Western Morning News (Saturday)
Magic Mayor keeps on doing his bit despite a lack of goals for Argyle
DANNY Mayor has not scored a goal for Plymouth Argyle since the opening day of the season in early September but there are no complaints about that from Ryan Lowe.
Mayor’s performances are ‘through the roof’ according to the Pilgrims’ boss, who added that the 30-year-old has had no luck in front of goal.
The midfielder thought he had scored near the end of Argyle’s 2-0 League One win away to Swindon Town on Tuesday night.
Mayor was picked out by a clever pass from substitute Ben Reeves and curled a shot into the net, only for an offside flag to be raised.
Lowe said: “The thing with Dan is that I will give his goals up if he keeps performing the way he’s performing.
“That’s his attitude and application, his defensive duties, his out of possession stuff, his in possession stuff, he’s getting the ball up the pitch.
“In terms of goals, we would love him to get a couple but it’s just not to be at the moment.
“That’s fine, as long as keeps performing the way he is. It’s only a matter of time before that goal comes.
“Unfortunately for him, he had it ruled out for offside on Tuesday night. There is not much you can do about that.
“We just want to keep getting Dan in those positions. Yeah, he has had a few wayward shots, a few blocked.
“He has had no luck. When he came off the pitch (at Swindon) I said to him ‘Nearly’ and he went ‘That’s just my luck in front of goal at the moment.’
“But if he keeps providing the way he’s providing I will give his goals up, that’s not a problem.
“He will get in the positions, he will score goals and if he gets one goal you might another five, six or seven.
“Hopefully that’s the case but in terms of Dan’s performances they are through the roof and we are quite happy with him.”
Mayor scored 12 goals for Bury, managed by Lowe, in their 2018/19 League Two campaign.
However, since signing for Argyle that summer he has netted just twice in a total of 63 starts and three substitute appearances.
His last one came in the 3-2 Carabao Cup first round win against Queens Park Rangers at Home Park on September 5.
While the goals have not been there for him, his creative influence has been considerable.
When it was put to Lowe that Mayor could perhaps be more selfish, rather than setting up his team-mates, he replied: “Well, when I played with him he was very selfish!
Lowe then added: “He has become a leader now, on and off the pitch.
“He’s one of the senior figures and the lads look up to him because he performs on the pitch week in week out, and does the right things.”
A feature of Mayor’s performances this season has been the way he has linked with Argyle’s left wing-back, at first with George Cooper and now with Conor Grant.
Grant and Mayor caused Swindon all sorts of problems as they combined to telling effect.
Lowe said: “When you have got the qualities of Danny, Conor, when Fadz (Callum McFadzean) was here, Adam Lewis now, it’s about understanding with each other.
“We do a lot of work with them, whoever is down the left and right sides. You see the link-up with Joe Edwards and Panutche (Camara).
“We want that, little bondings with each other. Your units and how you go about your business.”