Sheffield Wednesday (H) | Schumacher's reaction
Steven Schumacher was delighted to pick up three points last night against Sheffield Wednesday even though Argyle weren't at their fluid best like they have been in recent weeks.
The visitors dominated proceedings for the first 30 minutes and their high press forced Argyle into mistakes. Despite that, Morgan Whittaker hit the post and the hosts still created some good, clear cut chances, although Lee Gregory also missed a good opening for Wednesday.
A moment of brilliance from debutant Mustapha Bundu and a clinical finish from Whittaker saw Argyle 2-0 to the good at half-time though. Ryan Hardie came off the bench to kill the game off in the second half as Steven Schumacher's men eventually cruised to a comfortable three points at Home Park.
"Delighted," said Schumacher. "It was a huge game, we felt it was important that we got a win. We’ve been playing well over the last few weeks and haven’t managed to get the victory that we wanted.
"Tonight, was the opposite, we didn’t play very well, we didn’t pass the ball well, especially in the first half. A lot of credit has to go to Sheffield Wednesday, they put us under huge pressure, and we gave the ball away and made mistakes. But we somehow managed to find ourselves 2-0 up at half time with two great finishes. The win was the most important thing, not bothered that we weren’t at our best, we’ve won."
Argyle showed a clinical edge that had perhaps been missing at The Hawthorns on Saturday as two quick fire goals arguably put the game to bed against a struggling Wednesday side.
Schumacher was thrilled to see his forwards show real bits of quality and make the most of the chances his side did create. He added: "There was a couple of times we got in and didn’t manage to score and it is frustrating. In our previous games we’ve got into better areas, created more opportunities and haven’t scored but tonight the free-kick from Mustapha was outstanding, Morgan’s finish was really composed.
"At this level you have to be clinical and when you haven’t been playing well you have to find a way to win and that’s what we have done tonight. Most pleasingly we have kept another clean sheet which is really important."
Deadline-day signing Bundu was brought into the side to replace Hardie for his first start for the club and he repaid the faith of the manager with a debut goal to mark the occasion in front of a raucous Home Park crowd.
Schumacher explained his decision to give Mustapha the opportunity from the start commenting: "The game lended itself to Mustapha. The two Sheffield Wednesday centre-backs are really quick and not much beats them in behind.
"Mustapha is a bit different and comes a bit shorter towards the ball so we thought that would suit this game. We also wanted to give Ryan a bit of a breather, Ryan has played 11 out of the 12 games previously and that is tough to do at this level.
"When we spoke to him yesterday, he understood the decision and we did say he would have an impact off the bench when the game is stretched, like he did last year. That goal will give him confidence and I am really pleased for Mustapha to get his first goal, especially at Home Park."
The manager urged the Green Army to stay with his side and thought they spurred Argyle on to victory last night.
"We have to celebrate any win in the Championship," Schumacher concluded.
"It is really hard to win games at this level and I thought Sheffield Wednesday were really good. The crowd stuck with us and didn’t moan when things were a bit scruffy, and when Mustapha scored they nearly took the roof off.
"We’ve seen here when we score we often score quickly again afterwards and that is due to their support, and long may that continue."
