Rotherham United (A) | Dewsnip and Nancekivell's Preview
On Wednesday afternoon, following the Argyle players’ first training session since the departure of Ian Foster on Monday evening, the interim management duo of Neil Dewnsip and Kevin Nancekivell took their place in facing the media, and speaking to Argyle TV.
In mid-December, when Steven Schumacher departed Home Park, bound for Stoke City, Dewsnip and Nancekivell stepped in for four games. Now, they will be in situ for the final six games of the season.
The situation is a little different. Momentum was with the Greens when Schumacher left, but now the task in front of Dewsnip and Nancekivell is to summon up the requisite points to ensure Argyle’s Sky Bet Championship safety.
Judging from what they have seen at Harper’s Park on Wednesday – and of course through a wealth of knowledge accumulated over the past few years – Neil and Kevin appear to have total faith in their charges.
“Training [on Wednesday] was fantastic,” said Dewsnip. “The players are incredibly professional, going about their day-to-day business. The mood was terrific, and that is credit to the people giving the session: Darryl, Simon, Nance, and a little bit of me, but not much.
“We need to trust one another, to be brave, try not to think about anything too negative. We will ask the players to go and do what they can do really well. Through the season, lots of them have shown incredible talent, lots of exciting moments. We want to set an environment that allows them to do those things.
“If enough of them bring those things to the party, we’ll be fine.
“The goal for the club was set right from the start of the season, from Simon [Hallett, chairman] and Andrew [Parkinson, CEO]– and all of us – that we need to stay in this league. Right now, we sit outside the relegation places, so our destiny is in our own hands.”
Nancekivell, who is acting as part of a temporary management setup for the fourth time in his Argyle tenure, backed up those words.
He said: “We’ve got a fantastic group of lads who really care about the football club. Every day, they do the job to the best of their ability. Some days we don’t get the results we want, but that’s the same in most walks of life.
“The bulk of the squad have been together for three or four years. They’ve seen the good times, and they are seeing a time of suffering at the minute, but they are desperate to get us through this situation. The new boys that have come in this season are equally as desperate as well.
“Everyone is aware of the situation. They are as positive as they can be. They can’t wait to get on the bus to Rotherham, and they can’t wait for the game to start.”
Argyle’s opponents on Friday night, the aforementioned Rotherham United, are bottom of the table, effectively needing to win every game in order to survive in the division. When faced with that last weekend, they managed it, beating Millwall 2-1 at home.
Therefore, Argyle’s task is complicated by the Millers’ desire for the same thing – survival.
“It’s important to get the win, because it is the next fixture,” said Nancekivell. “It’s the first game of six to go, and it’s a little mini-league. We want to get three points; let’s not understate the fact. We are desperate for three points.
“Rotherham will be as well. They are coming in off the back of a good win, which proves to us that they not lying down. They are fighting and kicking, so we are in for a tough game, we know that. All we can do is prepare ourselves and make sure we are in the correct position.”
Nancekivell has been an Argyle player and coach for many years, but before all that he was a fan and, in his words, he still is.
No-one knows what makes the Green Army tick better than Nancekivell, and he had some stirring words for the club’s supporters, wherever they may be.
“Time and time again, our supporters have proved, over the years, how important they are to the football club,” said Kevin. “They are the football club – and I’m one of them. We all appreciate how far they travel, the money they spend on us, and we’re all really grateful for that. We’re just asking for another big push for the last six games.
“There’s going to be times in games where we are suffering, and the players, more than anybody, need to know that the fans are right behind them. In tough moments in games, the noise level can really help us pick up points.
“We are all in this together. I’ve said it a thousand times, I don’t need to say it, but our supporters are the best in the world. They will show that over the next six games.”
