No-one To Fear

...and manager John Sheridan fancies his side’s chances against any team they have to face.

Goals from Reuben Reid, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis and Lewis Alessandra were enough to overwhelm Max Power’s strike and put the Pilgrims 3-1 up in the final moments of their game against Rovers, leading to many inside of Home Park reaching for their phones and radios. 

 

A loss for Luton Town, who were away at Southend United, paired with an Argyle win, would leave the Greens three points ahead of the Hatters with a far greater goal difference with one game remaining.

 

Despite Southend playing with ten men for most of the second half, Michael Timlin put them 1-0 ahead, causing Home Park to erupt in stages as the news spread to everyone in the Theatre of Greens, including Sheridan.

 

“I heard about it just at the end,” John revealed. “My lad Jay rang me with two minutes to go saying Southend were winning, so I said 'Don’t jinx me Jay!'"

 

Despite Kayode Odejayi’s late Tranmere strike, both Argyle and Southend held on to their wins, leaving Sheridan’s team with one foot and plenty more in the play-offs, but the boss is still focused on cementing that spot.  

 

“We look comfortable but you just never know in football,” said John. 

 

“You’ve got to be confident but if it’s still mathematically possible; you’ve got to be looking over shoulder and be wary of it. Nine goals is a big swing so it just gives you that bit of leeway.

 

“I’m not stupid or naïve; I don’t think we’ve been playing well, but we’ve picked results up, other results have gone our way. I thought it would be about 71 points that would get you in the play-offs.

 

“With all the frustration we’ve had all season, we’ve still got a chance of getting out of the division. We’ve done well to get in this position but it is only the start. 

 

“We haven’t done anything yet. There’s a lot of work to be done. We need to get to Wembley, and it will be a great achievement if we get there."

 

To achieve promotion, the Greens will have to see off two teams out of Wycombe Wanderers, Bury, Southend United and Stevenage, and Sheridan is has full belief that his team are capable of besting any opposition that may be put in their way. 

 

“I’m not bothered who we play in the play-offs. I am not bothered,” said John. 

 

“Everyone seems to think ‘Bury this, Bury that’, and Bury are a good team, but Wycombe are a good team and Southend and Stevenage are good teams. I am not bothered who we play. 

 

“You have got to earn the right and, over two games, I fancy us against anyone. If we’re on our game, we’ll beat anyone.

 

“I’m chuffed for the players. I think we deserved something over the whole season. We’ve got a chance to get out the division, and that’s what my aim was. No matter how you do it, to get out of it is a great achievement, and we’ve still got a chance to do that.”