Ennis believes Pilgrims deserve their lofty status
PLYMOUTH Argyle deserve to be among the top sides in League One and should not fear their tough end of season runin, according to striker Niall Ennis.
The play-off chasing Pilgrims moved up to fourth position on the standings after their 4-0 victory over Accrington Stanley at Home Park on Saturday.
Argyle have eight more matches to play this season and six of them are against sides who are currently in the top nine so will need to continue their excellent form if they are to finish in the top six.
They are currently on a run of five consecutive victories and clean sheets, and nine wins out of their last 11 games.
Argyle are mixing it with some big clubs in the race for the two automatic promotion places and the four play-off spots and they will look to enhance those claims when they play host to Cheltenham Town at Home Park tonight.
Ennis said: “We have deserved to be there, and we have shown that we have, but we need to maintain that.
“There is eight games to go and we can’t get too excited now. We have got to end the season on form and you never know where we could end up.
He added: “If you want to get promoted you need to be willing to beat the best teams to prove you are one of the best teams.
“You can’t be getting scared to play big teams. We are a big team and we are showing that.”
Asked why he thought Argyle had been so successful this season, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker said: “Everyone is just determined and we know our roles, and what we need to do. We have players who can just turn up in moments.
“Sometimes in games you need moments when it’s not going to plan, and I feel like the detail that the coaches put into the pre-match tactics helps us.
“We know what we need to do and we just have to transfer that onto the pitch, which we have been doing. It’s just maintaining that now.”
Ennis grabbed his third goal of an injury-disrupted season in the win against Accrington, which put the Pilgrims 3-0 ahead in the 64th minute and came shortly after he had been sent on as a substitute for Jordon Garrick.
Accrington had been threatening to make a comeback, with Argyle goalkeeper Mike Cooper forced into producing a couple of excellent saves.
Ennis said: “I felt like when I came on the game was fading so I needed to inject something, and I just need to keep doing that now.
“I need to get some more goals and help the team win. Hopefully my goals help us get the three points.”
Argyle are in action against 12thplaced Cheltenham at Home Park tonight in what is scheduled to be their last midweek match of the regular season.
Ennis said: “We go into every game wanting to win and we need to do that again on Tuesday and keep this form going.
“The defenders getting the clean sheets, the forwards getting the goals and the midfielders working hard to get us ticking. We just all need to do our roles.”
Meanwhile, Steven Schumacher has admitted it is ‘unfortunate’ that Panutche Camara and Luke Jephcott will miss the next two matches for Argyle.
Camara and Jephcott are away on international duty this week, with Guinea-Bissau and Wales under-21s respectively.
Schumacher said: “It’s unfortunate and we understand that this sometimes happens.
“I wish Panutche and Luke all the best on their travels and I hope they get back safe and sound after Ipswich, but it’s an opportunity for the lads who will come in and take their place in the squad or in the team.”
Former Cheltenham Town midfielder Ryan Broom or Adam Randell are the options to take over from Camara.