Scarr's Cheltenham Preview

Dan Scarr made his return after six weeks out through injury as Argyle beat Morecambe at Home Park on Saturday, 17 December, and it was a day both he and the team needed.

For Scarr, being back on the field after being a frustrated viewer for a time, the return was obviously pleasing, but after four games without a win in Sky Bet League One, the 2-1 win was big for the team, too. It send the Pilgrims back to the top of the table, and speaking to Argyle TV, Scarr emphasised the game’s importance.

“We said as a group of lads, and the staff, it felt must-win,” he said. “We were at home, playing Morecambe who aren’t supposedly one of the better teams. But every game in this league is a tough game. The run of form we have been on lately hasn’t been the best, and we haven’t played with expression like we normally do.

“That’s credit to the other teams and how they have set up against us. The teams down the table are the tougher ones, really. The bigger teams are expansive and not too bothered about us. The other teams are more focused on us than themselves. Cambridge were hard to break down, Port Vale were a good side, and Morecambe as well, all tough to play against.”

Next up for Argyle is a Boxing Day trip to Cheltenham Town, who are 17th in the division. They are the latest in a series of teams that the Greens have faced from the bottom end of the table, but all of whom have made it very difficult for Argyle.

Draws against Burton Albion and Cambridge came either side of a defeat against Port Vale, before last week’s win over Morecambe, and now Scarr knows Cheltenham will see leaders Argyle, with a sold-out away following, as a scalp.

He also singled out striker Alfie May, who Scarr will likely be directly facing, as a player to be watched for the Robins.

“I’ve played against [May] a few times, and I like him,” said Scarr. “I think he’s good. He’s got a bit of everything. For a small lad, he leaves a bit on you, he’s happy to back against you. It’ll be a good battle.

“Teams like Cambridge, Morecambe and Cheltenham, that are down there, have all got good strikers. Alfie May, [Morecambe’s Cole] Stockton, Ironside and Smith [of Cambridge]. It’s never an easy game.

“We approach it as we approach the other ones; if we do what we are good at, we will beat teams. That’s what we need to focus on. We’ll work on them, go through them and look where their strengths and weaknesses are, but ideally we need to express ourselves and play good football. The pitch is normally alright there. There’s no reason why we can’t go there and put on a good show.

“Playing a lot of the top sides, the so-called big six, last season we didn’t take enough points off them. This season we have, and you are always going to do ok if you take points off the teams around you. We have had a good start. Credit to the way we have adapted to games, subs that have won us games, and the loan lads that have come in, plus the lads that were already here, everyone has been on it, and the gaffer has made good decisions at key times that has won us games.”