Argyle Under-18s picked up an important victory and three points in Professional Development League Cup play last Saturday, against AFC Bournemouth, and are hoping to repeat the performance this weekend against Leyton Orient.
Sam Lord’s last-minute strike at Millennium Fields topped off a well-rounded outing from the Greens, and after a positive week of training and a buzz within the squad, many think three points can be achieved.
Head Coach Jamie Lowry is hoping that momentum, and doing the ugly side of football well, can propel his side further up the EFL Youth South Alliance League table on Saturday with a victory over The O’s.
“Last Saturday was a really good performance and I’m very happy with it,” Lowry told Argyle TV. “We were disciplined in our possession against a very good Bournemouth side, and it meant I was pleased when we got that late winner.
“Winning games of football is always important for that confidence and how to build on it, especially when it's against a really good side like Bournemouth. Hopefully, that gives the boys that extra little edge, kick, and confidence going into this game.
“We speak a lot with the boys about being competitive and winning your one-on-one duels. It's in the basics - the ugly side of football, people call it. It's essential that we have that about us, and then we have to have the bravery, in the right moment, to pass the ball and play forward when we can. Being able to match a physical London-based side is also really important to our game.
“The boys had Sunday off to recover. There was a real buzz and edge about the lads on Monday, which made the rest of the week good. A few of the lads have been training with the first-team again, which is a great experience for them, having that exposure.”
Leyton Orient have started the season in a similar fashion to Argyle, picking up wins but also suffering defeats at times. The Greens currently sit two points ahead of The O’s but have played two games more. Lowry’s side have prepared well in his eyes, and sit in good stead before the clash in PL2.
He said: “They’re in the middle of the road at the moment. I’d say it's probably similar to us. We have done our homework on them, and understand their strengths, weaknesses, and how we can influence the game in our way. It’s very important that we build on it and add our style to it.
“It will be a difficult game, but it's something that we're really looking forward to going forward and taking on the challenge.”
