Keeping a Balance

...against the season-long up that sees them sit second in Sky Bet league Two with 11 matches of the 2016-17 campaign to play.

That is the view of Pilgrims’ skipper Luke McCormick, who leads his side out against Mansfield Town at the One Call Stadium on Saturday determined to right the wrongs of midweek and keep on the promotion trail.

“Over the course of the season, we have performed exceptionally well to get ourselves into the position that we’re in,” he said. 

“It’s disappointing when we have results like we had during the week but, during times of reflection, it is important to look at how well we have done this season, look at the position we are sat in. I think that, ultimately, that will help us keep our eye on the prize and the end goal.

“Part of my role, not just as captain but as one of the senior players in the side, is to try to keep the lads upbeat and keep things harmonious. 

“Clearly, we have had a lot of disappointed boys this week but, on the flip side of that, we have got a fantastic opportunity to go and win again on Saturday. The games are coming thick and fast so there’s no time to sit about and dwell on it.”

Like everyone at Home Park on Tuesday, Luke has a theory about why Argyle crashed so heavily against Blackpool.

“I’m sure there are hundreds of factors,” he said. “I felt that maybe we were too eager to do well too early on in the game. 

“As much as we want to, as much as the supporters want us to, we don’t have to tie a game up in the first 15 minutes. That eagerness led us to compromise a bit of our composure. We gave the ball away cheaply and it’s hard to win games of football when you keep giving the opposition the ball.

“It was just one of many things that we didn’t get quite right on the night, but that’s behind us and we move on to the next one. We’re looking forward to getting on the bus and getting going on Saturday now. “

Luke believes the character and togetherness of the squad will stand them in good stead at the season reaches its climax.

He said: “Up to now, we have done fantastically to get ourselves in the position we are in. There’s a very positive outlook with regards to the 11 games that we have remaining.  

“Looking the league table, looking at the performances, and some of the results that we have been able to achieve this season is where we are going to gain a lot of confidence.

“First and foremost, we trust each other and know what we’re capable of, and we believe in the process and what we’re trying to do. 

“It’s worked ever so well up until this point. We won’t change anything; we’ll just keep believing, keep doing what we’re good at, and, in the end, we trust that it will be enough.”