Getting the Feel

ARGYLE’S reputation preceded manager John Sheridan’s Friday ’phone call to Championship side Birmingham City to enquire about taking Blues’ midfielder Olly Lee on loan.

Olly, 23, dashed down to Plymouth on Friday evening to make his Pilgrims’ debut in their Sky Bet League 2 clash with Luton Town in front of a packed Home Park

He said: “You can clearly see that it’s not your typical League 2 club and that’s why, as soon as I got the call, I was desperate to come down here. I know it’s a big, big side. You see 8-9,000 here – Birmingham get only 14,000. So it was great to be out there. It’s a really good club and I got a feel for it straight away.”

The 1-0 defeat to Andy Drury’s 22nd-minute strike saw Argyle drop out of the play-off spots for the first time since early October, but their promotion potential is a plus point for manager John Sheridan’s latest recruit, who has played in League 2 before while on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge.

“It’s a massive highlight,” he said, “because you’d rather be at the top of the table than languishing lower in the league. It’s definitely something I’m really excited about.

“Obviously, the standard is higher in the Championship, but, individually, there are a lot of good players in League 2 and a lot of players who can play at that standard – it’s just a case of getting the opportunity.

“I played League 2 two seasons ago and, when I was speaking to the manager, he said it’s changed a lot and, to be fair, it has: all teams want to keep it on the deck a bit more. That suits me a lot better.”