-0 at half-time. Jake Jervis had two very good chances, maybe three – he could probably have had a hat-trick before half-time – Joel Grant as well, Graham Carey. In the second half, Bradford get a fortunate goal – a ball to the back post, the player knocked it across the area and it was deflected in off one of their men. Then it's a difficult afternoon because we have got to get back into the game from there. We get back into the game and make it 2-1, a good goal from Graham Carey, and then make a mistake, a goalkeeping error – it goes under Luke's body and into the goal – that makes it 3-1, and Bradford get a lift from that. If strikers miss chances, it's the strikers' fault; if the goalkeeper makes a mistake, it's his; that's just the way it is. We've all got to take responsibility."

"This was a very good performance, far better than the one we had here when we won 1-0. We were very good overall. It was a very good game, end to end at times; it was a good cup-tie. I didn't think it was a 3-1 game, but that's the scoreline. We'll do very well this season and move off the bottom of the table and put ourselves in a position that we are happy with at the end of the season. Bradford were always going to be favourites because of the position they are in the league, and we put up a good fight. We were far more of a goal-threat today. We had a good number of chances. Yes, Bradford came into the game later on because we were a bit gung-ho – we had Jake Jervis playing at right-back and Lionel Ainsworth playing right midfield – so that was always going to be the case. Having Graham and other players in that forward line, looking a goal-threat – we did look a goal-threat today – is extremely positive. That's what he's there for – he's there to make the saves, as all goalkeepers are; just as strikers are there to score goals, and they haven't taken their chances.It's good to have your captain back again. He's looking good, but he's looking rusty."

2nd

Argyle have lost 3-1 at Bradford and are resultantly out of the FA Cup at the second round stage. The home side went 1-0 up shortly before half-time and doubled their lead shortly after the interval. Argyle did pull one back through Graham Carey but the gap was restored to two not long after. Bradford go on to round three. The match was notable for the long-awaited return of Luke McCormick to the Argyle starting eleven. Will Mannion has been confirmed to have returned to Hull after one game. Argyle: McCormick, Sawyer, Edwards, Bradley, Taylor-Sinclair, Songo'o(Taylor), Diagouraga, Fox, Carey, Jervis, Grant(Sarcevic). Subs: Childs, Miller, Threlkeld, Ciftci.

1st

Oscar Threlkeld said that he is 'thrilled' to be returning to Argyle first team action following the game at Yeovil in which he finally made his long awaited comeback from injury unscathed. He said: "I played 90 minutes against Saltash on Saturday. The first 90 minutes felt good but I started tiring out after 60/70 minutes. Then 90 minutes at Yeovil, which was needed; I felt good in that, just a shame about the result. I'm feeling good. I felt tired Wednesday; I was a bit stiff. But I did as much as I could, stretching and stuff like that. I'm feeling good, legs feeling good and I can't wait to see what happens next. The physios have been good; the management, the staff - just people keeping a smile on my face and obviously not trying to think about it. I'd say I have had a couple of days being down in the dumps thinking about when I am going to be back playing. It's something you can't really dwell on as it will give you a bad mind-set. So you've got to keep having a happy face on as there is worse things in life.

"I thought it was just an initial bang, hence why I was walking after the match. I got on the bus as soon, then as I got off the bus I couldn't move. So I had to share a lift with someone as I felt I couldn't drive. I then came in the following day and saw the physio. It's been stressful seeing the lads training and playing games where you can't do anything. Going to the gym, recover and pre-hab, doing your fitness work, its just hard. It's never nice seeing anyone else injured but when it is you it's even worse because you know you can't affect anything. You're always thinking when are you going to get fit, so it has been hard but I've had a lot of help around me which is good."

Regarding his aborted comeback in the October match against Fleetwood, Threlkeld added: "I'm not sure as whether that is between the 4-6 weeks but I felt good going into the game. But as soon as I felt the initial contact on it started to get sore and worse with each tackle, so I told the gaffer and came off at half time. I got told I had a new injury on top of an old injury so that's why it took longer. But we both agreed for me to play, it wasn't like I got forced back in. It was an agreement on both parties that we felt I could get through the game. I feel like we can get a cup run. We've beaten Bradford already, but it's a cup game and things can change. I do think we can be Bradford and move on and get a big club at home."

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