A Familiar Tale

IT was a case of familiar surroundings and a familiar failing for John Sheridan as the Argyle manager’s former club inflicted a second successive Sky Bet League 2 defeat on the Pilgrims.

A ninth-minute header by debutant defender Matty Brown, and a penalty from Marc Richards after 42 minutes gave Chesterfield a 2-0 win despite being second best for much of the match.

“The biggest problem is the lack of goals,” said John, whose Pilgrims have scored fewer league goals than any side in their division.

“Are we hungry enough to score goals? Because I see balls going in the box and they are bouncing and we are not on our front foot; we are not reacting, anticipating, and that’s what you have to do in the penalty area.

“Everyone’s more or less waiting until [the ball] comes to them; they are not working an opening for themselves. Sometimes, we’re too flat-footed in the box. We should be scoring more goals.

“We had some good balls going into the box, but you need those predators. Will I be able to find one or two? They usually cost a few quid but, for all our good football, you can have all the possession and all the good play you want, if you are not going to put [the ball] in the back of the net, you are not going to win football matches. That’s the way the game went.

“We played a team that is at the top of the league and, if I am being realistic I thought we looked a better team than them on today’s performance.

“We know we can go and beat teams, but we need those goal instincts, the desire to out the ball in the back of the net.”