Plymouth Argyle manager Tom Cleverley is demanding a return to basic principles after his side suffered a second consecutive League One defeat, losing 3-0 at Stevenage. The result on Tuesday saw the Pilgrims slip to fifth place in the table, three points behind leaders Stockport County. They have now lost their last two matches, having also been beaten 2-0 at home by Huddersfield Town last Saturday, a game where Derensili Sanches Fernandes and Bojan Radulovic scored for the visitors.
Cleverley described the performance as unacceptable and issued a public apology to supporters. "It's going to be the most basic preparation for a game I think I'll do because that is what's going to be the most important," the head coach said. He stressed the immediate focus is on fighting for duels, defending the box, and attacking the box ahead of Saturday's trip to face fourth-placed Cambridge United. The fixture on Saturday 24 October is a key test against a side directly above them.
Stevenage took control early, with Michael Mellon scoring in the 19th minute. Josh Magennis doubled the lead eight minutes later, and Phoenix Patterson sealed the win with a third goal in the 83rd minute. This followed a 2-0 home loss to Huddersfield Town last Saturday. The recent sequence of results, which includes a 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon, a 2-2 draw at Newport County, and a 2-0 victory at Leyton Orient, has produced a mixed recent form of two wins, one draw, and two losses.
Plymouth now have 19 points from 12 games, with a record of six wins, one draw, and five losses. Their recent form reads two wins, one draw, and two defeats from the last five outings. Across the season, the team has scored 18 goals while conceding 17, giving them a goal difference of plus one. The club's top scorer this season is A. Pepple, who has four goals from 11 appearances. Cleverley, known for his attention to detail, stated he will not name his team early and will select players willing to compete. Cleverley's immediate task is to halt the slide and rediscover the form that brought five wins from seven games earlier this season.
The original report is at bbc.co.uk
