For You

WITHIN minutes of shaking his hands with his opposite number after his side’s 1-0 win over local rivals Exeter, Argyle boss John Sheridan dedicated the vital victory to the club’s supporters.

On a sunny day in Plymouth, almost 12,000 Pilgrims contributed to a crowd of 13,251 and an atmosphere as good as you will find at any ground in the country this weekend.

Jason Banton’s goal as the interval loomed made the half-time pasty and tea taste that little bit sweeter, and, with all in green and white in full voice and happy of heart throughout the second half, the Pilgrims held on to record a win which means so much on so many levels.

The gaffer will primarily savour the three points that go a long way to aiding survival hopes ahead of local tensions, but he acknowledged the participation of the Green Army in gaining the points, and knows what it means to them.

“That result is for the supporters,” he said, “I can’t believe the support they have for their team; a club that has been fighting relegation for two or three years. It’s unbelievable.

“To get one over your nearest rivals...it’s always good to win a derby. It was a great atmosphere and a great effort from the players.

“I was jealous of them today. I’d love to be playing today. These are the games you want to play in. I’m stood watching it and it kills me. Thirteen thousand on a sunny day? Brilliant.

“I’ve played in derbies and been to watch derby games. They’re always good – it doesn’t matter if you’ve got 5,000 people or 40. They are always tight affairs, and usually a good atmosphere, both sets of fans trying to out sing each other.

“But today was unbelievable. I know what the potential is here, because they’ve been [up] there, not so long ago. It’s important we try to get back to it. We know the support and what we can achieve. Everything is in place, but it’s about results on the pitch.

“If you were to get things right, what’s round the corner could be massive here.”