Top Three Still The Aim

DESPITE an indifferent run of recent form, John Sheridan’s main ambition for Argyle remain the same: promotion, in the quickest way possible.

The Pilgrims’ Christmas and New Year period saw them gather one point out of nine, losing to Newport County and Oxford United, as well as an away draw to York City, who played the majority of the game with ten men.

However, Sheridan’s side remain seventh in Sky Bet League 2, as the league campaign enters its second half. Even before that end of last season, the Argyle boss made it clear that his sights were set on getting out of the division, and is now looking to move on from some difficult games by – at the very least – maintaining their place in the top seven.

“It has not happened many times since I have been here, we did not get the result we wanted,” said John, referring to the York draw.

“We know what we are going for and what we are aiming for, and it was hard to take because it was a great chance to get three points. I do not want to reflect on it now. It is gone.

“I think we have played well on many occasions this season, and I have praised them a lot, so they know where I was coming from. It is all forgotten now, and we are going into two tough games that will not be easy to win, but I think we can win them both.”

When asked if automatic promotion was still Sheridan’s target, he said: “It always has been for me. I will put pressure on myself and I still believe we can get into the top three.

“I feel as if we do as well as we did in the first half [of the season] and if we get the same points, we will be in the playoffs. We have still got to improve.

“We are well capable of going on a five/six game winning streak. We are well capable of that and it is something that we might have to do.

“I believe we are as good as anyone in the division on our day; any team. I have got many other managers telling me that we are probably the best team they have played this season, but it does not count for anything.

“We finished 10th last year, and this year I expect us to be in the play offs, if not more, and that’s the way I look at it.

“I do not want to finish out of the top three. If we finish out of the top three, I do not want to finish out of the top seven. That is what my aim is.”