ANTONI KEEPS ALBION GOING
DEREK Adams says Plymouth’s midseason trip to Spain paid off as his resurgent side moved into the play-off places with a sixth successive win.
The Pilgrims spent last week training in Marbella to allow his players to spend more time with each other as the season heads towards a gripping climax.
The decision reaped rich rewards as Antoni Sarcevic’s deflected strike saw Argyle, who were rock bottom at the start of December, soar into sixth spot.
Adams was delighted to prove the doubters wrong and keep his side on course for back-to-back promotions.
“There was no doubt we would have got criticised if we lost the game,” he said.
“That is the nature of a human being sometimes. But we have kept those ready to jump on the bandwagon quiet.
“Training in a hot climate night and day has been hugely beneficial for us.
“We have got to keep working hard. There are 11 games to go and we have to see how many points we can pick up.
“The players have showed a great willingness to win football matches and we want this run to continue.”
Ruben Lameiras was the first to threaten as he fired in a powerful 20-yard drive which was unconvincingly pushed away by Bantams keeper Colin Doyle.
Less than 60 seconds later Pilgrims stopper Remi Matthews came to the rescue with a diving save to deny Paul Taylor.
Plymouth were playing with the swagger of a side which had lost just one of their last 14 games heading into the match.
And when Graham Carey won a challenge with Charlie Wyke, the ball fell to Lameiras who picked out Sarcevic.
The midfielder’s shot took a deflection off Nathaniel Knigh-tPercival and looped over the stranded Doyle for his third goal of the season.
Bradford looked nailed on to level in the 80th minute when substitute Tyrell Robinson got in front of Oscar Threlkeld as he closed in on Alex Gilliead’s cross. But Robinson somehow failed to apply the decisive touch.
And Bradford’s misery was complete in the 90th minute after Charlie Wyke received a straight red card for putting his arm into the face of Plymouth defender Sonny Bradley.
The Bantams have now gone eight league games without a win but Simon Grayson remains upbeat.
“Plymouth have won six on the trot and they are no better than us,” said the boss.
“They are not going to pass you off the park or destroy you, but they are getting the breaks at the moment.
“They have got momentum, so full credit to them, but there wasn’t much difference between the teams. “It is down to fine margins and the ball deflected into their path for the goal.” PLYMOUTH: (4-3-3): Matthews 7, Threlkeld 7, Vyner 7, Bradley 7, Sawyer 7, Sarcevic 8 (Songo’o 86 N/A), Fox 7, Ness 7, Carey 7, Lameiras 7 (Taylor-Sinclair 86 N/A), Taylor 7 Subs not used: Letheren, Ainsworth, Makasi, Grant, Church BRADFORD: (4-4-2): Doyle 6, McMahon 6, Knight-Percival 6, Kilgallon 7, Warnock 6, Gilliead 6, Vincelot 6 (Lund 69 6), Guy 6, Chicksen 6 (Robinson 57 6), Taylor 5 (Poleon 57 6), Wyke 3 Subs not used: Raeder, Law, Dieng, McCarten