Right Place, Right Time

LUKE Jephcott continued his dream start to the New Year with a second successive brace in the 3-0 win at Carlisle United in Sky Bet League Two.

The young striker returned from a loan spell to score twice at Scunthorpe last week and repeated the trick against Carlisle on Saturday, with new recruit Ryan Hardie adding the third goal to a satisfying day.

For manager Ryan Lowe, it is about being in the right place at the right time to finish the chances created from an expansive Pilgrim performance.

“I am delighted for him [Jephcott] but he’s still got a long way to go,” said Ryan. “He won’t get carried away and I was tempted to take him off, but he was on a hat-trick.

“He’s doing everything we ask him to do, he’s in the right place at the right time, he’s getting hold of the ball, linking up play when he has to and working hard as well.

“When you put all that together, you will get goals. I want people who are going to score goals and Luke’s doing that at the moment, Ryan’s come on for his debut and scored. Joel Grant and Dom Telford have scored, all the lads have contributed. It’s a team effort and a team game.”

After making his name as a predatory striker in his playing days, the gaffer is particularly pleased to see Jephcott sniffing out goals in the six-yard box.

It was an art form made famous by the likes of Ian Rush, Gary Lineker, Ian Wright and many others in a previous era, but perhaps not so prominent at the top level in the modern game.

“I always say to the lads it’s about making runs and top players don’t often score those type of goals,” said Ryan. “Ian Rush scored most of his goals from inside the six-yard box and they say they’re the best ones.

“Ian Wright used to say the goals from inside the six-yard box are the best ones to finish and I followed suit. As a forward, you say ‘thank-you, I’ll have that’.

“It’s about being in the right place at the right time. A lot of footballers want to come out and try a fancy flick, but just be in the right place for your mate. They’re the easiest ones and the best ones.”