Hard work is paying off for Argyle loanee Hardie
On-loan Striker bags his third goal in nine games as Pilgrims win at Swindon Town
RYAN Lowe believes Plymouth Argyle striker Ryan Hardie is starting to get his just rewards for all the hard work he has been putting in.
The 23-year-old, on a season-long loan from Blackpool, netted in the 2-0 away League One win against Swindon Town on Tuesday night.
That was Hardie’s third goal in the last nine games, after he scored only once in his previous 20 appearances this term.
Hardie had still been contributing assists during his barren run, often to his strike partner Luke Jephcott, who has netted 15 times during the current campaign.
But the Scottish striker seems to have an extra spring in his step after getting on the goalsheet again himself.
Lowe said: “Ry is a confidence player, and I have been there myself. All strikers need to be confident.
“When his mate (Jephcott) is scoring goals and he’s not scoring goals you get a little bit low.
“But the biggest compliment to Ryan is that I’m picking him in the team. That should give him confidence.
“If I’m not picking him then your confidence is quite low. He knows he’s getting picked in the team.”
He went on: “In all honesty I think Ryan could have scored in most games he has played.
“When he makes the right decisions Ryan is a clinical goalscorer, as we have seen, so long may that continue.
“I think when you keep working hard at it you will get your just rewards.”
Hardie re-signed for Argyle last summer after a loan spell towards the end of last term when he scored seven goals in five starts and eight substitute appearances.
The Pilgrims’ other goal against Swindon came from in-form midfielder Panutche Camara.
The 23-year-old has been working with assistant manager Steven Schumacher on adding a goal threat to his game and that is paying off.
His 36th minute opener against Swindon was his fourth goal in his last six games.
Lowe said: “For all the good thing he does in getting in the box and scoring goals he’s still learning.
“He’s still only a young lad and he has got to learn our way. He’s getting there but he’s by no means the finished article.
“He has still got to tidy up in certain ways, and I pull my hair out sometimes with him.”
Shortly before Hardie made it 2-0 against in the 67th minute Argyle ‘keeper Mike Cooper was called into action for the one and only time in the match.
Cooper made a terrific diving save to push away a shot from Diallang Jaiyesimi for a corner.
Lowe said: “I think it came from us giving the ball away, and that frustrates me.
“I say to the lads ‘Just lend it to your mate, give it to someone and get it back at a different angle’.
“I use the word simplicity quite a lot because I want them to do simple things.
“I’m not asking them to do things they can’t do, and they know that.”
He continued: “Mike has been superb, When he’s in those positions - when he needs to make big saves he makes them.”