Nancekivell previews trip to Stoke
It is a curious coincidence that last season, when Argyle headed to Stoke City in the season’s final away game, and the scrap was on to stay in the Sky Bet Championship, the Pilgrims were, as they say, between managers.
Kevin Nancekivell was part of a team in temporary charge on that occasion, and he is so again as the Greens head to the bet365 Stadium on Saturday to meet the Potters.
He will have to turn the tide of history; Argyle have not won at Stoke since 1913, and that is their only victory at Stoke in the club’s history.
Stoke have been in the midst of the own managerial upheaval, but have appointed former Coventry boss Mark Robins into their hot seat, and he will have his first game in charge when Argyle come to town.
“It's difficult because obviously a new manager comes in, might have his own ideas and want to change players, change systems, etc,” Nancekivell told Argyle TV. “That's the challenge for our analysis lads to get their heads around and then feed back to us.
“Stoke have got some good players. It's a big football club. Any game in the Championship is a real challenge. We'll be facing it head-on this Saturday.”
Argyle also face another trend-busting challenge or two – to end a run of games stretching back two months, and ten games, without a win, as well as getting a victory on the road for the first time this season.
They come into it on the back of a 2-2 draw on Wednesday, against Bristol City, in which Argyle deserved their point, scoring an injury-time equaliser through Julio Pleguezuelo.
The trip to Stoke, on the back of games every three days over the last couple of weeks, is hard on the body for the squad, but Nancekivell dismissed any concerns over that, which is essentially the same for all teams.
“They are professional footballers; they look after their bodies really well,” he said. “It's the same for every football club. It's the Christmas period and they're well into the season, so our fitness levels are good. It's just about making sure that they recover and rest, and prepare properly.
“The [Bristol City] game went reasonably well. We were delighted to get a point. I thought the lads were brilliant; I was really proud of them. They gave everything they’ve got. Straight after the game you're recovering, you're reviewing and you're preparing really.
“I think we’ve got to have a bit more belief in ourselves. We've got to continue the same workrate and attitude that we showed on Wednesday in the game. If we can do that, believe in ourselves, tighten up at the back, make sure we're nice and secure, as well as being a goalscoring threat. All the components that you need to have to win a game of football.
“We're looking forward to it. We're ready for it. The boys are up for it. I'm sure about that and we'll be good to go.”
