Rotherham United (A) | Nancekivell's Reaction
When the final whistle blew at the final whistle at Rotherham United on Friday night, the cocktail of emotions mixed on Kevin Nancekivell’s face was an interesting concoction.
All of them positive, mind. At one glance there was relief, occasionally overwhelmed by sheer pleasure, with a seam of pride running all the way through his beaming visage.
With good cause. The club's first-team coach, along with Director of Football Neil Dewsnip, are presiding over first-team affairs until the end of the season, and they saw Argyle battle their way to a huge three points at Rotherham, earned via Bali Mumba’s first-half goal, the only one of the game.
“I think there's always a sense of relief when you pick up the three points,” said Nancekivell. “We’re delighted with the players; really, really proud to put on a gritty performance under pressure. It was fantastic.
“The longer the game went on at 1-0, you obviously get a little bit nervous and edgy. The players can feel that sometimes as well, but I thought they stood up to the test really well. They defended well when they had to; we've got a clean sheet.”
The team was notable for the inclusion of Dan Scarr at the heart of the defence, and Callum Wright on the left side of a front three. It was Scarr’s first league start since 20 January, Wright’s since the week before that.
Goalscorer Mumba grabbed his third of the season, his first since November, taking down a superb cross from Morgan Whittaker, then clipping home.
Mumba was replaced in the second half by Adam Forshaw, who showed all of this experience to help Argyle shore up the midfield as the game got to a crunch point, and he was joined on the field by fellow substitute Ben Waine, who caught the eye with his high energy to keep the Millers occupied at the right end of the field from an Argyle perspective.
“It's a massive squad game, and everyone's played their part,” said Nancekivell.
“I thought [Scarr and Wright] were terrific. They haven't played many minutes recently, but the way they perform in training every day, they work hard. I've just said to them in the changing room: ‘you're good people, do the right thing every day, and we'll be fine.’
“They've trained hard, they've kept their head down, and when they played, you wouldn't have realised that they've missed a few games. They've done terrifically.
“[Mumba and Whittaker] have proved [their quality] over the last couple of seasons, haven't they? We all know what quality they've got, and they produced it. It was a fantastic pass by Morgan and a great touch and a great finish by Bali.
“The boys did brilliantly when they come on. [Adam Forshaw] had a job to do; he did it really well. Waineo just gave us that little extra energy. Ryan had run his race, so Waineo came on, caused havoc and played his part.
“We could go through the whole 20-man squad and say how well everyone's done. Even those that don't get on, with their attitude towards the team and sticking together, and all of that.”
Through the squad, and beyond it. In the stands there were a shade over 1,000 Pilgrims, making a point of being in South Yorkshire on a Friday evening, some having a tortuous journey from the South West to get there.
Given the result, it was surely worth it.
“The supporters were everything that we've said this week,” Nancekivell said. “They carried us home and got us across the line.
“I don't know what word can describe them. I'm quite emotional about it, when you go over at the end, just because they bring so much to this football club. People know that, but it's true. Everyone who's travelled today, I can't thank them enough. And those who couldn't travel today, Friday is an awful day to be traveling up on, they're working. We appreciate that.
“Stick with us as you always do. All I can promise you is we'll give you every little thing we've got.”