Forgiving John

NOT good, but not bad. That was John Sheridan’s final verdict this week on last Saturday’s 0-0 Home Park draw against Accrington Stanley.

As he prepared his Pilgrims to entertain Dagenham & Redbridge this weekend in a third successive home match since his appointment, the Argyle manager was a lot more forgiving towards his players than some of Argyle’s critics.

“I’ve got to try and take the positives,” he said. “If it was ten games into the season and we had a performance like that, I would be straight on their case.

“I don’t think it’s the time to give rollickings out. I’ve just got to try and give them a lift. What I did was take the positives out of the game.

“We know that we’ve got improve in our game, attacking wise. We’ve just got to have more belief, rather than anything else.”

The disappointment at the goalless – but not pointless – performance was felt more acutely as it followed a comfortable victory against Morecambe on John’s debut seven days earlier.

“I would have been happier if we’d won both games,” said John, “but to get four points from the first two games in the circumstances we’re in is not a bad outcome.

“I’d like to play a lot better than we have. There’s lots of things I’d like to improve, and we’re trying to do them on the training ground.
 
“It’s about getting points at this moment in time. I like my teams to go on the attack and be confident and that’s something that I’ve got to try and instil in the players.

“It doesn’t matter who you are – even the best teams in the country, the Premier League teams – if you’re not playing with confidence and you’re used to losing games, unfortunately you do put a lot pressure on yourselves.

“I’m hoping if we can get a good result on Saturday. It might just give the boys a lift – seven points from nine would be a really good outcome, in my eyes.”