Butcher's Lincoln Reaction

Matt Butcher believes Argyle will go back to basics in order to bounce back from a home defeat against Lincoln City, with a Devon Derby looming on the horizon.

Goals from Olamide Shodipo and Ben House either side of half-time game the visiting Imps a win, and make them only the second team to leave Home Park this season with three points.

Argyle, who are second in Sky Bet League One, a point behind Sheffield Wednesday and having played a game fewer, have six games remaining, the next of which is away at Exeter City next Saturday.

“I think we all know what's at stake,” said Butcher. “I think today that did have an effect on us after we conceded. It’s different if we go on and score the first goal. You've seen in games here where we've done that and we've gone on to improve and grow into the game really well.

“The goals we have conceded in the last few weeks - the timing of them and the manner we've done it in - have then caused us to struggle to get back into the game.

“I thought we started quite well, and then that goal completely changed things. We've got to stop them giving up chances as easily. If we can cancel out those mistakes, that's our biggest chance of going on to win games.

“It’s about going back to basics and trying to stop them, because we feel like we're always going to score goals. I know we didn't today, but if we're in a game for the last 30, 40 minutes or so, if we're drawing, then we've always got a chance and we feel like we're always going to score goals.

“I thought we were in control before [the first goal]. It’s just trying to get back to that rhythm. It's always difficult because they get a lift, they get that little bit more energy, and you need a bit of a reset button to maybe shore up for the next five. I think we go a bit chasey sometimes after a goal or after a chance, to try and make up for it.

“This isn't the time to feel sorry for ourselves or dwell on results. This season, where we have had a bad performance or bad result, we've bounced back brilliantly. There's no time to dwell on this.

“That’ll be the message going forward into training, and then in the games coming up. If we can do that, then we give ourselves a much bigger advantage to go and win games.

“We’ve said what needed to be said in there, and then we’ll come into training and really set a stall out of how we want to finish the season. We need to be bang on it day in, day out. That comes from us. We've done that this season so far. We have to go back to the positives that we have seen from results like this.”