A Winter's Tayl
RYAN Taylor once again proved his importance to Argyle with the winning goal against Walsall – though manager Derek Adams knows goals are just part of what makes the striker so valuable.
In an even and competitive game against the Saddlers, a moment of class from Taylor gave the Greens another massive win at Home Park. On 67 minutes, the 29-year old picked up the ball from Ruben Lameiras, found a yard of space on the edge of the area, and crafted a left-footed strike into the bottom corner. It was Taylor’s just rewards for another strong and classy display that saw him create chances for himself and his teammates.
“It was good play from Lameiras to start with," said Derek. “But when Ryan took over, it’s a great finish from him, and he is capable of doing that. He was unlucky a couple of other times in the second half. We had a number of shots on goal today, which was good, and we were unlucky not to have scored another.
“He gives us the platform to play. When we play the ball up to him, it sticks, and he can take others into the game. That split second he takes the ball in allows the whole team to move up the pitch.
“He’s found it difficult over the last three games, because he’s had to have a lot of minutes, and he’s come through it very well.”
The centre forward’s absence through injury for the majority of the first half of Argyle’s season undoubtedly impacted the team’s ability to get results. Hard work and full commitment from other strikers have helped the team in Taylor’s absence, but Taylor is now once again a key part of the Pilgrims’ system that has reaped results and rewards over recent weeks. Despite a brief injury scare in the first half against Walsall, it looks set to stay that way as Argyle look to start 2018 on the front foot.
“We went out and we got Nadir Ciftci, but it hasn’t worked out. We have Jake Jervis, we have Nathan Blissett, we have Alex Fletcher; they’ve all had their opportunities. At this moment in time, Jake and Ryan Taylor are the two that are in amongst the first team.”