Feeling Fresh

DESPITE returning home from Coventry in the early hours of Thursday morning...

...John Sheridan expects his squad to be fresh and fully-fit for Saturday’s early kick off against Portsmouth. 

With the Pilgrims bowing out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Wednesday night against Coventry City, Sheridan’s side will have a chance to quickly get back to winning ways in the Dockyard Derby, which gets underway at 12:05pm on Saturday. 

A Wednesday night game, followed by a midday kick off, leaves an unusually short amount of time for the lads to prepare for their first league game in two weeks, but the manager has faith in the team’s conditioning and desire to be fully prepared for the visit of Pompey.

“I will not make excuses,” said John. “I feel we are ready, and I think we will be prepared properly for the game. 

“Obviously there are one or two little aches. They have come in and had a stretch and worked with John Harbin. They have had their rubs and massages in the gym. I know what my team is already so I am really not too worried.

“When you are footballer you want to be playing in matches. That is the way I look at it. 

“The training takes care of itself, really. So as a player I would prefer to play Saturday-Tuesday, I really would. 

“I know the game has changed and it is different, but that is the mentality you should have: go out and try and win every game.

“We will take it easy, walk through the set plays, but we can keep everyone fresh after a tough game and a long journey.  

“I thought we put in a really good performance last night, worked really hard, and hopefully we will carry that on into the Portsmouth game.

“Obviously we will look after the lads as best we can and prepare the best we can, and get ready for a really tough game.

“I knew the situation, and it does not worry me. I do not see it as an excuse.”