Enjoy Yourself
ARGYLE manager Derek Adams says his squad are enjoying themselves at the moment after the Pilgrims came from behind to beat Peterborough United 2-1 in a crunch match at Home Park.
The Pilgrims fell behind in the 10th minute when a long ball deceived Argyle’s defence and landed at the feet of the Sky Bet League One top goalscorer Jack Marriott, who lobbed Kyle Letheren. Argyle hit back through Ryan Taylor in the first half and an injury-time penalty from Graham Carey. The win – an 11th in 12 home fixtures – put Argyle into fifth place, their highest league position of the campaign.
Adams said: “It was a good afternoon for us. To win again at home and score two goals, to beat a team above us in the league and to move ourselves into fifth position. The players are enjoying it. They are enjoying the position that they are in and they are enjoying fighting for a play-off position. It is going to be enjoyable from now until the end of the season.
“To think we are in fifth with six games to go. I always said judge us with six games to go, so that’s what we have done and we have been able to put ourselves in a fabulous position. The league period is over 46 games; it is never over two games, six games or ten games.
“We were quite happy we didn’t play last week and the other teams did play. It put us in a better position mentally going forward and it took a lot of pressure off us.”
Adams admitted he had to tactically change the midfield at half time due to the defensive nature of Peterborough’s tactics. Moses Makasi and Jamie Ness were asked to play a little deeper after the break, to affect the game a little more. The tactic worked, as Argyle came roaring out after the interval. Adams said he always felt that the Pilgrims would win the game in the second half.
“We had to change it a wee bit,” said Derek.“The two centre midfield players we decided to take off the game it a bit as they were too far forward which was blocking the gap into Carey and Lamieras. Their two centre midfield players were doing a very good job. Peterborough sat very deep and it allowed us to get on the ball and move it quicker and we did that.
“Peterborough defended well. We probably put too many crosses into the box which suited them as they defend well with Taylor in the air. We didn’t pass it quickly enough in and around the area to open them up. But you have to give credit to Peterborough, they came here to get a point by sitting in and frustrate. That’s what they tried to do for the 90 minutes.
“We have got players that can open up defences and players that can take the ball anywhere. So we knew we would create chances - we had a right back in the penalty area in the dying stages of the game.”
Said right-back, Oscar Threlkeld, was fouled by Jack Baldwin in the last minute to give Argyle penalty they needed to win the game. Peterborough had Liam Shephard sent off for an incident involved Carey, and Steven Taylor received a second caution after trying to put Carey off of his kick. Adams felt that the officials made the right calls when necessary.
“To get through the game the way they have done, to make major decisions correct,” he said, “I’m sure the assessor will be sitting there tonight giving them good marks.
“If the referee doesn’t see it, he was looking where the ball was and it was an off the ball incident. The stand side linesman has made the correct call as he’s seen it and dealt with it.”