"They Are Hurting"

KEVIN Nancekivell has backed Argyle’s players to bounce back quickly from their 4-0 defeat at high-flying Port Vale.

The Pilgrims’ already difficult cause was not helped when forward Nick Chadwick was sent off for violent conduct immediately after the restart that followed Jennison Myrie Williams’ 31st-minute opener.

Ten-man Argyle fought valiantly to stem the tide, but conceded further goals to Ben Williamson and npower League 2’s leading scorer Tom Pope, who netted twice.

”They are hurting,” said Kevin, who has taken temporary charge of the Pilgrims – with Romain Larrieu – following Carl Fletcher’s New Year’s day sacking.

“But they are a resilient bunch; footballers are made like that. They’ll be fine, and, come next Saturday, they’ll be raring to go.

“It means a lot to them. They are not a group of guys who don’t care. They care passionately and, today, they were fighting for us and working for us.

“Obviously, since New Year’s Day, it’s been tough, but their attitude and application has been good.

“The scoreline is what it is, but the lads have been terrific this week.

“I had a good feeling before the game. The changing-room was good and you could sense a feeling of togetherness and a sense of wanting to make the club proud, which they did.

“To be fair to them, I thought they stuck at it today. They are a great bunch, a wiling bunch. It just didn’t happen today.

“There’s a nucleus of a good squad there. One disappointing result and one disappointing Saturday afternoon is not going to change the way we approach things at the club.

“We’ll be back in next week, working hard. They’ll be smiles on our faces and we’ll go forward.

“We’ll be fine.”