Schumacher's Forest Green Reaction

There is no-one with Argyle in their heart to whom Saturday’s 3-0 win at Forest Green Rovers in Sky Bet League One was not important, but Steven Schumacher singled out a group of people who he felt deserved to enjoy it as much an any.

The travelling Green Army.

After massing in big numbers at Fleetwood Town, where Argyle lost 2-1 to a let goal, and at Charlton Athletic in midweek, where The Pilgrims lost 5-1 and saw James Wilson sent off, they were back in force in Nailsworth, and would have delighted with what unfolded.

“We spoke before the game about putting in a performance for the fans,” said Schumacher. “We went away on Tuesday and didn’t play very well – we got beat 5-1 – but they stayed behind and clapped us. At Fleetwood, they travelled in their numbers – we started the game ok and then faded.

“We just needed to put in a proper performance today because it is important. They follow us up and down the country and they deserve to see their team doing the basics well. Our players never shirk workrate.

“It’s a good day all round – but it’s for the fans.”

Schumacher was speaking having seen his team put in a consummate away performance in Gloucestershire. The Pilgrims led through a Finn Azaz goal on 18 minutes, and the lead was doubled when Bali Mumba scored ten minutes later. Niall Ennis made it three in the second half and Argyle saw the game out in relative comfort to secure a first away win of the season.

“We started the game well, although it wasn’t pretty for the first ten minutes,” said Schumacher. “Forest Green had a couple of chances before we scored. We went a bit more direct than we usually do, landed on second balls and earned the right to play.

“The longer the game goes on at 1-0, they are only one chance away from getting back into it. We had to defend properly today. It was quite tough to play against Forest Green, the way they play. Everybody, to a man, got the detail right when we didn’t have the ball.

“In League One, you don’t control games for 90 minutes, you just have to make the most of your chances.

“When we did get our chance, we were clinical with it. It gave us a bit of breathing space. We didn’t want to sit back at 2-0 and invite pressure. We tried to keep playing forward.

“It isn’t rocket science, football. It is quite simple but if you don’t do the basics right then you get punished like we did on Tuesday, Today we did the basics better and we managed to win.

“It was a really pleasing afternoon. I’m buzzing to get the first away win of the season and tick that one off.”

Schumacher made five changes to the starting line-up following the defeat at Charlton. Nigel Lonwijk came in for the suspended Wilson, with the boss bringing in Niall Ennis, Brendan Galloway, Matt Butcher and Danny Mayor in the places of Ryan Hardie, Macaulay Gillepshey, Jordan Houghton and Morgan Whittaker.

In addition, Bali Mumba and Joe Edwards continued at wing-back, but exchanged wings, with Bali playing on the right and Joe on the left.

Schumacher explained each switch, in turn, when interviewed by Argyle TV.

“I thought a few people deserved to play,” he said. “Niall came on on Tuesday night and was a handful. He’s been training really well, so deserved an opportunity to start. I was made up for him for his goal, because I thought he was outstanding. Making it 3-0 basically sealed the win.

“I thought three games in a week was a bit much for Jordan Houghton. I keep saying I’m going to use the squad, this was the perfect opportunity to do that.

“Macaulay Gillesphey has a tight groin, so there was no point risking him. Brendan was ready, he’s fit, he deserves his opportunity.

“Nigel was an enforced chance that we had to make. Danny Mayor coming in for Morgan was a tough one. Morgan was brilliant on Tuesday, probably our best player, but I went with Finn and Danny. Morgan came on, he didn’t sulk, did brilliantly. He got us up the pitch and relieved some pressure.

“We wanted to press higher on our right, their left, because Baily Cargill is really good on the ball and you can’t give him time.

“We just felt if we put Bali up there and we won the ball back, he would be higher up the pitch and would be able to get at the centre-back one v one. At times we looked more like a back four with Nigel playing so wide. Joe is a more natural defender than Bali so it just made sense to switch them over. It worked because Bali got in behind on a turnover and scored.

“I thought all the changes worked. Sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don’t."