Shez: 'That's What I Want'

ARGYLE manager John Sheridan believes Argyle’s second-half performance in their 2-1 Sky Bet League 2 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge shows they are a match for anyone in the division.

After a tight first half which saw Reuben Reid open the scoring late in the first half – and Daggers’ striker Zavon Hines equalise even later – spirits could well have been low in the dressing-room at half-time. However, Shez was quick to make sure his players were focused and ready to come out and play better in the second half.

John said: “I told the lads at half-time we have to do a lot better and raise our game and – full credit to them – they did.

“I thought we were excellent - a really good performance to win a football game.

“If we play like we did in our second-half performance, we’re as good as any team in the division.”

Argyle grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck after half-time, showing real attacking intent, pressing high up the pitch and, in the gaffer’s words, “nullifying” any threat Dagenham attempted to create.

John was extremely impressed with the positive reaction he saw, and believed performances like that would cause problems for any opponents.

He said: “That’s exactly what I want from my players. If they give me that every Saturday, we’ve got a chance to do alright in this division.

“The will to win, desire and work-rate all over the pitch, from 1-11, was brilliant. We worked our socks off and caused them lots of problems.”

Spearheading Argyle’s second-half display was a front two of Lewis Alessandra and Reuben Reid, who looked filled to the brim with confidence when his surging run earned his team a free-kick for Luke Young to put away excellently after 77 minutes.

Sheridan was eager to point out the effect the attacking duo had after the break.

“I thought Reuben and Lewis in the second half were a real handful,” he said, “I’ve said many times ‘Retain the ball in the opposition’s half, and you give yourself an opportunity. If you can keep the ball you’ll frustrate them’, and that’s what we did, especially in the second half.”

With his team now sitting in 14th place, Sheridan insisted that if the players continue to play at this level, they will find themselves in a position that their performances deserve.

John said: “If we keep climbing the table slowly, and no-one takes notice of us, then suddenly you think there might be a chance.”