Earning Corn

...and while in his weekly meeting with the local press the Pilgrims’ boss occasionally let his words stray into ‘when’, not ‘if’ territory, he is not getting too carried away with the club’s situation. 

Argyle travel to Shrewsbury Town on Saturday needing merely a point to guarantee a play-off position. In fact, that tells barely some of the tale, as Argyle could lose comfortably, hear that their sole remaining rivals Luton had beaten Stevenage, and still rest easy. 

The Hatters need to be victorious at home to Boro, while Argyle are losing at Greenhous Meadow, and have an eight goal swing go their way, to be able to claim seventh spot. 

Stevenage themselves are already safely ensconced in the play-offs, with two from Southend, Bury and Wycombe ready to complete the quartet, depending on who wins their own race for promotion. 

Argyle, then, should the job be satisfactorily completed, will come into the play-offs as statistically the weakest performing side of the four. Sheridan, though, rejects that notion, and is fearing no opponent, no matter who his team come up against. 

He said: “If you are in the play-off positions, then you earn the right to be there – it doesn’t matter if you are fourth or seventh.

“After this game, if everything goes our way, we are all on a level playing field. Anyone can beat anyone; it doesn’t worry me who we play in the slightest, because I know we can beat anyone on our day.”

In typical fashion, Sheridan attempted to deflect a question on what getting to the play-offs would mean to him – “Credit to the players, who got us in this position.” – he did allow himself a moment to reflect on what an achievement just reaching the play-offs would amount to. 

“It will mean I have done a decent job,” said John. “I don’t get carried away; I don’t change much. 

“I’m here to get Plymouth out of the league – that’s my main objective.

“I try to look after my players and get the best of them. They have done alright, and we’ve achieved by getting in the play-offs, if we get in them. 

“The next step is getting out of the division.”