Western Morning News (Saturday)
Argyle boss expecting a reaction from team
RYAN Lowe is hoping to have his easiest team talk of the season before Plymouth Argyle play League One leaders Hull City at Home Park today.
Hull, three points clear of Peterborough United at the top of the table, are on an unbeaten run of nine games includes seven wins.
However, Lowe is expecting a reaction from his players after their 3-0 defeat away to Shrewsbury Town on Easter Monday.
The Pilgrims conceded all of the goals during a second half display which Lowe described as ‘disgraceful’.
Now they must try to bounce back from that against a Hull side who have scored 43 goals in 20 away games this season, winning 11 of them.
Lowe said: “I’m hoping it’s the easiest team talk I have had all season, to be honest. It’s over to you.
“I have challenged the players, I have challenged my staff. I want challenges and we have set our minitargets of where we want to try and get to (this season).
“We are still on track for that. We know the performance (against Shrewsbury) from 50-odd minutes was not acceptable.
“So I’m hoping it’s actions speak louder than words, and go and prove to me what you are capable of doing.
“I know they are capable of doing well, I know they are capable of playing good football, I know they are capable of getting loads of chances and scoring good goals, and I know they are capable of keeping clean sheets.
“So the aim for me will just be ‘Right, reaction, go on’. I’m hoping it’s the easiest team talk I have had all season.”
Lowe revealed some of the players had sent him text messages after the defeat at Shrewsbury acknowledging their own individual performances had not been good enough.
“It’s put to bed now, because we can’t go back on it,” said Lowe. “It is what it is.
“I had texts off a couple of players who weren’t quite happy with their performances, which I’m pleased with.
“When I get a text off players I know that they are disappointed and they want to put it right, and that’s a good thing.
“There’s probably not many managers up and down the country that get text messages off their players.
“I allow it, some managers won’t allow it, some managers will.
“When you get them to say that it was nowhere the levels expected and they feel they have let people down that’s a big plus for me.
“It shows they care, it shows they have gone home and watched the clips, they have analysed it and it’s nice that they see the same game as
you.
“We have got a good group, I have said that all along. It was the first time I had to do what I had to do.
“I was disappointed in doing it but I had to because I felt I have covered them up all season, I have given them the pats on the back and they have had some constructive criticism.
“I don’t want this season to peter out and I know now that the group don’t, and they have got to give us a reaction.”
Lowe continued: “I will take getting beat on better performances from the opposition.
“I don’t like getting beat for lack of desire, lack of commitment, lack of energy, and I felt that’s what we had in that game on Monday, but that’s gone now.
“It has moved on and we have got to put them wrongs right quickly.”