Repeat The Feat

ARGYLE manager John Sheridan is hoping to emulate last season’s successful run of results over the festive period.

Last campaign saw the Pilgrims go undefeated over the Christmas and New Year period, giving a welcome boost to the team’s league position. 

With the festive period being widely known as a time for reflection on how the season’s targets are going, John believes that this is a point where his side can start making ground on the teams around them. 

He said: “You start to see the points difference, and you start to get away from one or two teams if everything goes well, which we did last year.

“It enabled us to get into the sixth, seventh place; we have to concentrate, take care of ourselves and win games - and we’ll be where we want to be.”

With this busy run of fixtures coming up this time of year, John believes that his players need to be careful on how they go about things during games, and he also needs to focus on his available players, rather than those who are unavailable.

Argyle’s physio room has been a busy place of late, but with players on the verge of coming back to fitness, options are getting healthier for the gaffer.

“I want everyone fit coming up for the games, as they are quick and fast,” said John. “If you do get little knocks, the time to recover is very short so it’s important.

“I’ve got to concentrate on who is fit, and whatever team I pick I have got to concentrate on them; if a player’s injured, they’re no use to me.

“Yes, it’s busy, but all I’m concentrating on is the next game.

“It keeps us in the mix in the right end of the table, and that’s all I’m concentrating on. If you can win the next game, you’re going into Christmas of confidence. It’s an important time of the year for football, regarding player-wise.

“I’m concentrating on the game on Saturday, I don’t look too far ahead, you just got to make sure you’re ready for the next game and secure the three points”.

With Argyle kicking off the festive series of fixtures this Saturday against Dagenham & Redbridge, John Sheridan is expecting another tough game.

Dagenham currently sit at the wrong end of the table, but watching some of Dagenham’s games this season, the Argyle boss is expecting a fast tempo, free-flowing game.

“They got a lot of pace in the team, good on the counter attack,” he said.

“(Jamie) Cureton has been round for years and he scores goals, still does. He’s a live wire and full credit to him for the age he is.

“They’re a good team; anyone can beat anyone on the day, and I’ve got to respect that. I don’t look at where they are in the League table, I know what they’re capable of on the day, and we got to be ready for that.”