PILGRIMS: BRING IT ON KLOPP
DEREK Adams breathed a sigh of relief as Plymouth warmed up for their mouth-watering FA Cup clash with Liverpool by keeping their promotion push on track.
The Pilgrims play host to Jurgen Klopp’s side in Wednesday’s televised third round replay at Home Park after holding the Premier League giants to a goalless draw at Anfield last week.
Adams saluted his players for beating a Stevenage side who travelled south on the back of six wins from their last seven away games.
Adams, whose side remain in second in the table, said: “It hasn’t been an easy week for us.
“We have got people talking about the Liverpool game and everyone had forgotten about Stevenage.
“It was our job to concentrate on that and, to be fair to the players, they showed a lot of grit and determination to get the result.
“We can now look forward to Wednesday. It is a big game for Plymouth Argyle and the whole city.
“It is important to keep churning out the results.
“Stevenage have done well away from home this season. So to score four goals and get the win is very pleasing.”
Stevenage stunned their hosts inside two minutes after Luke Wilkinson headed Steven Schumacher’s free-kick back into the six-yard box for Matt Godden to poke home.
Plymouth grabbed an equaliser on 36 minutes when David Fox’s corner was pushed out by Jamie Jones, only for Jordan Slew to bundle the ball home despite the best efforts of Dale Gorman on the goalline.
The hosts struck again six minutes later, Slew’s cross was poked into the danger zone by Connor Smith for Jake Jervis to slam the ball into the roof of the net.
But the game took a new twist after Schumacher’s 30-yard freekick bounced over the flailing McCormick and into the back of the net.
Yet the hosts were not to be denied as Carey’s thunderbolt from the edge of the box flew in via a deflection off Arnold Garita.
Substitute David Goodwillie sealed the outcome with a closerange finish after Ronnie Henry’s block denied Nathan Blissett a debut goal. Stevenage boss Darren Sarll said: “We controlled possession for large parts of the second half and we had enough chances to take a minimum of a point. “We missed two open goals and that is the story of the season. We should have taken more points along the way. “There is massive disappointment but I don’t think too many teams will come here and open Plymouth up on numerous occasions. “We are not a side that sits off and soaks things up. A little bit more clinical in front of goal and we come back with a point.”