Best Yet to Come

Another win, on top of the already 12-game unbeaten league run, would see the Pilgrims’ match the start to a season by the hitherto peerless side of 1929-30 – Craig, Bowden,  Vidler, Black., Leslie et al – and at least maintain a four-point lead on all of their rivals.

The bad news for the rest of the division is that, according to in-form forward Jordan Slew, Argyle have yet to hit their straps.

The 24-year-old has started the Pilgrims’ last four games and was instrumental in their previous victory, at Newport, winning a penalty and scoring the third in the 3-1 triumph.

“I feel like I’m getting there,” he said. “I’m not 100% yet, but I don’t think any of us are really and that’s probably the best thing about us – we’re still getting better every game. 

“You can see that, towards the last 20 minutes of games, we’re getting stronger. We look fit and we look like a good prospect for promotion this year.

“When we concede a goal, you can see that it’s in the players’ minds that we feel we are going to score again and it’s a great confidence to have.

“I’m happy how I’m doing now and how the team’s doing, and, hopefully, we keep this run going.”

The line between confidence and arrogance is a slim one but the Pilgrims’ self-belief comes from a work-ethic ingrained by manager Derek Adams, as well as a focus on their own talents, rather than those that their opponents bring to Home Park.

“The most important thing is that we keep working hard in training because that’s where it matters,” said Jordan, “and then we take it out on a Saturday afternoon or a Tuesday. We need to keep the run going and get as many points as we can.”

“It is much more difficult than it looks. We are confident going into games, but it’s hard because, for teams that come here, it’s a cup final for them.

“It’s more about us; we always know it’s about us. I feel we have one of the best teams in the league, so it’s about how we play. I think teams will come here and they will fear us more than we fear them. We know that, on our day, we will beat anyone in our league.

“We work harder than anyone else on the pitch and we know our quality will shine through; we know that, if we don’t work hard, we will lose. If we keep doing what we’re doing, we know we will win games.

“We are probably one of the fittest teams in the league. We had a tough pre-season but it’s benefiting us now in the games. We’re a strong team, very fit, and I don’t think most teams can handle that. We know that, in the last 10-20 minutes, we are going to be strong. We can get a goal at any time. We are a very dangerous team right now and I think a lot of teams will fear us.

“We’re always working hard; there’s never a slack day; there is never an easy day in training and I think it’s starting to show on a Saturday. We’re 12 unbeaten now and we just want going to keep that run going.

“Everybody knows what we want to do this season; no-one’s really got time to be slacking off.”