Dewsnip and Hardie Preview Watford (H)
Argyle’s home game against Watford on New Year’s Day ends a run of four games in 10 days for the Pilgrims, with draws against Birmingham City and Cardiff City having been followed by a defeat at Southampton.
At St Mary’s, Argyle thought they had gone in front through Bali Mumba’s headed effort, but it was harshly ruled out for offside. Not only that, Southampton took the lead within a minute. Saints added another, before Ryan Hardie got one back, and although Argyle could not find an equaliser, they were roared on by almost 3,000 fans, for the second time in the week.
Hardie, who was back having missed the other Christmas games because of a concussion, is keen to get back to base to try to put a win on the board.
“That’s the good thing about the festive period,” he said. “We've got three days till we can put this game right, so I think we've got to start looking forward now towards the Watford game, start preparations and get ready to get after them.
“The feeling in the dressing room was ultimately disappointment [after Southampton]. We should have come out with something. If we went 1-0 up, the game's going to completely change. We'd be hanging on to a lead and the game would have been a lot different.
“We've got to look forward to the game on Monday now and hopefully go into that game with full confidence and try and get three points.
“The away games have been in front of [lots of traveling] fans and it's unbelievable. To get to Home Park with a full stadium, it's going to be a massive boost for us. They dragged the ball into goal at Southampton, let's hope that they can do it again for us on Monday.”
Director of Football Neil Dewsnip backs up Hardie’s assertions of what a big part the Argyle faithful can play, and says there is belief among the squad that they will react in the best way.
“There Is confidence, of course, but a massive reason for that is the support of that Green Army,” said Dewsnip. “They'll know that our aim this year is to stay in the Championship. We're very grateful for their support, and we're going to need them again against Watford.
“It's a real challenge, physically and mentally, for the players, for the staff, but the one thing that I know about our group of players and our staff is that they're outstanding with their mentality and will be ready.”
Argyle faced Watford in the season’s second game. It finished in a 0-0 draw, although that tells little of a game which saw both sides create chances aplenty, yet somehow fail to score.
“I'm sure their style hasn't changed, so I think it'll be a very open attacking game,” said Dewsnip.
Hardie added: “We went to Vicarage Road and had a game plan - getting a point there was very good. We've got to try to get the three points this weekend and try to look up the table a bit.”
