Frustration

JOHN Sheridan did not mince his words after the Pilgrims suffered a goalless stalemate against Accrington Stanley in the first of two important back-to-back home games.

The Argyle manager confessed to being frustrated with the 0-0 draw and admitted it placed extra significance on next Saturday’s visit of Dagenham & Redbridge.

He said: “We’ve got a clean sheet; we’ve got a point; and we know we have to win the game against Dagenham.

“It’s a clean sheet and a point. I have got to accept that. The game’s gone. It’s disappointing. We go into the next game and it’s a must-win.

“I was very frustrated with the way we played in the first half, especially. I didn’t think there was any urgency and I expect that [given] the position we’re in and the way we have been training - we have been training really bright.

“We just didn’t get going in the first half. [Accrington] came and dictated the game without causing us many problems – there was one cleared off the line – but we didn’t really create anything.

“They’ll be pleased with the point because it keeps the distance between us. If we’d got the result we wanted, we would have gone above them.

“It was obviously very frustrating. We wanted to win the game.”

John was heartened by the way his players lifted their game after the break, and was pleased with substitute Luke Young’s contribution in midfield.

“I thought we had a go in the second half,” he said.

“When I brought Youngy on, he changed the game.  I thought he was the best player on the pitch.

“He looked confident in himself and he wanted to move the ball quickly and create things. He got us back into the game in the second half.”

The Pilgrims might have prised all three points had not Reuben Reid, starting an Argyle game for the first time in nearly six years after his loan move from Yeovil, blasted a loose ball off-target.

“We had a go and we had one or two opportunities,” said John. “Reuben’s chance was probably the best chance in the game.  If we’d scored there, I think we would have gone and won the game.

“That little bit of luck that which you don’t get at the bottom of the table is against you sometimes.”