The Way Ahead

DEREK Adams is confident that Argyle’s impressive away form can be improved upon when the Pilgrims play Yeovil on Tuesday night...

...but has warned against the home team’s fighting qualities when the gloves come off. 

Yeovil remain second from bottom in Sky Bet League 2, but have shown resistance against the drop since the appointment of Plymothian Darren Way as manager. 

Since succeeding Argyle legend Paul Sturrock, Way has presided over 15 Yeovil matches, losing just four. Admittedly, the Glovers have only won four of those, too, but the seven draws that make up the total indicate that the other team in green and white have plenty of spirit. 

Way’s record at home reads even better for Yeovil fans: Won three, drawn four, lost none from seven games at Huish Park, including a battling 1-1 draw at home to Portsmouth this past Saturday. 

Argyle need not be overawed, though. Since losing to Oxford on October 20, the Pilgrims have played eight games on the road, winning five and drawing three. 

Adams, when questioned, was not worried about Way’s undefeated record at his home base. 

“You’ve got to lose at some point,” said Derek. “We’re going there in very good spirits. We’ve played well away from home; we’ve got an excellent away record. We’ll look forward to going there. 

“Yeovil are coming off a very good point against Portsmouth. They will be in high spirits. They had chances – so did Portsmouth – but it was a good point for them against good opposition. 

“We are [proud of the away record]. It’s a very good record to have. We’ve always been able to do well on the road. With 15 games to go, we want to keep that going. 

“They are a team that are fighting for their lives down the bottom. We’re fighting for our lives at the top. That makes it a compelling match. It will be to and fro. 

“There is a difference. When you are playing sides at the top of the table it is a bit edgier, whereas against sides in the middle or at the bottom then they just go for it. That’s the difference between playing the top and the bottom.”

As well as Plymouth-born – and self-confessed Argyle fan – Way, Yeovil’s squad also boasts two more local boys in the shape of former Argyle apprentice Ben Tozer, who has family barely a corner kick from Home Park, and Saltash-born Ryan Dickson, who made seven Argyle appearances before moving to Brentford just shy of his 21st birthday. 

All will surely want to prove their worth against a club close to their heart but, again, Adams is relaxed about the challenge, just wishing to focus on his side’s interests. 

He said: “When you’re going against a team you supported, or played for, you want to do well against them. They will all want to do well against us. 

“We’re looking forward to it. We’re looking to pick up as many points as we can from these games. We’re now into the last 15 games of the season – we’ll soon be into the last 11 games of the season – and it’s important that we continue to good work we’ve had.”