Close Lee

The Birmingham City midfielder, who is coming to the end of a successful month’s loan at Home Park, has played a full part in the Pilgrims’ recent revival, doing everything but score – with even one of his own team-mates thwarting his best efforts.

After hitting the woodwork twice in midweek at Wycombe, the 23-year-old Londoner went close on several occasions to notching a first Home Park goal in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Cambridge United, once having a shot blocked by the head of Lewis Alessandra.

“It’s a bit frustrating, but I’m getting closer and, as long as we’re winning, I’m happy,” said Olly. “That’s all that matters.

“It just doesn’t seem to be going in for me at the minute. You have just got to keep your head on and keep shooting. I’m hitting the target; it’s hitting the bar; the post; my own team-mates; anything, at the minute. Hopefully, I’ll go on a little run like Lewi’s on and get us up the league as well.”

Lewi netted the Pilgrims’ second, three minutes after substitute Ryan Brunt had given Argyle an 81st-minute lead against stubborn opponents, to register his third goal of the week – one in each of John Sheridan’s team’s three victories.

“As soon as the final whistle went, I went straight over to him and told him ‘Save of the game, that is’,” said Olly “He couldn’t get out of the way, to be fair to him, so we’ll have a laugh about it. As long as he’s scoring, it’s alright.

“It was good to see Brunty to come on and score the goal, and Lewi get three in three – he’s on a great little run and credit to him.”

Olly, who was watched against Cambridge by Birmingham’s former Pilgrim assistant-manager Kevin Summerfield, credited the return of holding midfielder Anthony O’Connor to Home Park for him being able to get in position to chance his luck, team-mates, goalkeepers, woodwork and slightly wonky radar notwithstanding.

“I’ve really enjoyed going forward,” he said. “It’s been great, Anto coming in, because he’s done the dirty work. He’s shored everything up in front of the defence and that gives me and Bobby [Reid] the chance to go forward, make things happen and try to score goals. I’ve really enjoyed my time there.

The three wins, in the wake of a disappointing defeat at bottom club Hartlepool, have reignited Argyle’s promotion push and Olly said: “It’s been a great week. 

“What a difference a week makes in football. It’s a crazy game and we’re just really enjoying it enjoying it at the moment. We have bounced back brilliantly and are looking forward to keeping this run going. 

“In this league, it is all about confidence – anyone can beat anyone – so, when you are on top, you have got to make sure you score the goals and we seem to be doing that, and we’re keeping them out at the right end, so it’s a good little combination we’ve got going at the minute.”

Olly credited Cambridge for making life difficult for Argyle, especially in the first half, and said that a half-time team-talk was responsible for the Pilgrims’ second-half surge. 

“I was really impressed how they played,” he said. “So far, since I’ve been here, I’ve played six or seven games and they have been the best footballing team I have seen. They were impressive, but it’s not the football that maters, it’s the end score, and we won. That’s all that matters.

“We came in at half-time and the gaffer said just push up five or ten yards higher. We did that and, to his credit, it paid off massively. They couldn’t get out; we had chance after chance; and it was just a matter of time before we scored.”