Muslic hoping 'unpredictable' Argyle can shock the Blades

The ups and downs of life at Plymouth Argyle are, by now, all too apparent to Miron Muslic. 

The Head Coach would have been happy with some recent results and performances, highlighting a 2-1 victory at Portsmouth – the Greens’ first on the road of the season – and a 0-0 draw at Watford, before a 2-1 home win against Norwich City last week, as evidence of the team’s improvement.

Then, on Wednesday, Argyle were beaten 3-0 by a dominant Swansea City team, and the Pilgrims’ push to obtain Sky Bet Championship safety took a severe dent.

“Somehow, we make it more complicated and more difficult than we have to,” Muslic told Argyle TV. “There were no signs for this poor performance against Swansea. Actually, just two and a half weeks ago, we managed to win our first away game in a year, at Portsmouth, then a decent defensive performance against Watford. We grab a point, [and then] a very strong home game and home performance, and rewarded with three points against Norwich. 

“Everything was prepared to take this next big step, but it seems like a pattern. Every time we have the opportunity to jump big, we simply miss that train and we put ourselves in a position where we are - where we have to win on Saturday against Sheffield United. 

“We are somehow unpredictable for good, and unpredictable, for bad - hopefully it's a good one tomorrow.” 

On Saturday lunchtime, Sheffield United will be trying to prove a point of their own. The Blades were top, and are very much still in the promotion hunt, but they have dropped to third, two points behind Leeds United and Burnley, having lost the last two games, both by 1-0 scorelines, against Oxford United and Millwall. 

“We are completely aware about the calibre of the opponent,” said Muslic.

“We will need for sure [to be] very strong tomorrow if we want to have a chance, because Sheffield United will be not amused, especially with the result against Millwall. They will come here and be very physical, very dominant, very strong. We have to face this.

“We have to keep our composure, stick to the plan - then we have a chance. Norwich was the best possible example. When we do the things we work on, and when we execute it clean, we are competitive. 

“We have a chance to win games, and we will need this from every single player who starts, but also from every single game-changer. Then we have a chance because it's another must win game. 

“There is no second chance really after this, maybe because it was the same scenario against Norwich, and we managed to grab the opportunity, [but it] just disappeared against Swansea. We missed a big opportunity.

“They are an aggressive opponent who realises that they left something on the road and they will try to grab it back. They will think Plymouth is, right now, the right opponent for this.

“That's exactly where we have to jump on this. That's exactly where we have to see our chance to take advantage of this. They will be physical, they will be honest. They will try to turn it into a fight. We have to be ready to pick up this fight.”

Watch the full interview with Miron now on Argyle TV.