Plymouth Argyle manager Tom Cleverley has called on striker Bim Pepple to embrace his role as the team's talisman and rediscover his scoring touch. The challenge comes after Argyle suffered back-to-back 3-0 and 2-0 defeats to Stevenage and Huddersfield Town, dropping them to fifth in League One on 19 points from a record of six wins, one draw and five losses. This recent poor run of two wins, one draw and two losses in their last five games has seen them lose their last two matches.
Cleverley said the forward must show more desire and accept the responsibility that comes with being the side's leading goal threat. Pepple, who has four goals in 11 appearances this season, started both recent losses but failed to find the net. The manager described the performance at Stevenage as unacceptable and has apologised to supporters. The team's overall record shows 18 goals scored and 17 conceded this season.
Recent defeats dent league position
The two consecutive losses have halted Plymouth's momentum, leaving them three points behind leaders Stockport County. Before the defeats, the team had gone 32 games without being shut out in the league. The 3-0 reverse at Stevenage on Tuesday 20 October, where Michael Mellon, Josh Magennis and Phoenix Patterson scored, was followed by a 2-0 home loss to Huddersfield on Saturday 17 October, with Derensili Sanches Fernandes and Bojan Radulovic on target. Those results mean Argyle have drawn successive league blanks for the first time in almost a year. Their recent form, reading as two wins, one draw and two losses, includes a 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon on Saturday 10 October and a 2-2 draw at Newport County on Tuesday 6 October.
Pepple's scoring record before injury
Pepple had been in prolific form before a hamstring issue sidelined him, netting six times in seven matches across all competitions. His return from that tightness, which caused him to miss the 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon, was seen as a major boost. Cleverley now wants the striker to recapture that sharpness and hunger, with the team's attacking output heavily reliant on his form as the top scorer with four goals.
Squad options stepping up
With Pepple and Will Evans the only fit senior strikers, young attackers are being given opportunities. Xavier Amaechi, who scored a late winner against Wimbledon, provided a spark off the bench at Stevenage and is pushing for a start. Caleb Watts was introduced at half-time in that match, replacing Ronan Curtis, as Cleverley sought to change the game. The imminent return of Owen Oseni from an ankle injury will provide further competition.
Plymouth's immediate focus is a trip to face fourth-placed Cambridge United on Saturday 24 October, a key fixture in the early promotion race. Cleverley will be hoping a refocused Pepple can lead the charge as Argyle aim to stop the slide and close the three-point gap at the top of the standings.
The original report is at plymouthherald.co.uk
