Cosgrove's Swindon Preview

Sam Cosgrove, judging by his Argyle career so far, knows a thing or two about making an impact.

The on-loan forward’s first appearance in an Argyle shirt was as a substitute at Derby County, a game in which The Pilgrims found themselves 2-0 down, but managed to win 3-2, thanks in large part to Sam’s double strike late in the game.

His goals from the bench are part of a sequence of late where Argyle subs have had maximum impact. In the last four Sky Bet League One games, at least one Argyle goal has been from a substitute. As well as Cosgrove at Derby, Ryan Hardie came from the bench to score the second in a 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers; Morgan Whittaker scored the winner as The Pilgrims beat Oxford United last Tuesday having been a substitute; and Niall Ennis came on to score in a 2-2 at Portsmouth on Saturday.

It might be easy for players who find themselves not starting every game to get down about this, but given the importance of subs, and the good run of form Argyle are on, Sam says spirits are high, and everyone is committed to producing the best for the club.

“I spoke to Ryan Hardie,” said Cosgrove, “and he said that last year there was a lot of rotation and that the manager likes to make changes.

“Of course you want to be starting games and playing as much football as possible, but at the moment we are making a big impact from the bench and if that is my job for the time being – or Niall, or Morgs – then we are happy with that.

“It’s not a negative. It’s the way the manager works, there’s no secret about it. He’s always talking with you, saying that you’ll get your opportunity, it’s actually quite refreshing because it is people going out there to do as well as they can for the sake of the football club.”

Argyle are next in action on Tuesday night at 7pm, as The Greens travel to Swindon Town in the Papa Johns Trophy. Argyle go into the game with two points after a 1-1 draw against Bristol Rovers, which was followed by a penalty shoot-out victory to earn an extra point.

This is likely to be a forum in which several players who have not necessarily been playing on a regular basis can get a run-out, and can stake a claim to be in the team from the start on a more regular basis.

Cosgrove may be one of those players, and he is looking forward to the experience in a competition he is already familiar with.

“I played in it a couple of times last season,” said Sam. “It’s a chance for people to go out and take their opportunity, and for boys that aren’t playing to get some minutes – and to potentially get to Wembley at the end of it. We want to go as far as we can, so it won’t be something that we take lightly.

“It is important for us to go in and impose ourselves on the game. If we turn up and play how we want to, I’m sure we will get a positive result.”