Schumacher's Morecambe Reaction

In Argyle’s 3-1 win at Morecambe, there were several firsts.

Danny Mayor scored his first goal of the season. Ben Waine scored his first goal in English league football. Jay Matete scored his first goal as a Pilgrim.

However, it was far from the first time that a clutch of Argyle players have made impacts from the bench this season. All of the aforementioned players were introduced by manager Steven Schumacher as substitutes in the second half, with Argyle 1-0 down, and between them hauled the Greens in front and earned a precious three points.

“Danny and Jay started the final on Sunday and it was one of those days where nobody particularly played well,” said Schumacher. “I felt as though I had to pick a team that was going to be ready for this game. They were obviously disappointed that they weren't going to start today, but that's the game.

“It was a moment of quality from Danny who got us back into the game; I’m delighted for him. From then on, I felt only one team was going to win it.

“I thought Jay, when he came on, was brilliant. He set up Ben Waine's goal and then scored the winner. I’m delighted for him. And I’m delighted for Waineo to get his first goal in English football.

“Credit to the players. The character was great and we made substitutions who again, came on and made a massive impact.

“We speak about character: they're the characters that I've got in the dressing room. No-one sulks, no-one moans about it, no-one calls me whatever. They just get on with it. They know that I've picked that team for that reason, and when they get their opportunity to come off the bench, I'll need them to make an impact, and that's what we do.

“As a staff, we keep saying to the players that we believe in them. Hopefully they believe in themselves and they trust in us, and we can keep getting reactions like that.”

The single-goal deficit that Argyle turned around had come from earlier in the game, and in slightly odd circumstances. The Greens raced out of the traps, having two good chances and several set pieces in the first three minutes of the game. However, perhaps in their haste to get an early start, were caught by a swift Morecambe break, allowing the hosts to lead via Jensen Weir’s goal.

“I felt we started the game really well,” said Schumacher. “Everything that we asked the players to do before the game, we got on the front foot and put Morecambe under pressure immediately.

“We had a couple of chances, a few corners that we looked like we were going to score from and then out of nothing got done on the counter-attack. It was a lovely move from them and we’re 1-0 down, scratching your head, thinking it could really knock our confidence.

“After that I felt we played okay in the first half. It was always going to be the type of game that wasn't going to have loads of free-flowing football. We had loads of chances and opportunities, especially from set-plays but found ourselves a goal down at half-time.

“Probably the only negative in the whole of the first half was that maybe we were a little bit hesitant at times, a couple of second balls where we weren’t sure who was going to go for it.

“At half-time we asked the players to play with confidence and if you make a decision, go for it; go all out to win the ball. I felt if we did that, then we'd land on something and create an opportunity.”

On the longest trip of the season, and battling Bank Holiday traffic, Argyle were backed by over a thousand members of the Green Army, in front of whom the three, crucial goals were scored.

Schumacher thanked the fans not just for their turn-out, but for their backing throughout the game, and turned his attention to Easter Monday’s home game against Lincoln City.

“Even in the first half, they could see we were playing ok,” he said. “They weren’t getting frustrated with what we were doing. They knew we were on the front foot. The support was outstanding, brilliant.

“I’m delighted we could score three goals right in front of them. We wanted 39,000 to have something to cheer on Sunday. That didn't quite happen, but today, the 1,000 that were there, the hardcore, they got what they deserved and now they can enjoy their Easter weekend and get ready for another big game at Home Park.”