Lack Ness

DEREK Adams has admitted the Pilgrims will travel to play off rivals Scunthorpe on Tuesday without midfielder Jamie Ness.

The Scottish midfielder picked up a hamstring injury following a collision with Aaron Taylor-Sinclair in the dying stages of Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Rotherham at Home Park.

Adams said: “We have got Ness out. We have thirteen players in the squad that have made eight or more league starts this season. So, that tells you where we are squad wise.

“He has got a hamstring injury and it looks like he will be out for the rest of the season. Really disappointing for him but for the squad as well. He has been a big part of what we have done, he has done really well this season.

“We have coped and we will continue to do that. It gives an opportunity for someone else to come into the squad and take that place. That is what we are always looking to do and what has happened. It’s happened all over the season and we have had to prove people wrong and the players have done that really well.”

However, there was euphoria moments after Ness went down, as Argyle scored a stoppage time penalty against the Millers to keep themselves within two points of Scunthorpe who play the Pilgrims on Tuesday night.

“It was a great penalty from Graham,” said Adams.” He was under immense pressure to get the victory and he put it top corner. It was good way to finish the game with a near capacity filled stadium. I knew if Graham hit the target it would go in as he is very capable and he took it extremely well.

“I did tell the players at half time that both teams were winning the other games with Scunthorpe and Charlton. I didn’t know what the score was all afternoon. We knew we had to win the game and the stadium was quiet at times meaning that things weren’t going our way somewhere else.

“Sometimes players won’t listen to me at half-time if I tell them the score. But I think we believed we could score goals against Rotherham and we have put ourselves in a fantastic position. We are seventh in the league and that is the lowest we can finish this season, but we still have the opportunity to finish fifth.

“There are only three teams that can finish in the play-offs: Scunthorpe, Charlton and ourselves. We have done exceptionally well and the players have got to take a lot of credit for that.”