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ARGYLE manager Ryan Lowe believes the character of his team was the key component in the 1-0 away victory at Mansfield in the Sky Bet League Two fixture last Saturday.
In Lowes’ post-match press conference last week, he said he saw a different side to his players against the Stags after Conor Grants’ 30-yard screamer in the 13th minute proved to be the decisive goal. This meant that Argyle had to fight for the remainder of the game to secure the victory.
With the Mansfield pitch not being in the best of conditions, it required a lot of concentration and hard work from the players, especially in the second half, with bodies being put on the line and the defence staying strong. It was a gritty philosophy that Argyle will need to show again when Scunthorpe United visit Home Park tomorrow in Sky Bet League Two.
“Obviously, we’ve done that side of it and have worked hard on it to do it, that doesn’t just get left behind they’ve got to continue that, there’s not always going to be a game where you’ve got to fight and put bodies on the line,” said Ryan.
“I’d rather not have many games like that in all honesty, I’d rather have a good footballing game where both sides are playing good competitive football but look that’s the league we’re in, some teams do that.
“We’re always pleased when we get a clean sheet, with your lads putting bodies on the line, not just the back lads, but from the front also. Most importantly, we want to keep continuing playing our brand of football.”
The players adapting to the flow of the game is proving to be an ongoing improvement and that is down to the style of play that Lowe is trying to input into the team.
Even with a change in the system or having to play a different player, the brand of football Argyle adopy doesn’t change. This shows that the players are all understanding the system and willing to give it their all whether it is on the training field or on match day.
This is starting to prove itself in the league’s statistical standings.
“We have just done a stat pack of over the last 11 games and we’re in the top five in every single thing for everything we do, whether that’s dribbles, crosses, entries into their box and that’s what we want, and we want to get higher and higher than that,” said Ryan.
“In terms of the philosophy and the way we play, we will always continue to do that, whether it be the formation or an extra body up top.”
After last week’s performance, the team have had a clear week to recharge their batteries, which has allowed them to recover well for this upcoming clash with Scunthorpe.
“We always make sure the lads recover properly and we get the recovery into them, and then work,” said the gaffer. “We worked hard Tuesday, Monday wasn’t so much, but Tuesday was a tough day because of rest and recovery on a Wednesday and then we’re back at it.
“We can’t come off what we just achieved away at Mansfield, it was a great win, a fighting win, football in the first half, second half was determination.”
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