Schumacher's Fleetwood Preview

Argyle’s defeat at Sheffield Wednesday two weeks ago – the first defeat in the league since early December, the first away from home since August – sparked a modicum of concern in some circles.

Not at Home Park, mind. Few at Argyle, if any, saw the game as anything other than a tight game against a very good side, in which the Greens suffered a narrow defeat.

Externally, a few eyebrows may have been raised, perhaps in hope rather than expectation, that the loss was going to signal a drop in form.

No such luck.

Argyle’s reaction was to pull out consecutive 3-1 victories, at home to Portsmouth and then away to Oxford United, and to regain top spot in Sky Bet League One.

Similarities extended beyond the scorelines. In each game, Argyle led 2-1 entering the closing stages, and each time Ryan Hardie added a third to seal the victory.

“It's funny how a week can change things,” Argyle manager Steven Schumacher told Argyle TV. “Some people were doom and gloom after Sheffield Wednesday. We've managed to put back-to-back wins together, which is brilliant.

“All the games that we’ve played in, in League One, barring a few mad results, they're always close games, they always go to the wire. We didn’t expect an easy game against Portsmouth, or against Oxford, and we didn't get one.

“We got our noses in front on both occasions this week and we've had to dig in, show some good character in the closing stages. Then, when you've got Ryan on the pitch later on in games, the games open up and teams are committing, throwing everything forward, he's such a powerful weapon to have.

“Thankfully he sealed them - and we could all celebrate and breathe.”

Recent games have become notable for the unpredictability of Schumacher’s starting 11 selections. With a squad filled with depth of number and quality, the boss has made excellent use of the options he has at his disposal, and while results continue to be positive, his selections will always be justified.

“The whole squad, however many we've got, they all need to be in form,” Schumacher said. “I think the players understand that, that they're not going start every single game.

“They know that if you're playing really well and you've been outstanding, if I leave you out the squad, it'll be for a reason.

“The players know that they're not going to play every single minute of every single game. I’ll pick a team that is right for opposition we are playing.

“I think one of the most pleasing aspects of how this season's gone is how we've dealt with pressure moments well, probably slightly better than what we did last season.

“That comes from experience. It comes from staying a bit calmer under pressure, maybe on the sideline, ourselves the coaching staff making clearer decisions.

“We've been able to use five subs, we've been able to rotate people on and off. We've been able to pick teams with players are generally fresh when they're coming into the team and playing.

“The players who have come into the team, there's been no drop off in performance. The standard has been top class. We're going to need that to continue because we know we've got 15 really tough games in the league to go. We're going to need every player that's available.”

Saturday’s opponents Fleetwood Town are one of only four teams to have beaten Argyle this term, doing so in Lancashire in just the second game of the season.

Fleetwood are 17th in the division, but arrested a recent four-game losing streak by beating Sheffield Wednesday in the Emirates FA Cup, then winning league matches against Charlton Athletic and Peterborough United.

The upturn in form has coincided with the signing of two strikers in the transfer window in the shape of Jayden Stockley and Jack Marriott, as well as some other strengthening by manager Scott Brown.

“They're in really good form,” said Schumacher. “They had a good January transfer window; the two strikers that they brought in who are experienced and have scored so many goals at this level.

“That’s what Scott highlighted that they needed to do. The chairman, Andy, has gone and backed them and done it with two real quality signings.  

“We watched them twice before we played Sheffield Wednesday, and I thought they did well in both games. They had a great result the other day against Peterborough.

“It’s a tough game. We've already lost to them once this season. We'll hopefully try to put that one right.

“Every game is a battle in League One. You’ve got to be at it in every single game.

It shows how close they are. We know that we're going to have to be on our very best on Saturday to win it. If we can back it up and get three wins in a week, that'll be incredible.”