Schumacher's Cheltenham Reaction

Steven Schumacher never expected there to be too many goals in Argyle’s festive trip to Cheltenham Town.

He was right: there was just one. He was also delighted, because that solitary goal was scored by Morgan Whittaker on 78 minutes, and it gave Argyle a precious away victory to keep them top of Sky Bet League One.

Prior to the goal, the Boxing Day bout saw both sides jabbing away but neither landing a serious blow until Whittaker’s swing found its target.

“We expected a really tough game here,” said Schumacher. “We know Cheltenham are a hard-working, honest group. They are organised and don’t concede loads of goals.

“They’ve won 1-0 five times this season so there is never a lot in the game. We had to make sure we matched them, competed with them as much as we could, and play our football when we had the opportunity to.

“We knew it would be a tough test and it proved that. Thankfully we managed to keep our patience to produce one moment of quality that has won us the game.”

Said quality moment came from Whittaker blocking a ball in midfield and driving forward before striking a true, low shot into the net in front of around 1,500 jubilant members of the Green Army. It was his eighth goal of the season, and came after he had had several efforts earlier in the game, of varying danger to the Robins’ goalkeeper.

Argyle’s number 19 kept his confidence and was eventually rewarded for his endeavour.

“Morgan is that type of person and that type of player,” said Schumacher. “He keeps trying. There was a spell for five minutes before his goal where the touches bounced off him a little bit, and I was thinking it was not going to be his day, but I keep him on the pitch because as he has proved time and time again because he gets into those areas and he can score.

“It was a brilliant finish. That gets him to eight. He’s playing with loads of confidence and doing the business for us.”

At the other end, Argyle kept a second clean sheet in successive away games. they were tested, especially from a late chance by the lively Alfie May, but held out to play their part in the win.

“They all defended really well,” Schumacher said. “It looked like Cheltenham’s best way of scoring was from one of their long throws where the balls bounce around. You need to get first contacts on the long ball coming in initially, then get your body on the line to block shots. We managed to do that.

“I got a bit nervous when Alfie May had a shot which got blocked and it looked like it might spin into the goal, but Michael [Cooper] reacted great and caught it.

“It’s a brilliant clean sheet. I’m pleased for everyone.”

Schumacher stuck with the same starting 11 that began the 2-1 win against Morecambe nine days previously, but once again effectively used substitutes to good effect. Just after the hour mark Jordan Houghton, Ryan Hardie and Sam Cosgrove came on, with a slight tweak to Argyle’s formation following.

Selection was no doubt inspired not only by the Morecambe victory in the past, but also the near-future fixtures, with Wycombe Wanderers then MK Dons visiting Home Park in three-day intervals.

“I felt we played well last week against Morecambe,” said Schumacher. “We had a nice balance to the team. The lads who came on last week made a good impact and won us the game, so it was a tough decision to go with the same team, but I just felt that for this game, that was the best starting 11.

“We went with that team today and, thankfully, we got it right and won the game.

“We changed shape a little bit [after the substitutions). We played well early in the second half, but we just didn’t get the break of the ball, so we put the two strikers on, Jordan as a single pivot instead of two in there, and it gave us an extra attacking player on the pitch. We went for it.

“The next game is going to probably be a different starting 11, and the one on New Year’s Day will be the same. We’re going to need everybody in the squad over the next five or six days. It’s tough and demanding.  

“When you are playing well and winning games then you look forward to the next game; you just want to play. Tomorrow we will get the boys in for a recovery session, the lads who need to do a bit extra will do a bit, then we’ll plan for the Wycombe game, and prepare like we always do, then hopefully put in another good performance at Home Park to keep the run going.”