ARGYLE edged closer to the pointage target set by manager Paul Sturrock for the Pilgrims to reach the Championship play-offs.

The Pilgrims secured a comfortable three points against bottom club Colchester with a 4-1 win at Home Park.

"I have given the team a certain pointage I want them to accumulate and tonight was a start," said Luggy.

"Seventy-two points was enough [to reach the play-offs] last year, but there is going to be a big rat-race and I don't think it will take as much as that this year.

"I would hope to think we will be going into the last game of the season with something to play for.

"All I want to do is be in that rat-race until the end of the season. We have got ten more games to go, but some difficult games at home.

"Charlton, Watford and Sheffield United are three corkers, and the loan deadline is fast approaching, so we will have to think about that because we don't want to be caught out."

Victory was achieved through second-half goals from Jermaine Easter, Steve MacLean's free-kick and Gary Sawyer's first as a Pilgrim.

The Greens did lead at half-time courtesy of a disputed Péter Halmosi/Phil Ifil own goal, but Luggy was generally very disappointed with the first-half display.

He said: "We were very, very poor to the standards I want to achieve in the first-half. We were very sloppy and could have quite easily gone in 1-1 at half-time. Colchester made it very difficult for us.

"Once we had a wee chat, we lifted our tempo, got our wingers on the ball and created an awful lot of chances. I am glad a couple of set-pieces have worked as well.

"He [Halmosi] is claiming the first goal. I thought it was an own goal but he says he got studs to it, and Steve MacLean also said Péter definitely touched it."

Luggy was delighted with the performance of loan winger Gary Teale, and equally pleased strikers Easter and MacLean both got on the score-sheet.

He said: "It would be nice if Steve could score from general play and I will give him a bit of stick about that, but you could see the weight coming off Easter's shoulders when he scored that goal.

"He lives off it. Scoring is definitely a lot more important to him than it is to Steve, and, hopefully, he can kick on from there.

"Gary Teale had an excellent game and showed what his potential can be by getting some great crosses in the box."

The Pilgrims now face a massive game against Sheffield United at Home Park on Saturday and Luggy is hoping for another good turn-out from the Green Army.

He said: "The crowd was very good for a night with big TV games on. I am delighted with that.