Keep Calm, Pilgrims

...without simultaneously hearing a voice in their head going ‘Calm down, calm down’.

Argyle captain Luke McCormick, who will lead his side out against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, was similarly sang-froid in the wake of the Pilgrims’ 1-0 Sky Bet League Two defeat two days into 2017 that saw them toppled from the top of the table.

It was Argyle’s first defeat in a seven-game run that saw them beat divisional leaders Doncaster 2-0 at Home Park; earn their visit to Merseyside in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup by beating Newport in extra-time; and take seven points from matches at Accrington and at home to Wycombe, on Boxing Day, and Crawley, on New Year’s Eve.

“There will be tired legs,” said Luke. “It’s been quite an intense period over Christmas. We’ll regroup now and go again on Sunday.

“The effort that went into the Newport game was unbelievable – we kept digging and digging and digging and we got the result we wanted. Then we came to Wycombe, which was a battle; we got a point and were disappointed not to get all three.

“I don’t think it’s been a bad period. We had a win against Crawley and would have liked to pick up something today. It’s not always going to go our way, but I certainly don’t think it’s for the lack of trying.

“Alright, we haven’t started quick enough in a couple of the games and we will just have to put that right – keep doing the things we do on the training ground; doing the things that have brought us success up to this point – and we’ll be fine.”