Goals Will Come

...and not just because striker Jordan Slew is back from suspension to face Sky Bet League Two leaders Doncaster Rovers at Home Park this Saturday. 

Third-placed Argyle have come under criticism after failing to score in their last three home matches, but Derek said: “It’s not a concern because we are creating chances and we haven’t taken the chances when they have come along. We’ve had good opportunities to score goals; we have dominated the games that we have played in. 

“We are more than capable of scoring goals. We have shown that this season. It’s not too long ago we were the second-highest scorers in the division. We have just got to get back to taking our chances.

“Everybody gets on a bandwagon when you’re winning and they also do when you are losing. That’s the nature of the business. We just have to continue creating the chances and they will go into the back of the net very soon.

“We’ve got great success because we’ve got a good team; great team-spirit; and we’re organised. We’re delighted with the way we are playing. We have done well in recent games without getting the result we needed or wanted.”

Jimmy Spencer and on-loan Bristol City Arnie Garita are two key strikers who have been lost to injury recently, but, again, Derek is relaxed about their lack of availability.

“We are obviously going to miss [Jimmy] but we did well when Jimmy didn’t play, as well,” he said. “It gives other people the opportunity to come in and stake a claim.

“We’re hopeful [Arnie] is not going to be long term. We have had the results [of his scan] back and they are not as serious as we first feared. He’ll be back here sooner, rather than later.

“I would hope that he’ll play before his spell ends.

“We have still got decent choices in that area. Last weekend, we had four strikers out injured or suspended. We have Jordan Slew back this week."

Arnie’s loan from Ashton Gate ends in January, when the transfer-window re-opens, and Derek will be able to juggle his loan options.

“We just have to look at things between now and January, and see how he progresses,” he said. “There are four weeks before the loan deal ends and we will assess things between now and then.”

As for further acquisitions, Derek is also playing the waiting game, but is not planning a squad overhaul.

“It depends on a number of factors in the next month,” he said. “We know the way we want to go. It’ll definitely not be major because we’ve got a good squad, We will just tweak things a little bit.”