Keep It Clean

ARGYLE’S 1-0 win against Shrewsbury Town was made possible thanks to an excellent defensive display, believes John Sheridan.

After Reuben Reid headed the Pilgrims in front after 33 minutes, the visiting Shrews began to show their class as one of the Sky Bet League 2 favourites, matching Argyle for long periods and putting on heavy pressure in the final stages.

Micky Mellon’s side managed to create some clear-cut opportunities, but were denied every time by Luke McCormick, who drew plenty of praise from his manager.

“Luke blamed himself for the goal last week at Accrington, so I just said that I hope he praises himself for today,” said John. “I thought he was excellent.

“If goalkeepers make a mistake it is well documented, but I thought he made some great saves today, which obviously enabled us to fight on and grind a result out.”

Argyle have now recorded a clean sheet in each of their five wins this season, and with one of the best defensive records in the Football League, Sheridan knows that defensive solidity will play a huge part in any success his side has this season.

Said John: “We have let some soft goals in but, defensively, we are one of the best in the division.

“We are working hard not to concede goals, and when teams are trying to play through us, I think we are organised and have our shape, which is not bad.”

“They (Shrewsbury) are a good footballing side, and I knew they would come and I knew they would come and pass the ball, especially on our pitch.

“I expected us to be a bit more controlled in the second half, and I thought we started sloppy for the first ten or fifteen minutes, but then we really got a foothold in the game.

“We really defend and work hard, and that’s from the front. I said to the front three (Reid, Marvin Morgan and Lewis Alessandra) that they have got to work hard.

“Sometimes you can go under the pressure they put on us, but I thought we defended really well, and we had a ‘keeper who played really well.”