Getting Over the Line

OSCAR Threlkeld is expecting a tough and physical encounter against Sky Bet League One’s fifth best side, Charlton Athletic, when they visit Home Park on Saturday.

The Londoners beat us 2-1 in the first meeting between the two sides at the Valley in September. Graham Carey nodded us into a ninth-minute lead, before Karlan Grant scored three minutes later and then, agonisingly, two minutes from time to win the game.

However, confidence in the Argyle ranks is high, having secured an unbeaten home record in 2019, and Ozzy hopes that continues.

“I think there will be some physical battles but we are prepared, we have been preparing all week, so we have to carry on doing that and hopefully our abilities take over,” he said.

“We are confident, being unbeaten in eight games at home speaks for itself. The fans have been brilliant home and away, and I think they’re our 12th man. We need them and many clubs don’t get [the support] that we get, so we appreciate that and that shows on the pitch at home.”

With so many teams in the league scrambling for points to ensure survival, Oscar believes he has never been involved in a season like this one. Just three home games remain, and mathematically, Argyle are not yet safe.

“The league is crazy, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” he said. “In a strange way, it’s good to be in it to see if we can cope with the pressure, and we have enough in the squad to overcome that.

“The players are looking forward to it; the next six games will be like cup finals. Every point is vital but at home we would like to get three. It’s a shame we didn’t pick up the six points over the last two weeks but it’s a learning curve. It will be a tough game, but with the fans shouting and screaming, that will get us over the line.”

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