All Stand Together

With their backs against the wall and conditions not in their favour, Argyle once again found a way to secure another three points on the road. A draw looked likely in the final minutes as a scrambled Dan Holman goal cancelled out Sonny Bradley’s first-half header, but in stoppage time, Bradley towered above the rest from a free-kick to head Argyle to a tenth away league win of the season. 

“When we’ve got that free-kick, we’ve got good quality,” said Derek.“A great ball into the box from David Fox, and Sonny, as he has done for the majority of the season, does well winning the header. For the second game this season, he’s scored two. 

“It was a very good header. He gets up well at the back area and gets good power on it. He’s a big player for us.”

Bradley’s fourth and fifth goals of the season (all headers, and three against Cheltenham), came in less than favourable circumstances, on a pitch that barely made the grade for playing on. The frosty, hard surface at the LCI Rail Stadium passed a pitch inspection two hours before kick-off – a decision that surprised the boss. 

“I didn’t think the playing surface was right to be played on,” said Adams. “It was very hard under foot and I didn’t think we’d able to play on it. 

“The goalmouths, especially the one on the right-hand side of our dugout, were solid. I was very surprised that the game had gone ahead. I didn’t think it was safe, because the goalkeepers were in and amongst the penalty area and it can cause them trouble. 

“Somehow, we’ve been able to get through it.”

Despite the surface and conceding a late equaliser, the Greens continued their habit of finding ways to take the spoils from tricky affairs on their travels. Adams knows that this is certainly no fluke; more the reward for a squad that work hard for each other and simply refuses to give in.

“Credit to our players: they show great resilience on a weekly basis,” said Derek,“and they’ve come away with a good victory. 

“I’ve said before that this group are very good characters. They’re very tight-knit and it’s good for them to get that victory again. It wasn’t going to be a pretty day; we knew that from the start of the match. But the players have got fantastic character. 

“For us today to come here, on a difficult playing surface, to get the victory: we’re delighted about it, especially with it being so late in the game.”