And When We Come Back...

BARELY had the Pompey chimes drifted away on the warm Southsea breeze after Argyle’s 3-3 season-concluding Sky Bet League 2 draw at Portsmouth...

...before Pilgrims’ manager John Sheridan was looking ahead to August – and, beyond that, promotion.

Three times Argyle fell behind to a Danny Hollands goal in front of a sensational 18,000-plus crowd; three times they levelled each leg of the on-loan Charlton player’s first senior hat-trick, first through Reuben Reid and then twice through captain Conor Hourihane.

The skipper’s second equaliser, a minute from time, sent the Green Army into raptures and ensured the Pilgrims ended the season in tenth place.

“I was pleased that we came back three times from conceding goals,” said John. “We were behind three times, so it was a bit of character and we put a lot of effort in.

“I don’t think we played well but Portsmouth are a decent team and I am pleased for the supporters that we got something out of the game.

“The lads battled. They put a lot of heart into the game and showed a will to win and get something out of the game. To score three goals away from home and get something out of the game is good for us.

“We scored three really good goals although I wasn’t very happy with the ones we conceded. I think they were comical. Again. Poor, poor defending.

“We have got to improve next season. I have got to make decisions and bring people in who are going to make us better. And I’ll do that.

“We ended up tenth, so we have got to finish higher and, if we do that, we’ll have a very good chance of going up. I’m going to work very, very hard to do that.  I need to improve and I need people on the pitch who are going to be vocal.

“The team is very, very quiet. It has been a problem for us. I need people who are vocal and not frightened to say something on the pitch.”