Adams Anticipates Atmosphere

AFTER three games on the road, Argyle return to Home Park this weekend to face Bristol Rovers in a Westcountry Derby.

Rovers are expected to bring around 1600 travelling fans with them down the M5 this weekend, and with Argyle's excellent start to the season, hopes are high for a large attendance and a noisy atmosphere. 

"The atmosphere is one of the things that helps the players on the pitch,” said Argyle boss Derek Adams, “and they've really taken to that. You see that with the performances in the games.

"[Rovers have] an excellent away support - we've done likewise away from home. Our home crowds have been very good; we've not had many home games but, when we've had them, the atmosphere's been excellent.

It will be three weeks since the last match at Home Park; the 1-0 win against Newport was followed by a run of games away from home, with Argyle winning two and losing one. The manager and his team are looking forward to playing on home soil this weekend.

"We're happy to be at home because of all the travelling we've had to do," said Adams. "It's important that you do well at home. We've obviously shown that we can win away from home this season and home form is always important throughout a season too.

The Pirates were promoted to Sky Bet League 2 at the first time of asking, last season, and have had a mixed set of results this term. After winning three of their first four outings, they have lost the last three consecutively. 

“They've obviously just come up this year and performed very well for the start of the season," said Adams. "I watched them 2 weeks ago against Oxford and they played very well. They played in a 3-5-2 formation for a majority of the game then last weekend they went to a diamond formation so they've got the possibility within their squad to change." 

With the possibility of a buoyed, bumper crowd, Adams spoke of the contribution the Green Army can make in helping the team win games. 

After a visit to St Blazey in midweek, the manager has now attended all of the club’s supporters groups, and his latest appearance in Cornwall showed the fans that the person in charge of their club is willing to answer any questions they have to the best of his ability. 

Adams hopes that by giving some of his time, the fans will be fully behind their team for the fixtures to come. 

"You're the face of the football club and it's important to go and support the supporters’ functions,” said Derek. “They come every Saturday, home and away, to support the football team so I think it's important to give a little time back.

"I think that they see the effort that myself, the players and the staff are putting in." 

The pressure managers feel is on-going as Derek's final words were about keeping his team’s impetus going. "You're under pressure 24-7. That's the nature of the business, we want to win football matches and we've shown that we can do that. We want to keep that momentum going."