Defenders find that familiarity

JEROME Opoku believes he and Plymouth Argyle team-mates Will Aimson and fellow loanee Kell Watts are starting to get a good understanding as a defensive trio, writes Chris Errington.

The Pilgrims have had trouble keeping the ball out of the net for a lot of this season.

But their has been a recent improvement in defensive displays, particularly in the 2-0 away League One win against Swindon Town on Tuesday.

Not only did Argyle keep a clean sheet they limited the Robins to only one shot on target.

Opoku, the on-loan Fulham defender, told Plymouth Live: “With the performances we have been putting in I think the clean sheet was well deserved.

“We have been working hard defensively - me, Will, Kell - and it showed.

“I think we are gelling together now. You can see the communication between the three of us.

“We have been working on it in training and it’s showing out there. It’s looking good.

“It was hard when we went through that spell of losses. Obviously, the Gaffer (Ryan Lowe) changed the team.

“Now that we have played more games together it’s showing. We are covering each other, stepping forward, and when to drop and when to press.”

Argyle’s trip to Swindon was their third away game in eight days, coming after a 2-1 win away to Sunderland and a 2-1 FA Cup fourth round defeat by Sheffield United.

Opoku said: “We went into the game (at Swindon) with a lot of confidence from the week we have had.

“Defensively it was great. They had one shot on target and it always looked like we were going to score.”