It Could Have Been More

ARGYLE manager John Sheridan would not have been surprised if his Argyle team had doubled their 2-0 winning margin over Johnstone’s Paint Trophy finalists on a successful Tuesday night in Essex.

Second-half goals from Paul Wotton and Reuben Reid gave the Pilgrims back-to-back wins for the first time since October on a night when several of Argyle’s relegation rivals also won.

“To come here and keep a clean sheet and win 2-0 was a great effort from the players,” said John.

“Our second-half performance was excellent. We defended when we had to as a team but, on the counter-attack, we looked really lively.

“You can see we are working very hard as a team. There was a spell when I thought we were going to get three or four [goals].

“We looked nice and bright and we saw the game out really well.”

Reuben’s goal was his first for the club since re-joining the Pilgrims on loan from Yeovil ten games previously, and John said: “I am pleased for him.

“He did really well again tonight. He worked his socks off. Hopefully, that will give him a bit of a boost now, and a bit of confidence.

“He has worked hard. I brought him in to score goals and that’s what strikers are judged on. Hopefully, this goal he has scored now will set him off on a little run. He did well.”

The Pilgrims could have taken the lead in the first half after Jason Banton twisted and turned his marker before shooting past Southend goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

However, team-mate Paris Cowan-Hall unnecessarily touched the ball before it crossed the line.

John defended Paris, who redeemed himself later by setting up the Pilgrims’ second goal.

He said: “I heard [Paris] in the shower and he made a good point – he thought Jason was going to hit it first time with his left foot and his momentum was still going.

“It was a great bit of football by Jason. It would have been a great goal for us.”