Spice Up Your Life
ARGYLE striker Ryan Taylor admitted there is an “extra spice” to Saturday’s crunch match against Portsmouth at Home Park.
With the Theatre of Greens set be close to a sell-out out, the atmosphere is set to be electric. Taylor, a former Pompey striker, is relishing the opportunity to play against his former club – and is not necessarily expecting a fond reception.
“I can’t wait for it,” said Ryan. “The 1,600 fans might give me a bit of stick as well, but I enjoy that. It is part and parcel of it. It definitely adds that bit of extra spice. I have said that in the past when I have played (former clubs) Rotherham, Oxford and Portsmouth; it adds that little bit. Maybe I get a bit more out of my game and I enjoy the battles.
“Obviously, it’s a massive game on Saturday. If we win we are four points clear of them with a game in hand so it’s a massive game. It is one we want to win and we will do everything we can do that. It’s a very confident squad in there at the minute, so we should be full of beans come Saturday.”
Since the teams last played each other, in December, the Pilgrims have lost just twice in 20 matches, winning fourteen and drawing another four. That form has seen the Pilgrims climb from the foot of the League One table to fifth and Taylor feels like this weekend’s match is between two big clubs.
“It’s a great stat,” said Tayls. “An ever better one because of the start we had. Looking on in the stand, watching the games, I know we had a bit of bad luck with injuries and sendings off but we weren’t doing what we set out to do at the start of the season. So, to come back from that in the manner that we did is a massive achievement for everybody at the football club.
“We had a disappointing result against Charlton and the performance wasn’t really there, but we bounced back really well. It was a massive three points against Peterborough which showed great team spirit to come back in that game, and we have to take that into Saturday now.
“They are two massive clubs for this level. Obviously, we were both in League Two together and everyone said ‘I can’t believe these two big clubs are in League Two’, and now we are both competing at the top end of League One. Not many would have thought that at the start of the season with the start we had. But we are both now looking very good and it is going to be a good game.
“We have got six very important games now; it is in our hands. If we want to stay in the play-offs, we can. It is up to us to turn up every week and we will get to where we want to as a squad.”