Blissful Thinking

The tall striker came off the substitutes’ bench to head the Pilgrims’ winner in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra their final Home Park game of the 2016-17 Sky Bet League Two campaign.

The significance of the goal was placed in perspective by title-rivals' Doncaster Rovers' home defeat by Argyle's Devon rivals Exeter City, leaving the Pilgrims a point clear at the top of the table ahead of their visit to Grimsby on the season’s final day.

“If you put it that way, it sounds perfect, doesn’t it?” said Nathan, who followed up Ryan Taylor’s 74th-minute leveller of Crewe’s first-half opener by heading home Graham Carey’s left-wing cross with ten minutes to play.

He said: “We had a few one-twos and I just got clear of my man and Graham whipped it in with a lot of pace. I just got my head on the ball; I don’t think I aimed, to be fair. It just went straight down the middle. I was great contact and a great goal, so I’m happy.”

The goal was greeted with the biggest roar heard at Home Park this season as the Green Army relayed the implication of Nathan’s header to the players.

He said: “It was a bit touch and go with about ten minutes to go when we found out we were top of the league. Your attitude changes a little bit to compensate for a lot of things. The atmosphere was great today and I’m just happy we could give them a performance like that.

“As soon as we scored the goal, we went back to our normal one up top and two out wide, just to shore up everything and make sure we didn’t concede, because the championship is on the line now – and it’s all in our hands.”

Anything other than a win at Grimsby – who beat the Pilgrims 3-0 at Home Park earlier in the season – next Saturday will allow either of Argyle’s fellow promoted rivals Doncaster or Portsmouth to take advantage. 

Nathan said: “I’ve played there a few times; it’s a great ground, a good pitch. A great team, as well – they played well against us here earlier in the season, so we can’t take them lightly at all.

“Give us this position at the start of the season and we’re going to take it, aren’t we? Let’s finish the job off.”