Loan Danger

ARGYLE manager John Sheridan believes his side’s Sky Bet League 2 promotion ambitions have been hit by the loss of loan players at a crucial point in the season...

...but that his squad should have been gifted enough to cope with the hiatus.

The Pilgrims’ winless run was extended to seven matches by their 3-2 defeat at bottom-side Hartlepool, where first Argyle goals for Ryan Brunt and Olly Lee were trumped by a pair from Pools’ Jonathan Franks and another by Scott Fenwick.

Asked afterwards whether the recent return of wing-back Andy Kellett to Bolton and midfielder Anthony O’Connor to Blackburn had affected Argyle, John said: “Definitely, and injuries have unsettled the squad, but I am not going to make it as an excuse. 

“We have got good enough players and players who should perform and should be getting better results.

“You can look at little things, but I am not one for making excuses – we have got a strong group of players to win games in this division – they should be doing a lot better.

“When you are on a run like this, you have just got to stay positive and believe. We have got a good group of players – we have got to stay together and work hard and get back to winning ways.”

Argyle’s latest loan signing, Chesterfield utility man Drew Talbot, made his debut in the game, and John said: “He’s an excellent player, a really good pro.

“He’s been successful at Chesterfield and done well in this division and he’ll add that experience to what we have got. It is good that he can play a number of positions, as well.”