It was, at times, a difficult watch for the Green Army as their side beat Stevenage at Home Park on Tuesday evening. It was a staccato game of few chances and a lack of free-flowing football, but the Greens won via a single Mathias Ross header to continue their recent good form and keep their play-off hopes alive.
If the game was occasionally soporific, the three points were certainly terrific. In the little mini-league of teams aiming for the lower play-off positions, Wycombe Wanderers picked up a big win at Cardiff City; Luton Town won at home against Exeter City; Stockport County won 2-1 against Northampton Town; and Reading won by the same scoreline at Burton Albion. However, Huddersfield Town, Saturday’s visitors to Home Park, drew 2-2 with leaders Lincoln City, having been two goals up.
All this means Argyle stay 10th, but the gap to sixth, just above the dotted line, is now two points.
“Having seen some of the results this evening, it's important that we didn't lose any ground,” said Tom Cleverley to Argyle TV after the game. “We've gained three points on Stevenage, a couple on Huddersfield but, more importantly, we've kept our momentum.
“I thought we were a little bit flat, and not as clean and crisp as we can be, first half, and then we improved that [in the] second half. I thought we took the initiative in the game, got a lot more field position because of our better play, which led to a lot of set plays - and ultimately set plays have led to goals for us this season.
“[I’m] really pleased with the second half. It feels like we're getting into a groove here where, even if we don't perform as well as we can do in the first half, going towards the Devonport [in the] second half, there's an air of confidence about us, and I'm really pleased.
“You're never expecting too much rhythm in the game when you come up against Stevenage. They’re not the only team, but the ball-in-play time is very low against Stevenage. [However], I think that might have suited us tonight with the physical demands we've been asking for our players recently. It wasn't the worst evening to have a game that lacked a little bit of rhythm, although it wasn't the greatest watch.
“There's certainly a real togetherness about the group. I think that we've used the injury situation to try to create that. We are down to the bare bones. We are asking a lot from each and every one of those players that are fit, and they're producing the goods. Now we need one more push on Saturday to cap off a period where we've had so many games, we've travelled so many miles, and then we can reset a little bit before Bradford (on 28 March).”
Ross’s goal was his fifth of the season, and he is a little unlucky to not be credited with a goal at Stockport which clipped off Caleb Watts on the way in. Three goals have come in the Danish defender’s last seven games, and his form at the other end, in a defensive manner, have been pretty sharp too.
“He's been outstanding in the last 10, 12 games,” said Cleverley. “He took a little bit of time to adapt to the game in England but when you see Mathias, you see a very intelligent, calm [person]. He's got a presence of someone who is really on the up, and he carries himself really well.
“You know he'd identify what he needs to improve, and he'd go out and improve that - now we're all getting the benefits of that. For the last 10 games, I couldn't be more happy with him. His consistency, his on-the-ball, his off-the-ball duels, and he's scored some huge goals for the club. He looks like he's enjoying himself.”
