Lowe insists Pilgrims are working hard
PLYMOUTH Argyle’s players are trying their hardest to put points on the board, according to manager Ryan Lowe.
He admitted ‘small details’ were proving costly for the Pilgrims as they fight to make their mark in League One.
Lowe also questioned whether his team were ‘a little bit too nice in certain areas’ of the game.
The Pilgrims’ boss made his comments after the 3-2 defeat by Oxford United at Home Park last night.
Midfielder Panutche Camara opened the scoring in the 12th minute as Argyle started the game strongly.
However, Oxford drew level shortly before half-time and went on to take a 3-1 lead before Luke Jephcott replied with an 84th minute penalty for the Pilgrims.
It was a third league defeat in the last four home games and leaves them 17th in the table.
Lowe said: “I’m calm, I’m collected. I’m not going to raise my voice in there (the dressing room). The lads are trying their hardest to get points on the board.
“We know it’s a tough league. I have said it loads of times, like a broken record, we are the new boys and we are learning. All we have got to do is just keep focusing on ourselves, keep playing the brand of football, which is exciting, but work on small details.
“From where I’m from they call it cleverness. They (Oxford) threw themselves to the floor every time when there was hardly no contact.
“Is that game management? Is it cheating? I don’t know. Maybe we are a little bit too nice in certain areas where we potentially need to do the same.”
He added: “We will learn, we will take every pinch of help along the way, or any advantage. I can’t complain, especially about the first half and even parts of the second half, but the last two goals have cost us a result.”
Oxford recovered from falling behind to Camara’s fine finish from a Ryan Hardie cross to take a decisive grip on the game.
Sam Long put them 2-1 up in the 74th minute before Olamide Shodipo netted from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by defender Will Aimson.
Lowe said: “You are pitting your wits against the play-off finalists from last season and they have got some good players.
“I felt comfortable for large parts of the game, especially in the first half, I thought we were very good.
“Then in the second half we just came away from it a little bit and we didn’t play out as much as we would have liked.
“We have arguably got one of the best footballing midfielders in league in Lewis Macleod who can take the ball and receive it anywhere.
“We need to get him on the ball in certain areas to get our eights and our wing-backs high up the pitch and then we are away.”