Salford Satisfaction

THE enthralling victory at Salford City on Tuesday night is only now beginning to settle in Pilgrim minds as we look forward to the next challenge in Sky Bet League Two, when promotion-rivals Crewe Alexandra visit Home Park this weekend.

After twice leading through goals from Byron Moore and Antoni Sarcevic, the Greens were twice pegged back in horrible windy conditions at the Peninsula Stadium before substitute Ryan Hardie popped up with a dramatic last-minute winner.

It was a compelling climax to the game and one to enjoy for manager Ryan Lowe, with the gaffer taking particularly pride in the way his players had reacted to the defeat at Colchester in the previous fixture.

“I enjoyed it, went home with the family and another game ticked off,” he said. “What I look back on is the character, desire and commitment of the boys, which we have been trying to instil from the start of the season.

“We can take the positives from it [Salford] because I know what I’ve got in that squad; leaders, characters, people who are committed to the cause.

“It is great [to get a reaction] and we’ve got a group of lads, a group of staff where we ask if we can do it 100% every time. What we can do is try our best and that’s what we do.

“After the Colchester game, we sat the lads down and talked about it, but we didn’t dwell on it too much. We trained, we prepared and we’ve got a group of lads that know the Colchester game wasn’t acceptable, but to get a reaction like they did against Salford is pleasing.

“Early on in the first half, the ball was just coming back [in the wind] and we were trying to tell the lads to keep it on the floor. I would have liked a few more passes but you have to give Salford credit because they set up to try and make us go long.

“Once we got it down and played simple passes, it opened up little avenues. We always say that once you move players around, it will open little areas and the game opens up. We will continue to open teams by moving it from side to side.

“Ultimately, it’s most pleasing to score three goals away from home. The game-plan never changes, just little tweaks here and there. We do things for a reason and we want to get points on the board. The lads will always stick to the plan.”