Schuey hails his ‘keepers as Argyle climb to fourth
Manager delighted with the impact of Cooper and Burton after a 14th clean sheet
GOALKEEPER Mike Cooper has been earning rave reviews for his Plymouth Argyle performances in League One at the age of just 22.
But Pilgrims’ boss Steven Schumacher believes one of the reasons for Cooper’s outstanding consistency has been the presence of back-up shot-stopper Callum Burton.
Schumacher has praised 25-yearold Burton for the way he has trained throughout the season, which has pushed Cooper to be the best he can be. And that best at the moment is very good.
Cooper kept his 14th clean sheet out of 38 league games in the 4-0 victory over Accrington Stanley at Home Park on Saturday, which maintained Argyle’s push for a playoff place come May.
It was not a straightforward one for the Argyle academy graduate, who made two important saves early in the second half when his side were holding a far from unassailable 2-0 lead.
The first came when Accrington striker Rosaire Longelo ran in behind the Argyle defence and got away a low angled shot which was kicked away by an alert Cooper.
That was a good save, especially as he had not been tested up until that point in the match, but even better was to follow soon afterwards.
Accrington midfielder Ethan Hamilton unleashed a fierce long-range strike which would have flown high into the net had it not been pushed wide by Cooper as he launched himself to his left.
It was a magnificent save from Cooper, and not long afterwards Argyle took complete control as substitute Niall Ennis added a third goal.
Schumacher said: “Good teams have good goalkeepers, and we have got a good goalkeeper. We have got a good number two goalkeeper as well.
“Callum Burton pushes Michael every single day in training so Michael’s standards have to be at the levels that they are because Callum is on his case.
“So, yeah, brilliant saves at big moments in the game and it got us over the line.”
Cooper, who recently racked up his 100th appearance for the club, has been a league ever present for Argyle this term, with Burton limited to three starts in the Papa John’s Trophy and one in the Carabao Cup.
Argyle have now kept clean sheets in five consecutive league wins for the first time in 64 years as they have stepped up their push for a play-off place.
The last time the club achieved such a record was in the 1957/58 season, when Jack Rowley’s side ended up finishing third in Division Three South.
Geoff Barnsley was the Argyle ‘keeper at the time, keeping clean sheets in victories over Northampton Town, Watford, Walsall, Crystal Palace and Torquay United.
Schumacher’s Argyle will try to extend their run of clean sheets to six when they play Cheltenham Town at Home Park on Tuesday night.
“Everyone is working is so hard to get the organisation right, from the coaching staff Keith (Downing), Nance (Kevin Nancekivell) and Mark (Hughes).
“To get another clean sheet on the board (against Accrington), confidence and belief just grows that even when you don’t play great if you keep the back door shut you have always got a chance with the quality we have got on the pitch.”