Strong Words

REUBEN Reid believes he and his team-mates will all soon feel the benefit if Argyle play to their strengths.

Reuben, 26, scored his fourth goal of the season in the Pilgrims’ 2-1 Sky Bet League 2 defeat at Bury, where he started out as the lone forward against three uncompromising home centre-backs. 

As for most of the season, Reuben has competed manfully, while also having to balance differing views of the referee and exhortations from his own dug-out.

“I don’t think I’m getting a lot of protection this far, with decisions I am receiving going against me,” he said. “I’m up against big guys and I’m getting blown up for free-kicks, which is a bit frustrating at the moment, but hopefully things will work out for us soon.

“There’s some big boys back there and it seems like every time the ball comes into me and they get nudged it’s a free-kick, but they can come through the back of me and win the ball and I get ‘Hey Rubes, you’re not competing’ the minute I stop fouling them.

“So it’s a bit frustrating, but I think we have got to concentrate on getting the ball down on the deck more, and passing to our ability and raising our tempo. Then we will be alright.”

The defeat left Argyle with just one win from their opening four league matches, the 3-0 demolition derby against Exeter, who, thinks Reuben, are atypical of the type of team in the division.

He said: “People keep reverting back to Exeter, but Exeter was a bit false for me. They had an inexperienced side out, a young team, and it was a passing game: I don’t think that’s going to be a true reflection of the league.”