ARGYLE Head Coach Paul Mariner is taking a measured approach to solving the crisis that has blighted our season.

As the lowest scorers in the Championship, it is clearly an area Mariner and his staff are looking to improve for the final run-in.

There has been undoubted progress under Mariner's stewardship and he is keen for his players to show a big goal-threat in tonight's crucial clash at Reading.

"Everybody's seen the difference in set-pieces," he said. "The movement from set-pieces is very good and we're causing teams a lot of problems.

"When you're a striker, or any player, and you've not scored for a while, you tend to get a bit itchy and nervous.

"All we've got to do is try to be cool, calm and collected, which is easier said than done.

"Teams defend very well in this league. They throw their bodies in and I see now why this is a very popular league for fans to view because it's all-action - there's always something going on."

Along with the goals issue, Mariner is also desperate to eliminate the single errors that are costing us vital points.

Saturday's 1-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion was another example of a terrific team performance ruined by one individual mistake.

"Like we said on Saturday, the team-spirit, which is intangible in football, is 100%," he said.

"The harmony and the willingness to work hard for each other are there for all to see. We know we've got to make our own luck but we just need something to go our way.

"One thing everybody is assured of in this league is that they're going to get a game when they play us. We gave West Brom everything they could handle on Saturday.

"We've got to repeat that and try not to make any errors. You've got to play error-free football because the error we're making in a game is what we're being knocked out with."