The Scoring Stats

THE stats over Argyle’s last five games tell the story: three goals conceded; two scored; five points gained from a possible 15.

“We’re certainly competitive and the games have been very, very close,” said coach Gary Owers. “We just need someone to score a goal for us.”

Saturday’s defeat in a close encounter at Northampton was the Pilgrims’ second successive 1-0 loss, and the fourth game out of five in which they have failed to find the target.

“The onus is on everybody in the team to try to score a goal,” said Gary.

“If you look at Saturday’s game, a couple of centre-halves had opportunities; the lads in the middle of the park were getting into the box a little bit more.

“It’s something we have got to solve very, very quickly. If we are not going to score a goal, we are never going to win any games between now and the end of the season.

“In the first half [at Northampton], I thought we were very positive and we took the game to them. You have got to try to score when you are on top of games and obviously that’s a problem for us at the moment.

“In the second half, we never quite got to the levels of the first half, but we were still in the game. The goal changed the course of the game – they got stronger and we sort of fell away a little bit.”

For the first time since John Sheridan took over as manager seven weeks ago, Nick Chadwick is available for selection following a six-match suspension.

As a forward – one who scored a vital winner at Wimbledon last year – he gives John another attacking option.

Gary said: “He’s worked very hard during his suspension; kept his head down, which was the right thing to do in the circumstances.

“It gives an extra body up front to consider, so he’ll come into the squad and I would think he’ll figure somewhere in John’s thinking.”