Up, Up and Away

AMIDST Argyle's promotion celebrations after the Pilgrims thrashed Newport 6-1 at Home Park to move up to League One, Graham Carey had one eye on another promotion with the Greens.

Graham has been a key component of Argyle's promotion-winning side this season and scored again as the Pilgrims thumped Newport 6-1, something Graham has made a habit of with his strike just after half-time which was his 15th of the season. Argyle's number 10, suggested that Argyle can go one better than League One, with a promotion push on the cards next year.

"It is special," said Graham. "Wottsy [Paul Wotton] was a big influence in that. He remembers, and so do Luke [McCormick] and Gaz [Sawyer], the days when they were in the Championship and getting the big crowds and we knew if we could get them out of this league then they will come back and as you have seen today the support was tremendous and hopefully we can bring back more fans next season and you never know. 

"The difference between League One and League Two, especially with the teams at the top of League Two, there is not that much of a difference I don't think. You have seen that in the EFL Trophy, a lot of results that have been able to trouble teams in League One and there is no reason why we can't push on next season. Hopefully our goal, and knowing the manager, our goal next season will be getting promotion again.

"My goal at the start of the season was 15 goals and 15 assists so I am on course for that and hopefully I can get a few more. The squad we have, achieving something together was worth more to me than any personal goals and I think getting promotion is all that counts for the club and this city."

There have been several pivotal moments that have contributed to Argyle's success this season, and Graham cites the Liverpool game as a turning point in the teams fortunes. The Pilgrims started the season slow, but as the team gelled the results came with it and it wasn't long until Derek Adams' side were firmly in the top three.

"We knew we had enough quality in the team," said Graham. "It was just a case of gelling quickly and not giving the top teams in this league a head start and we didn't really do that. We have been up in the top three the whole season. I think even in January recruitment has been great to bring in some players to give us an extra spark is something that we all needed. We didn't have the biggest squad at the start of the season and we brought in more players and that meant to keep your place in the team you need to play well and that is testament to the manager and the board.

"We knew it was going to be tough the first couple of weeks and it was. But we knew as soon as we got one win and we started gelling as a team that we had the quality in the squad to go and achieve something great and we have done that. Now that we have the chance to go and win the title that would be extra-special as well. 

"The four weeks off, for me personally, in the middle of the season I started getting tired and a bit jaded because to be honest in Scotland you don't play that many games and with the four weeks off it was quite tough for me personally but the Liverpool game really gave us that belief that we could go on and achieve something and we have done that."