Second Sight
JAMIE Ness says that Argyle’s comeback against Bristol Rovers started in the dressing room at half-time.
“We said at half time if we get the next goal we will win this game,” said Jamie – and it proved to be. Trailing at half-time – Jamie’s headed goal was more than cancelled out by goals from Chris Lines and Ellis Harrison – Argyle reacted strongly, and via Jamie’s heavily deflected second goal and a Graham Carey penalty, the Pilgrims rallied to claim all three points.
Ness knew the Pilgrims had not been at their best but their determination and confidence saw them through.
He said: “Everyone knew we hadn’t been at our best, we felt we have done too much hard work to get to this point and too throw it away like we did in the first half. I felt the second half we came out and managed to get on the front foot.
“We got the penalty and unfortunately missed that, but we kept going and the fans were brilliant for us again; they kind of sucked us in at that end. Once we got the second goal we felt only one team was going to win it.
“They set up well and they had a game plan that worked for them in the first half. We did things a little differently in the second half and went more direct to Ryan Taylor, who was excellent for us again. We were able to play off the seconds then and they couldn’t live with us in the second half with the tempo we played at.”
The win saw the Pilgrims climb back into the top six. Argyle also moved seven points clear of their South West rivals as a result of today’s match.
“It’s always nice to play in a derby game so we treated it that way, especially when you win them,” said Jamie. “We knew Bristol were only four points behind us as well, so we were looking more from that point of view that we wanted to put a bit of distance between ourselves and them. It was good to do that and put ourselves back into the top six.”
With Ness having already scored twice there was some debate as to whether he would take the penalty. However, there was no doubt in Jamie’s mind that there was only one man to take it.
“I should have maybe grabbed it for my hat-trick!” Joked Ness. “If we were a couple more goals up I might have. It was a massive penalty and he showed that composure to do it again. He has been a massive player for us this season. G is full of confidence in the way he plays, he tries things that others may not try. If they don’t come off he doesn’t let his head get down. So there is no one else you want to take that penalty with five minutes to go.”
From one play-off contending team to another; Argyle travel to Charlton Athletic next weekend, looking to add another astonishing chapter to this crazy story.
“The games can’t come quick enough at the moment,” said Jamie. “We have the Charlton game next week and it is another massive game for us, but they are all massive at this stage of the season. We have got confidence that if we keep doing what we are doing and working hard we will manage to get somewhere.
These are the games you want to be involved in at the end of the season. We don’t want to be playing with nothing to play for or scrapping at the bottom end of the table. I think how far we have come from everyone at the football club deserves huge credit. If we can continue it will be a hell of a story by the end of the season.”