Super Jake

SUPERSAVER Jake Cole is cashing in on the hard work he put in before the Pilgrims returned for pre-season training.

Goalkeeper Jake played a huge part in the rearguard action that earned Argyle their first npower League 2 point of the season from a 0-0 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday.

He put down his string of fine saves in the game to a summer fitness regime.

“I’ve come back really fit,” said Jake, 26.

“I trained in the off-season, did a lot of work – swimming, running, jogging, weights – and came back strong and ready to go.”

He reaped the fruits of that discipline at Dagenham as the last line of a defensive unit in which centre-backs Darren Purse and Maxime Blanchard looked back to their impassable best.

He said: “I was happy with the performance of the back four and myself, and a clean sheet away from home, but I think we can play a lot better football.

“We dealt with everything [Dagenham] threw at us. We gave away a few silly fouls in dangerous areas and you know that Dagenham are going to put [the ball] in the box.

“Pursey and Maxi were solid – they made some really good headers under pressure - and I managed to make a few good saves, so I’m happy, but I think we can play a lot, lot better.”

Pick of the stops was Jake’s instinctive save to turn away a first-half shot from Dwight Gayle.

“I think it was one of my first touches,” he said.

“It gives you a boost, sets you off nicely for the game.”

Jake will hope to take his form into Saturday’s visit to Oxford, where he spent some time on loan and where a very youthful Pilgrims XI was thrashed 5-1 last season.

“It’s a good club, but, this time round, I hope we can go and upset them,” said Jake.

“We started the season very young last year, but, with the likes of Pursey, Max, and Wottsy [Paul Wotton] now in the team, I’m sure we can go there and give them a good go.”