Positively Charged

...to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positives after the Pilgrims’ opening-day Sky Bet League Two defeat by Luton Town.

The Greens’ colours were lowered at Home Park in Derek’s heaviest defeat in his 14-month tenure, a 3-0 that not many saw coming. Argyle’s EFL Cup tie at Reading on Tuesday gives them an immediate opportunity to bounce back from a scoreline that the manager feels was a harsh reflection of his new-look side’s efforets. 

“Performance-wise, we played very well, especially in the first period,” he said. “Looking back at the game, in the second period, as well, we were in command for the majority of the game: we had better possession; better final-third entries. We just didn’t score – that’s the nature of football.

“You have to look at the performance. We were in control; we passed the ball a lot more times than Luton; we created good openings in the wider areas, although we haven’t particularly done well from crossing positions. Lacking the final ball or getting the break was the main thing on Saturday.

“There are a lot of positives. Yes it was 3-0 but, from my point of view, 3-0 did flatter Luton, as I said after the game.”

Argyle are now on the road for the next week. After the EFL tie at the Madejski Stadium, they travel to Carlisle on Saturday for the first of successive Sky Bet League Two games inside four days. Derek’s predecessor John Sheridan’s Notts County await next Tuesday. 

Derek said: “You want to have a steady start to the season and we have got a very busy period. Going to Reading, a Championship club, will be a test in itself. They played very well on Saturday, so it is going to be a difficult match for us, but we will try to do the best we can.”

“It’s a competition we would like to progress in. We know how difficult that is going to be; it is a huge step up. 

“There is a big gulf between the two teams but, on any given day, you can give it the best shot you can and you never know. We have seen, in the past, teams that are in the lower division do well against the teams that are in the higher division, and we’ll give it a go on Tuesday.”