Tareiq a Bow, Son

VICTORY over a team that had lost only three times previously this season; a clean sheet; an eye-catching individual performance.

There have probably been worse Argyle debuts than that enjoyed by Tareiq Holmes-Dennis at Wycombe Wanderers.

The teenage defender played a full part at Adams Park as the Pilgrims won 2-0 with first-half goals from Lewi Alessandra and Peter Hartley on the day he officially began his loan from Charlton Athletic.

However, Tareiq, who spent the first half of this season on loan to Argyle’s Sky Bet League 2 rivals Oxford United, has been in Plymouth for the best part of the week and his familiarity with his new team-mates was evident.

He said: “It was good to come in last week and get a few sessions in with the boys, get to know everyone, how they work; it made it easier coming into the game today.

“Obviously things happen quickly. I left Oxford on the Friday; last Tuesday, I got the call about Argyle; Wednesday I was up here; and training Thursday. It all happened quickly.”

The 19-year-old’s time on the training-ground also helped him get familiar with the system in which he was deployed at left wing-back.

“I’ve played there,” he said. “I’m used to playing in a four at the back, as a left-back, more, but I have operated at wing-back with Oxford. I find it alright there. I like to get forward and defend, a bit of both.”

He certainly did not look out of place as the Pilgrims regained momentum for their play-off push against promotion rivals who have been in the division’s top three for most of the season.

“It was a good game,” he said. “I just wanted to come in and get the three points, a clean sheet – I couldn’t really have asked for a much better debut.

“After the first 15 minutes, I was blowing. Then my second wind came in and I got through it. I haven’t played a match in three weeks and it felt good to get back out there.

“We could have got more goals. We created opportunities. We were solid at the back, which allowed us to go forward well and, obviously, the strikers are a threat.

“It’s a good result and shows what the team can do. We should be up there. Hopefully we are going to kick on now and keep on getting results.

“You can’t really look too far ahead; it’s just about taking each week as it comes.”