Argyle boss wants ‘big performance’ before break

RYAN Lowe wants ‘a big performance’ from Plymouth Argyle against Fleetwood Town at Home Park today before a two-week break from League One action.

The fortnight gap before the visit of Sheffield Wednesday on September 11 is an opportunity for Lowe to give his players some time off after a hectic, six-match in 18-day start to the season.

However, Lowe admitted a good Argyle display against Fleetwood would earn his squad some extra days off.

Lowe said: “I want a big performance Saturday first and foremost before we decide anything, the lads are aware of that.

“We will have a little bit of a break. The training will be limited and there will be rest time for a few of the lads before we come back for a massive game against Sheffield Wednesday.

“We have got Saturday first and I want a big, big performance and then we will decide what days they are in and what days they are off. If they perform well they will get a few more days off extra.”

Argyle had been scheduled to travel to Portsmouth for a Sky-televised clash on September 6 but that game has now been postponed. Initially, that was because of international call-ups affecting the Argyle squad, but the same now applies to Pompey too.

Argyle have picked up seven points from their first four league games this season, including a 3-0 win away to Shrewsbury Town last weekend, leaving them in eighth position.

The Pilgrims are coming off a midweek 4-1 defeat at Swansea City in the Carabao Cup where they conceded three goals in the closing minutes, but Lowe was still pleased with a lot of the aspects of their performance.

Lowe said: “We knew we had to have a solid start (this season). We had a decent solid start last season. It’s about consistency.

“I have said to the group if we find a consistent level of performance throughout the season we will be fine, and that’s the key.”

Fleetwood are 19th in the table but after losing their first three league games they got their first win with a 3-2 home defeat of Cheltenham Town last Saturday, with 19-year-old Shayden Morris scoring in the 90th minute.

Lowe said: “Simon Grayson teams are always well drilled, well organised and don’t concede many goals.

“What we have got to do is we have got to worry about us. We will respect Fleetwood, they are coming down here to take points off us and we have got to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“If we are on our game and we stick to what we can do I will be happy because if we perform the way we have been of late we can certainly win the game.”