All Points Bulletin

JOHN Sheridan is hoping his Argyle side go into their Boxing Day clash full of confidence as the Pilgrims travel away to Newport County.

Argyle ran out 3-0 winners at home to Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday, but John is expecting a tougher game in South Wales.

The Argyle manager said: “They have a certain way of playing; it’s very effective at this moment in time. They’re getting good results, and at home they’re always difficult to play against.

“They play to their strengths, and they have got one or two decent players. They’ll be in our face and we’ve got to be ready for what’s going to be a battle. At the same time, I want us to try and get down and do the things that we’ve been doing well of late.”

Like the Greens, Newport have found a great deal of success on their own patch this season.  County have suffered just one league defeat at Rodney Parade, and that came back in the opening game of the season.

Despite the Exiles making their home ground an intimidating place to visit, Sheridan believes that his in-form Pilgrims have what it takes to return with the most welcome present of all – three points.

“I think every away game is tough,” said Sheridan. “Mansfield was tough; I didn’t expect that to be our toughest game.

“I just feel as though that we can win anywhere we go and beat anyone we’re playing, and that’s the belief I’ll take into this game.

“We’ve done really well so far, so we just got to carry it on.

“We’ll go there, and we know what’s at stake. We’re going to try and get three points, but I’m expecting another difficult game. They’re going really well at the moment; obviously getting beat at Luton, but apart from that they’re having a really good run and they’re a hard team to play against."

Two days after the game at Rodney Parade, Argyle welcome Oxford United to Home Park, as the Pilgrims attempt to continue their best home run in a decade - but the manager is not thinking of that just yet.

“I’m sure if we can (get a result at Newport) then we can get a really good crowd here, and we’ll have a really good atmosphere, for another tough game against Oxford.

"But Newport’s the first game and we got to be ready for that one."