Lowry hoping to extend unbeaten run at Forest Green

Argyle Under-18s return to EFL Youth Alliance League action on Saturday with a trip up the M5 to face Forest Green Rovers away from home. 

After a small break over Christmas and the New Year, Wednesday night saw a nail-biting penalty shoot-out win in the FA Youth Cup fourth round against Lincoln City. Now, three days later, the Greens are looking to extend their unbeaten league run to 10 games. 

Head Coach Jamie Lowry believes if his side uses the confidence and adrenaline from the win at Home Park on Wednesday, and recover well before kick-off, a positive result can be achieved on Saturday morning. 

“The boys have been in the pool today to rest after Wednesday night,” Lowry said, on Thursday. “We’ve done no physical stuff, just all recovery and mobility to get the legs rested. Friday will be like a normal day with match preparation for Saturday. It's all about saving the legs and recovering as much as possible ahead of the weekend.  

“I think the confidence and energy from the win will take over the potential fatigue. I think if we'd have lost, they'd have gone up there a bit leggy, feeling a bit sorry for themselves, but I think because of the high and the buzz of it, that will get them going again. They're so driven to do well in the league as well.   

“We spoke about it in the build-up, just to refresh the memory on the goals they set themselves this season. They’re driven to go and do well. Nine unbeaten so far, so they want to go and make that ten, and keep that run going in the league. It’s really important to them.  

“They've got to be in a mindset that they're going to work hard, like we ask of them every game. Take the confidence into the game, be brave and want to get the ball; the message is clear and simple. We need to do what's got us success and do what's right to win games of football.” 

Forest Green sit ninth in the Southern section of the Youth Alliance League, seven spots below second-placed Argyle. The Gloucestershire side have won two of their last three games, and Lowry is making sure his side are in the correct frame of mind to succeed on the road. 

He said: “They're a side that likes to play the right way. They've got a good way of playing that they always try and play but the big thing for us will be our mindset and mentality after the highs of Wednesday night.   

“We’re going to have to go there and make sure we're on it again and get back to league form. We spoke about it on Thursday morning after the game. It's something that we've got to be in the right frame of mind for, that’s the biggest thing before kick-off.”