Hard Edge

RYAN Lowe took some solace from statistics that showed how well his team had played in their 2-0 Sky Bet League Two defeat by Cheltenham Town but insisted – not for the first time this season – that the Pilgrims need to show a hard edge.

Despite enjoying most of the possession and having 22 shots during the game, Argyle were undone by Luke Varney’s first-half header and an unfortunate late own goal from centre-back Will Aimson.

“We’ve lost to a decent enough team in Cheltenham,” said Ryan, “but I felt we were better in all departments.

“But they were better at finding that yard in the six-yard box for the first goal and finding that yard in our 18-yard box for the second goal.

“The mentality of the lads, and the desire and the work-rate and everything they give us has been different class, but there is that final little bit of ruthless edge that I need to get out of them.

“As a former striker, I’m working that keeper; I’m making sure he’s picking that ball up out of the net. At this moment in time, I feel that there’s a few of our lads who haven’t got that desire and that ruthless edge.

“I’m not saying we won’t have it; we certainly will. I’ll make sure we get it.”

The loss, Argyle’s first league defeat at home of the season, has left the Pilgrims in the lower half of the division after 10 games and sees the manager seeking improvement in both penalty areas.

He said: “It’s our problem; we’ll deal with it; we’ll make sure we put it right – we’ve got to score goals and we’ve got to keep the ball out of the back of the net.

“Everything else around it – the build-up play, the football – is fantastic, but I don’t want to become a possession-based team that looks nice and looks the part every week but just can’t put the ball in the net and can’t keep the ball out of the back of our net.

“We feel we’re creating chances but we say ‘if you can’t score, keep the back door shut’ and we’re not doing either at the moment.

“Once it clicks, we will start scoring goals, but that needs to be now.”