Pilgrims settle back on sacred ground

DEREK Adams has every reason to be optimistic after Ruben Lameiras and Graham Carey struck to haul Plymouth back into the play-off places on Good Friday.

Wide men Lameiras and Carey both helped themselves to doubles against Southend to make it five home wins on the spin for the inform Pilgrims.

Carey could have even claimed his first career hat-trick but watched in agony as his 74th minute penalty clipped the top of the crossbar.

Pilgrims boss Adams, whose side face a crucial clash with fifthplaced Scunthorpe on Monday, purred: “We have put ourselves in a really good position with seven games to go.

“We are playing with confidence, creating chances and scoring goals.

“To get 60 points at this stage of the season is pleasing and we want to keep marching forward.

“Once we had taken the lead, we grew in confidence and we knew we could cause them problems.

“It is great our creative players are scoring goals but other players are providing the ammunition for them.”

Plymouth got off to a dream start with three minutes gone thanks to a cool finish by Lamieras.

Ryan Taylor muscled his way into the penalty box after shrugging off Michael Turner before pulling the ball back for the Portuguese to find the bottom corner.

Plymouth added a second in the 32nd minute after Carey’s shot took a deflection off Sam Mantom and looped over Shrimpers keeper Mark Oxley.

Carey hit his second of the match in the 52nd minute, smashing home a half-volley after John White partially cleared Oscar Threlkeld’s cross. After Carey blew his chance to convert from the spot following White’s trip on Joel Grant in the box, Lameiras poured salt into Southend wounds.

The forward tapped home the rebound after Oxley foiled Grant from closerange.

Chris Powell’s second defeat in his 11 games in charge of Southend has left his side with a mountain to climb to reach the play-offs – they host Gillingham tomorrow.

The Shrimpers boss said: “Out of the games I have been involved in here, Plymouth are the best side we have played.

“I told the players we needed to stay in the game but our plans went awry after they took an early lead.

“The good thing for us is that there is a quick turnaround.”