Emerging From the Valley

ARGYLE manager Derek Adams believes his Argyle squad have reacted well to the disappointment of last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Charlton and are raring to go against Southend on Good Friday.

At the Valley, last Saturday, The Pilgrims experienced only the second defeat in their last 18 games and welcome a Southend side looking to make a late push towards the play offs after their recent upturn in form following the appointment of Chris Powell.

Adams said: “They have picked themselves up, got themselves out of the relegation zone and are pushing forward. They have got 24 points to play for - the same as us. They have a good home record and won their last home game 2-0 against Rotherham. They will be in good spirits going into the game. 

“They have won one of their last five games, with that one coming on Saturday, having drawn three and lost one. From our point of view, we have done exceptionally well at home and it gives us an opportunity to try and get three points and move forward.They have won ten games at home this season; they’ve won three away but lost ten, so they will be looking to come here and open up.” 

Adams said that his team are in good spirits and are training hard. He also insisted there is no outside pressure on his squad to make the play-offs. 

“We had a difficult afternoon at Charlton,” said Adams. “The players have come in, picked themselves up and are ready to go with the two games coming up over the Easter period.

“The players are in very good spirits. They can all perform, we have seen it in training so many times, we have got a talented group of players. They continue to work hard; they worked hard this morning and some of their play at times was sublime. 

“The only pressure put on us is the pressure from ourselves. There is no outside pressure because we have been able to get ourselves in a very good position. The pressure is with eight games to go is to get into those play off positions and that is a fantastic pressure to have. 

“If you look throughout the season seeing the amount of goalkeepers we have had and the sendings off, we have had a lot to deal with. But the players have got a tremendous togetherness and a will to succeed to be able to fight all these problems. 

“We have got a home game on Friday then we travel to Scunthorpe on the Monday. They are difficult matches we have two teams that have changed their manager in recent times. One team that is just inside the play off positions and one team that is still trying to push into the play offs.”