The Goals Goal

IT is an old cliché, but goals win matches and Argyle manager John Sheridan is only too aware of their importance.

Whilst the Pilgrims have not been prolific in front of goal in recent weeks, John takes heart from the Pilgrims’ form among the bottom eight, relegation-threatened, teams since he became manager five games ago.

He said: “Goals are a big problem for us at the moment.

“There are eight teams that I feel are going to be in the fight to avoid relegation. We’ve got the best defensive record out of the eight.

“At the same time, we’ve only scored four goals - we’ve only conceded three – so the big problem is that if you’re going to win football matches, you’re going to have to score goals.

“Our performances have got to be more positive and we’ve got to believe that we’re going to create problems for the opposition.

“That’s something that I’ve got to look at. Maybe I’ll need to pick a different formation when we play at home but, whatever I have to do, I’ll do it.

“We’ve got two tough away games now against teams that are going to be in your face, trying to upset you and put you on the back foot.

“We’ve got to go and believe that we can get something from both games.”

Argyle currently occupy sixth position in John’s mini-league of eight, teetering just above the dreaded drop-zone.

One win could see the Pilgrims lifted away from the mire, but there will never be resting on laurels as far as the Argyle manager is concerned.

He said: “You can win one and you jump two or three places and it looks a lot healthier and then, the following week, you lose one and you’re back where you started from.

“That’s the way I think it’s going to pan out and I can see it going right to the end.

“With any team when you’re struggling like this the thing is to try and get the wins, get them as quickly as possible, and, if you can, get a little bit of breathing space.

“We’re going to lose games. That’s why it’s important that we try and get one or two victories as early as possible.”