Bristol City (A) | Schumacher's Preview
After Tuesday night’s game at Bristol City, Argyle will have played in front of an accumulative total of nearly 6,000 of the Green Army.
Almost 3,000 supporters made the trip to Preston North End on Saturday, and slightly more will be filling the Ashton Gate away end just three days later.
Pilgrims boss Steven Schumacher says that he and the players are keen to reward traveling supporters with their first away win of the season when they head up the M5 to Bristol on Tuesday, but has taken heart from the quality of road performances thus far in the campaign.
“I can't thank [the fans] enough for the support once again,” he said. “The way that we're playing, the way that the team are playing, the football that we're playing, I think everyone's enjoying coming to watch us.
“The amount of phone calls and text messages of people who went to the game on Saturday, who praised how we played and said we probably should have taken something from the game was mad.
“Ultimately, we know as a team that with this support that we're getting and the way we're playing, we need to start getting more points as well, so we can enjoy the game and enjoy the experience, rather than coming home with nothing to show for our efforts.”
Argyle have not won away from home yet this season, but Bristol City are also yet to win at their own ground thus far. They have two draws and a defeat from their trio of home fixtures, but have picked up seven points from nine on their travels.
Sitting 10th in this early stage in the league table, having finished 14th last term, City are the kind of established Championship side Argyle can aspire to, but Schumacher takes confidence from how his side have played at similar hosts so far.
On City, Schumacher said: “I think they're a really well organised, well coached, established, experienced Championship team. I think over the years they've got better.
“We know it's going to be a tough game. They're always strong, they're always there and thereabouts in the division. We know it will be a hard game. With the quality players that they've got, they haven't had a massive turnaround in their squad.
“We know it's going to be a hard game, but like all the other games, when we go to Birmingham, Watford, Preston, we can go there with confidence, thinking that if we play the way we play, then we can cause them one or two problems. That'll be the message to the lads: keep believing in what we're doing and try to get better in on the small details where we can.
“We don't have to rip anything up, but we're also aware that we need to get better in certain moments of the game. There are instances where we can look after the ball better in our own half, be a bit more secure on it if we can. As we found out, if we give the ball away, then quality teams can hurt you.
“When we get to the top end of the pitch, in the 18-yard box, we need to tighten up a little bit as well, because some of the areas that we're getting into, we're not getting enough from our opportunities. We want to get into these areas, continue to cause teams problems, but also execute the chances that we’re getting.”
